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By Mary Hartley, RD
Director of Nutrition

What can I eat on a soft food diet?
Asked by anonymous on Oct 06, 2008 in Health Conditions

I just got braces put on and I can only eat soft foods or liquids. What are some healthy easy meals? I'm looking for soups or chowders, etc. I love tomato soup but I can't eat it everyday.

Answer

About.com has a huge index of soup and stew recipes. You need to eliminate foods that are difficult to chew, including tough meats, raw fruits and vegetables, chewy or crispy breads, and nuts and seeds, but you can freely eat any other soft food. Here is a list of soft foods by food group. To plan a meal, just combine foods from several groups:

• Grain - cereal (ready-to-eat and cooked), refined bread, muffins, pancakes, French toast, and waffles, pasta (including macaroni and cheese and raviolis), rice
• Vegetables and Fruit - soft cooked vegetables, potatoes, canned fruit, juice
• Dairy - milk, yogurt, cheese, cottage cheese, pudding, milk-based soups
• Meat - tender meat, poultry and fish, chicken salad and tuna salad, meatballs and meatloaf, eggs, smooth peanut butter, mashed beans