Foods to avoid in diet

11 Foods to Avoid When Trying to Lose Weight

By Hrefna Palsdottir, MS on June 3, 2017

The foods you eat can have a major effect on your weight.

Some foods, like full-fat yogurt, coconut oil and eggs, help with weight loss (1, 2, 3).

Other foods, especially processed and refined products, can make you gain weight.

Here are 11 foods to avoid when you’re trying to lose weight.

1. French Fries and Potato Chips

Whole potatoes are healthy and filling, but french fries and potato chips are not. They are very high in calories, and it’s easy to eat way too many of them.

In observational studies, consuming French fries and potato chips has been linked to weight gain (4, 5).

One study even found that potato chips may contribute to more weight gain per serving than any other food (5).

What’s more, baked, roasted or fried potatoes may contain cancer-causing substances called acrylamides. Therefore, it’s best to eat plain, boiled potatoes (6, 7).

Summary
French fries and potato chips are unhealthy and fattening. On the other hand, whole, boiled potatoes are very healthy and help fill you up.

2. Sugary Drinks

Sugar-sweetened beverages, like soda, are one of the unhealthiest foods on the planet.

They are strongly associated with weight gain and can have disastrous health effects when consumed in excess (8, 9, 10, 11).

Even though sugary drinks contain a lot of calories, your brain doesn’t register them like solid food (12).

Liquid sugar calories don’t make you feel full, and you won’t eat less food to compensate. Instead, you end up adding these calories on top of your normal intake.

If you are serious about losing weight, consider giving up sugary drinks completely.

Summary
Sugary drinks can negatively affect your weight and general health. If weight loss is your goal, then giving up soda and similar drinks may have a big impact.

3. White Bread

White bread is highly refined and often contains a lot of added sugar.

It is high on the glycemic index and can spike your blood sugar levels (13).

One study of 9,267 people found that eating two slices (120 grams) of white bread per day was linked to a 40% greater risk of weight gain and obesity (14).

Fortunately, there are many healthy alternatives to conventional wheat bread. One is Ezekiel bread, which is probably the healthiest bread on the market.

However, keep in mind that all wheat breads do contain gluten. Some other options include oopsie bread, cornbread and almond flour bread.

Summary
White bread is made from very fine flour, and can spike your blood sugar levels and lead to overeating. However, there are many other types of bread you can eat.

4. Candy Bars

Candy bars are extremely unhealthy. They pack a lot of added sugar, added oils and refined flour into a small package.

Candy bars are high in calories and low in nutrients. An average-sized candy bar covered in chocolate can contain around 200–300 calories, and extra-large bars may contain even more (15).

Unfortunately, you can find candy bars everywhere. They are even strategically placed in stores in order to tempt consumers into buying them impulsively.

If you are craving a snack, eat a piece of fruit or a handful of nuts instead.

Summary
Candy bars consist of unhealthy ingredients like sugar, refined flour and added oils. They are high in calories, but not very filling.

5. Most Fruit Juices

Most fruit juices you find at the supermarket have very little in common with whole fruit.

Fruit juices are highly processed and loaded with sugar.

In fact, they can contain just as much sugar and calories as soda, if not more (16).

Also, fruit juice usually has no fiber and doesn’t require chewing.

This means that a glass of orange juice won’t have the same effects on fullness as an orange, making it easy to consume large quantities in a short amount of time (17).

Stay away from fruit juice and eat whole fruit instead.

Summary
Fruit juice is high in calories and added sugar, but usually contains no fiber. It is best to stick to whole fruit.

6. Pastries, Cookies and Cakes

Pastries, cookies and cakes are packed with unhealthy ingredients like added sugar and refined flour.

They may also contain artificial trans fats, which are very harmful and linked to many diseases (18).

Pastries, cookies and cakes are not very satisfying, and you will likely become hungry very quickly after eating these high-calorie, low-nutrient foods.

If you’re craving something sweet, reach for a piece of dark chocolate instead.

Summary
Pastries, cookies and cakes often contain large amounts of added sugar, refined flour and sometimes trans fat. These foods are high in calories but not very filling.

7. Some Types of Alcohol (Especially Beer)

Alcohol provides more calories than carbs and protein, or about 7 calories per gram.

However, the evidence for alcohol and weight gain is not clear (19).

Drinking alcohol in moderation seems to be fine and is actually linked to reduced weight gain. Heavy drinking, on the other hand, is associated with increased weight gain (20, 21).

The type of alcohol also matters. Beer can cause weight gain, but drinking wine in moderation may actually be beneficial (19, 22).

Summary
If you are trying to lose weight, you may want to consider cutting back on alcohol or skipping it altogether. Wine in small amounts seems to be fine.

8. Ice Cream

Ice cream is incredibly delicious, but very unhealthy. It is high in calories, and most types are loaded with sugar.

A small portion of ice cream is fine every now and then, but the problem is that it’s very easy to consume massive amounts in one sitting.

Consider making your own ice cream, using less sugar and healthier ingredients like full-fat yogurt and fruit.

Also, serve yourself a small portion and put the ice cream away so that you won’t end up eating too much.

Summary
Store-bought ice cream is high in sugar, and homemade ice cream is a better alternative. Remember to be mindful of portions, as it’s very easy to eat too much ice cream.

9. Pizza

Pizza is a very popular fast food. However, commercially made pizzas also happen to be very unhealthy.

They’re extremely high in calories and often contain unhealthy ingredients like highly refined flour and processed meat.

If you want to enjoy a slice of pizza, try making one at home using healthier ingredients. Homemade pizza sauce is also healthier, since supermarket varieties can contain lots of sugar.

Another option is to look for a pizza place that makes healthier pizzas.

Summary
Commercial pizzas are often made from highly refined and processed ingredients. A homemade pizza with healthier ingredients is a much better option.

10. High-Calorie Coffee Drinks

Coffee contains several biologically active substances, most importantly caffeine.

These chemicals can boost your metabolism and increase fat burning, at least in the short term (23, 24).

However, the negative effects of adding unhealthy ingredients like artificial cream and sugar outweigh these positive effects.

High-calorie coffee drinks are actually no better than soda. They’re loaded with empty calories that can equal a whole meal.

If you like coffee, it’s best to stick to plain, black coffee when trying to lose weight. Adding a little cream or milk is fine too. Just avoid adding sugar, high-calorie creamers and other unhealthy ingredients.

Summary
Plain, black coffee can be very healthy and help you burn fat. However, high-calorie coffee drinks that contain artificial ingredients are very unhealthy and fattening.

11. Foods High in Added Sugar

Added sugar is probably the worst thing in the modern diet. Excess amounts have been linked to some of the most serious diseases in the world today (25, 26, 27).

Foods high in added sugar usually provide tons of empty calories, but are not very filling.

Examples of foods that may contain massive amounts of added sugar include sugary breakfast cereals, granola bars and low-fat, flavored yogurt.

You should be especially careful when selecting “low-fat” or “fat-free” foods, as manufacturers often add lots of sugar to make up for the flavor that’s lost when the fat is removed.

Here are 15 “health foods” that are really just junk foods in disguise.

Summary
Added sugar is one of the unhealthiest ingredients in the modern diet. Many products, such as low-fat and fat-free foods, seem healthy but are loaded with sugar.

The Bottom Line

The worst foods for weight loss are highly processed junk foods. These foods are typically loaded with added sugar, refined wheat and/or added fats.

If you’re not sure if a food is healthy or unhealthy, read the label. However, watch out for the different names for sugar and misleading health claims.

Also, remember to consider the serving sizes. Some healthy foods, like nuts, dried fruit and cheese, are high in calories, and it can be very easy to eat too much.

You can also practice mindful eating, in which you pay close attention to each bite, chew your foods slowly, and monitor your fullness. This technique can help moderate your food intake.

What to stop eating and why

One way to lose weight is to eat a more healthful diet. Knowing which foods to avoid and which to eat can help a person reach or maintain their ideal weight.

In general, when trying to lose weight, it is best to reduce or avoid foods that are calorie dense. However, the number of calories in a food is not the only factor to consider.

For example, low-calorie foods that lack nutrients such as fiber and protein can still leave a person feeling hungry and unsatisfied, which can make it harder to resist snacking.

In this article, we discuss 14 different types of food to avoid eating when trying to lose weight.

Many beverages, such as sodas, sports drinks, and fruit juices, are very high in added sugars but often low in other nutrients. Consuming these beverages adds calories to the diet but does not help a person feel full.

The 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that people limit calories from added sugars to no more than 10 percent of their total daily intake, which is around 12 teaspoons for a 2,000-calorie diet.

These Dietary Guidelines also state that the average person in the United States consumes around 17 teaspoons of added sugar a day. Almost half of this sugar comes from drinks, including sweetened teas and coffees.

A 2015 study found an association between consuming sugar-sweetened beverages and excess weight gain in children and adolescents.

Baked foods, such as cookies, pastries, and many premade desserts, are often very high in added sugars, including fructose.

A 2015 study found that participants who ingested fructose experienced greater hunger and desire for food than those who ingested glucose, another type of sugar.

Many baked foods also contain trans fats. The results of a 2016 study in mice suggest that a diet high in trans fats may increase the risk of obesity.

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) are the primary source of trans fats in processed foods. The FDA also state that “removing PHOs from processed foods could prevent thousands of heart attacks and deaths each year.”

Fried foods, including French fries, are generally high in calories, salt, and unhealthful fats.

Many restaurants cook their fries in a deep fryer to give them a crispy texture, but this cooking method adds a significant amount of fat and calories. Despite this, because they lack fiber and protein, French fries do not help a person feel full for very long.

A 2017 study investigated the consumption of fried potatoes in 4,440 people aged between 45 and 79 years. The researchers reported that participants who ate fried potatoes at least twice a week had a higher risk of premature death than those who ate them less frequently. They also found that the consumption of unfried potatoes did not increase the risk of death.

When eating out, people looking to lose weight should select a salad, fresh fruit, or a pickle as a side instead of fries.

Hamburgers from restaurants, especially fast-food establishments, are often high in fat and calories.

A 14-year study from 2013 investigated the consumption of restaurant foods in 19,479 young African-American women. The researchers reported that participants who ate restaurant burgers at least twice a week had a higher risk of obesity than those who ate them on fewer than five occasions per year.

Lean, ground beef can be part of a healthful diet if a person cooks it at home without added fats or oils. An occasional homemade burger can be a good source of protein, iron, and some B vitamins.

When trying to lose weight, it is best to avoid hamburgers and fried foods when eating out. More healthful alternatives can include grilled chicken, fish, or salads with grilled meat.

Share on PinterestReplacing potato chips with healthful alternatives, such as toasted nuts, can help prevent weight gain.

Crackers and chips are often high in calories and may also contain added fats, salts, and sugar.

Crackers and chips are types of processed food. A 2015 study in Brazil found a positive correlation between the consumption of “ultra-processed foods” and obesity.

More healthful snacking options include raw carrots or celery with hummus or a small portion of toasted nuts with no added salt or sugar.

White pasta or bread that people make using refined wheat flour is typically high in calories and carbohydrates but low in fiber, protein, and other nutrients.

Whole-grain varieties of pasta and bread are readily available. These generally contain more fiber and nutrients than white varieties, which can make them more filling and healthful.

The ingredients label should list a whole-grain flour as the main type of flour. Some examples include whole-wheat flour, brown rice flour, and whole-rye flour.

White rice is very low in fat but also contains minimal fiber and protein.

A 2016 study in Iran identified a link between white rice consumption and obesity in female adolescents. White rice also has a high glycemic index, which means that it can cause a spike in a person’s blood sugar levels after they eat it.

Brown rice, quinoa, and cauliflower rice are healthful alternatives to white rice. These options are richer in dietary fiber, which can help a person feel fuller for longer.

Although energy and granola bars are often rich in fiber and protein, they can sometimes contain as much sugar as a candy bar.

More healthful snack options include:

sliced apple with peanut butter
mixed nuts
Greek yogurt with berries
a hard-boiled egg

Fresh fruits contain fiber and beneficial nutrients and are generally low in calories. Dried fruits, however, can be more calorie dense.

As they contain much less water, dried fruits are a concentrated source of fructose. As a result, gram for gram, dried fruit contains more calories and sugar than fresh fruit.

However, dried fruits still contain fiber and nutrients, making them a better sweet snack option than cookies or candies.

People who are trying to lose weight can still enjoy dried fruits in moderation, but it is important to check that they do not contain added sugar. Some “candied” or “sweetened” dried fruits may contain as much sugar as a candy bar.

Share on PinterestMany yogurts promoted as being low-fat have high sugar contents.

Many people consider yogurt to be a healthful food for weight loss. Greek yogurt, in particular, contains protein, and the bacterial cultures in yogurt may aid digestion. However, with so many different types of yogurt available, it is important to read the nutrition labels.

It is best to avoid sugar- or honey-sweetened yogurts. Fat-free yogurts are especially likely to contain added sugars.

Look for Greek yogurt without added sugar and sprinkle fresh berries on the top for flavor.

Ice cream is a high-sugar, high-calorie dessert that offers very little protein and no fiber. It is also easy to exceed the recommended portion size of ice cream, which is usually half a cup.

Consider frozen fruit for an alternative cold and sweet treat. Or, blend Greek yogurt with fresh fruit and freeze the mixture in popsicle molds for a homemade frozen treat.

Processed meat includes meat that manufacturers have either:

dried
smoked
fermented
canned
otherwise processed and preserved

Examples of processed meats include bacon, jerky, hot dogs, salami, and ham. These types of meat are often high in salt and low in nutrients. They also tend to be calorie-dense compared with lean protein sources, such as poultry, fish, and beans.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) class processed meat as a carcinogen, which means that it can cause cancer.

Alcoholic beverages are calorie dense and generally high in sugar, but they contain little or no protein and fiber. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism:

a regular 12-ounce (oz) beer contains about 153 calories
a light 12-oz beer contains approximately 103 calories
a 5-oz glass of red wine contains close to 125 calories
a 1.5-oz glass of an 80-proof distilled spirit contains an average of 97 calories

People who are trying to lose weight can still enjoy the occasional alcoholic beverage if they wish. However, it is best to drink alcohol in moderation. The 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend no more than one alcoholic drink per day for females and a maximum of two per day for males.

Candy bars are generally unhealthful due to their high calorie, sugar, and fat content.

However, a person trying to lose weight can still enjoy chocolate in moderation. It is usually best to choose one or two small pieces of dark chocolate with a minimum of 70 percent cocoa. Dark chocolate typically contains less sugar than milk or white chocolate varieties.

When trying to lose weight or maintain a healthful weight, it is important to choose the right foods and to avoid those that are calorie-dense but low in fiber, protein, and other healthful nutrients.

People who are unable to achieve a healthful weight through diet and exercise may wish to consider speaking to a doctor or dietician.

What foods should be excluded in order to lose weight - tips for losing weight

In the fast pace of modern life, it is not always possible to keep track of your own nutrition. Have a quick breakfast and run to work, grab something in the dining room or in the nearest cafe, and cook a high-calorie dinner in the evening or order ready-made food delivery. And so on in a circle, month after month. Of course, it is impossible to monitor your own weight in this mode. And as a result - overeating, problems with the gastrointestinal tract and poor health. What to do with it? Learn to refuse junk food.

Why I can't lose weight

Not everyone can afford to go to the gym regularly and eat only right. Do you know how much sugar is in the average hamburger? And in a glass of Coca-Cola? This is a real calorie bomb! In order to “reset” the calories gained in one trip to a fast food restaurant, you will have to work out in the gym for at least an hour and a half. Or walk twenty miles. At the same time, it is enough to exclude a list of certain products from the diet, as your body will immediately thank you. Losing weight instantly, of course, will not work, but the weight will gradually go away, especially if you begin to engage in regular physical activity.

Expert Opinion: Sudden calorie reduction can lead to weight gain

What you need to lose weight

So, to lose weight you need:

exclude harmful foods from the diet;
move more;
observe the drinking regimen.

As you can see, from the outside, everything seems quite simple and harmless. So, if you do not strive for a "beach body", but simply want to remove a couple of extra pounds, it is enough to follow these simple rules. Of course, excess weight is not always the result of human laziness and malnutrition. Sometimes this is a concomitant symptom of serious diseases, and in this case, adherence to strict diets can have a deplorable effect on the general condition of the body. Before you start losing weight, you will need to consult with a specialist. However, even an experienced nutritionist will agree that there is a list of foods that are best excluded from the diet once and for all, regardless of health status.

Smooth transition

To begin with, it should be noted that no product should be excluded from the diet once and for all. The fact is that over the years of certain nutrition, the body has become accustomed to the incoming food, and to refuse it sharply and decisively means to expose your own body to stress. It won't do any good. To gradually wean the stomach from junk food, it is worth following a few recommendations.

Reduce junk food, but don't cut it out completely. For example, in the first six months of the transition to proper nutrition, it will be possible to treat yourself to your favorite hazards 1-2 times a month. Otherwise, a sharp refusal is fraught with gastronomic disruptions, which will definitely not be beneficial.

Find an alternative. Any unhealthy food can have a healthier and just as tasty alternative, and even cooked at home, from the ingredients you know.

Don't believe the advertisements. Most of the commercials show us plastic and glue, not real products that look less appetizing than their on-screen counterparts. And often the reality is not only not as attractive, but also not as tasty and healthy as marketers promise.

Watch how your favorite meals are prepared. There are many behind-the-scenes videos of culinary life on the Internet that can develop a strong aversion to food service in general and fast food in particular.

Motivate yourself. A healthy body, good health, absence of discomfort in the gastrointestinal tract is the best proof that you are doing everything right.

As a result of a smooth transition from junk food to a healthy diet, you will not only lose extra pounds, but also begin to notice qualitative changes in your own well-being.

What to give up

What foods should be eliminated from the diet to lose weight? Contrary to popular belief, it is not enough to give up a large amount of carbohydrates for the weight to begin to drop rapidly. The list of products may seem unexpectedly large, but not a single product in it is essential. For everything, you can find healthy and equally tasty alternatives. So, you should refuse the following products.

Confectionery . Cakes, pastries, donuts and other flour products. Tasty, beautiful, but how harmful! A huge amount of sugar and carbohydrates is a real calorie bomb! If you can’t imagine life without sweets, you can replace the harmful with useful ones: oatmeal cookies, honey, dried fruits, real chocolate (of course, black!).

Refined vegetable oils la . After processing and cleaning, nothing useful remains in them, but there are plenty of fats. It is impossible to completely exclude oil from the diet: it is a vehicle of vitamins and minerals. But it is possible and necessary to replace a “dead” product with a useful one. Replace refined sunflower oil with the same, but not refined. Or linen. Or coconut. Or any other that you like.

Fatty sauces . Mayonnaise is the main enemy of the stomach, liver and a beautiful figure. Other factory-made sauces are no better: they contain a huge amount of unhealthy fats, carbohydrates, flavor substitutes and preservatives. Can't imagine your favorite dish without sauce or ketchup? Cook them yourself, there are a lot of useful and quick recipes on the Internet.

Semi-finished products . Are you sure about the quality of the purchased cutlets or dumplings? At best, there are meat products (veins, tendons, cartilage) or soy. And also a lot of flavoring and aromatic additives that should make such a dish edible. Alternatively, you will have to cook yourself from familiar products. It will take more time, but it will be much more useful for health.

Fast food . Yes, it is tasty, fast and nutritious. Did you know that fast food fries have over 12 ingredients? This is despite the fact that in the home version there are only three of them: the potatoes themselves, salt and oil. The amount of flavoring additives also does not lend itself to any calculations. The same hamburger can be cooked at home. Or replace it with delicious bread or nuts.

Refined white flour . As a result of processing and cleaning, flour, like oil, completely loses all its useful properties. It does not bring much harm, but there is no benefit from it either. So it is better to replace such a “highest grade” with wholemeal flour.

Bakery products. There, the whitest flour combined with yeast gives an amazing effect: heaviness in the stomach, deterioration of the skin, a constant feeling of bloating. By eliminating buns from the diet, you will immediately feel lightness in the body. And if you want to eat something floury, it is better to choose whole grain bread from wholemeal flour.

Snacks . Chips, crackers, salted nuts, popcorn. All this is very tasty. And very harmful. The amount of carcinogenic and hydrogenated fats in such products is off scale, and their high concentration in the body is fraught not only with a couple of extra pounds, but also with the development of cancer. You can replace all this pleasure with nuts and dried fruits. Chips made from nori seaweed or coconut will also do just fine.

Sweets . We are talking about chocolate bars with a lot of additives. Lots of calories for little benefit. Such a product will do as a glucose bomb for the brain, but you should not snack on harmful chocolate. You can saturate the body with glucose with the help of honey, dark chocolate, fruits and even some vegetables.

Sausages and smoked products. Factory production of sausage does not make it useful. There are many carcinogens and flavoring additives, but little benefit. You can replace it with any meat: from pork and beef to chicken and turkey. Or make your own sausages.

Salt and sugar . No, you should not completely exclude their diet. First, the water-salt balance in the body must be perfect. Secondly, the brain loves glucose. But you need to reduce the amount of their use.

Carbonated sweet drinks. They do not quench their thirst, they do not bring benefits to the body. And one glass of cola contains 10 tablespoons of sugar. Can you imagine how many calories it is and how your body will react to it?

Alcohol . Harmful to the liver, blood vessels, brain. Folds protein in the body, makes the walls of blood vessels more fragile. And it is also a very high-calorie product. It is better to replace any harmful drinks with freshly squeezed juices, fruit drinks, teas.

Cigarettes . Yes, this is not a food product, but with regular use it does much more harm than any fast food. They often smoke from stress, so you can change one fixation for another with the help of nuts, dried fruits or Herbalife protein bars. Tasty and healthy!

Fatty and fried . The method of preparation also affects the calorie content and benefits of food.

Of course, you should not give up all your eating habits in one day. But the gradual rejection of junk food will help you lose those extra pounds and feel like a healthy, happy person!

Some useful tips

If you want to lose weight quickly and at the same time not lose your health, you can use dietary supplements to support the body. Saturated with vitamins and minerals, they will ensure the replenishment of the daily dose of the necessary substances. For those who want to lose extra pounds, Herbalife offers:

protein shakes. A complete meal in just two minutes! The high protein content keeps you feeling full for hours, and the evening formula will help you avoid overeating at night;
herbal drink. Created specifically to improve metabolism and maintain tone throughout the day;
"Thermo Complete". A tool that will help you get rid of excess weight faster, lower blood sugar levels and provide the body with the necessary energy.

Lose weight profitably!

26 October 2019, 11:00 2019-10-26

Author: Be in Form

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The Soft Food Diet: Foods to Eat and Avoid

07/04/2022 admin

Contents

What is the soft diet and what is it for?
Foods that can be eaten on a soft diet
Foods to Avoid on a Soft Food Diet
Soft Food Diet and Snack Ideas
- Breakfast Ideas
- Lunch Ideas
- Dinner Ideas bottom line
Medical professionals often prescribe special diets to help people recover from certain medical procedures or bouts of illness.

Soft diets are commonly used in clinical settings and include soft and easily digestible foods.

If you have been put on a soft diet, you may wonder what foods you should be eating and avoiding, and why you were put on this diet in the first place.

This article explains everything you need to know about soft food diets.

What is a soft diet and why is it prescribed?

Soft food diets consist of soft, easily digestible foods and are indicated for people who cannot tolerate normal textured foods or highly spiced foods.

Medical professionals usually prescribe these diets for people with certain medical conditions or recovering from surgery.

Soft food diets are used in many settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, and the home. They are usually followed for short periods ranging from a few days to a few weeks, although in some circumstances the diet may need to be followed for a longer period of time.

Soft diets are often used to treat swallowing disorders known collectively as dysphagia. Dysphagia is common in the elderly and people with neurological disorders and neurodegenerative diseases.1, 2).

In 2002, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics published the National Dysphagia Diet (NDD), which includes several levels of the dysphagia diet (3, 4):
- NDD Level 1 - Dysphagia Puree: smooth, pudding-like texture requiring very little chewing ability
- NDD Level 2 - Mechanically altered dysphagia: Cohesive, moist, semi-solid food requiring some chewing
- NDD Level 3 - Advanced dysphagia: Soft foods that require more chewing ability
- Regular: All foods are allowed
While texture-modified diets are intended to reduce the risk of aspiration and pneumonia in people with dysphagia, current research suggests that changing the texture of food can lead to worsening quality of life and malnutrition, highlighting the need for more research.2).

In addition to dysphagia, soft diets are given to people who have recently had oral or jaw surgery that has affected their ability to chew.

For example, people who have had wisdom teeth removed, major jaw surgery, or dental implants may need a light diet to promote healing.5).

Soft diets are also used as transition diets between full liquid or puree diets and regular diets in people who have had abdominal surgery or are recovering from gastrointestinal disease to allow the digestive system to heal more efficiently.6).

In addition, soft diets may be given to people who are too weak to eat regular food, such as those undergoing chemotherapy, and people who have lost sensation in their face or mouth, or who cannot control their lips or tongue due to illness. move (7).

Although soft food diets used in both clinical and home settings may vary, most used in the short term are low in fiber and are bland to facilitate digestion and comfort for the person taking the diet.8) .

Be aware that some people have to go on a soft food diet for longer periods of time. In these cases, the diet may be higher in fiber and more flavorful than the bland diet used in the short term.

summary

Soft diets consist of foods that are easy to chew and digest. They are often prescribed for people with swallowing problems, those who have had abdominal surgery, and people with other health problems.

Foods that can be eaten on a soft diet

Soft diets are used when regular textured or highly spiced foods are intolerable, which can happen for a number of reasons.

Soft diets should not be confused with pureed diets. While pureed foods are allowed on soft food diets, pureed diets are completely different.

In general, bland diets should consist of foods that are bland and easy to eat and digest.

Here are some examples of foods that can be enjoyed on the mildest diets (7, 8):
- Vegetables: soft boiled carrots, green beans, chopped boiled spinach, boiled seedless zucchini, well-cooked broccoli florets, etc.
- Fruit: cooked, peeled apples or applesauce, bananas, avocados, peeled ripe peaches, boiled pears, fruit puree, etc.
- Eggs: boiled whole eggs or egg whites, egg salad
- Dairy products: cottage cheese, yogurt, soft cheeses, pudding, frozen yogurt, etc. Low-fat dairy products are usually recommended for people recovering from surgery or gastrointestinal illness.
- Cereals and starches: mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, cooked cereals such as semolina, soft moistened grains such as farro or barley, moistened pancakes, soft noodles, etc.
- Meat, poultry and fish: finely chopped or ground wet poultry, soft tuna or chicken salad (no chopped raw vegetables or fruits such as celery or apples), baked or fried fish, soft meatballs, soft tofu, etc.
- Soups: soups pureed or in broth with boiled vegetables
- Miscellaneous: gravies, sauces, smooth nut butters, pitted jellies and jams
- drinks: water and smoothie cocktails0025
Please be aware that there are different soft food diet options depending on the condition they are used to treat. Some people with additional restrictions may not be able to tolerate certain products for a variety of reasons.

Therefore, it is always best to check with your healthcare provider or registered dietitian if you are on a bland diet and have questions about what foods you are allowed to eat.

summary

Boiled fruits and vegetables, chewable proteins and soft starches can be consumed on a soft food diet.

Foods to Avoid on a Soft Food Diet

Many foods should be avoided on a soft food diet. It is necessary to limit the use of indigestible foods, as well as those that are difficult to chew. Generally, spicy and highly acidic foods are also prohibited.

The following foods are generally restricted on mild diets (7, 8):
- Vegetables: raw vegetables, deep-fried vegetables, vegetables with seeds or skins
- and bananas), fruits with skins and seeds, dried fruits, very acidic fruits such as lemons and limes
- Dairy products: hard cheeses, cheeses with nuts or dried fruits, yoghurts with added ingredients such as chocolate or nuts
- Cereals and starches: hard crackers, chewy or crispy breads, high-fiber breads and cereals such as seeded breads and broken wheat, french fries, popcorn
- Fats: nuts, seeds, coconut flakes, crunchy nut butter
- Miscellaneous: seeded jams or jellies, chewy sweets
- Pungent or irritating foods: hot peppers, tomato sauce, gas-producing foods such as cabbage and beans, tabasco sauce
- drinks: alcohol, caffeinated beverages may also be restricted depending on the condition being treated
Please note that your health care provider may recommend additional restrictions depending on your medical condition. It is important to have a good understanding of the prescribed diet and your individual dietary needs.

summary

Foods that are difficult to chew and digest, as well as spicy and acidic foods, should generally be avoided when following a soft food diet.

Soft Food Diet and Snack Ideas

Any restrictive diet can be frustrating, especially when many healthy foods such as raw fruits and vegetables are off limits.

However, there are plenty of tasty meals and snacks for those on a soft diet.

Here are some meal ideas for those on a soft diet:

Breakfast ideas
- scrambled eggs and sliced avocado
- semolina porridge with boiled peaches and cashew butter pie, without custard4 9002 made with eggs, goat cheese, chopped spinach and butternut squash
- yogurt parfait with unsweetened yogurt, banana or canned peaches, pitted blueberry jam and almond butter
Lunch Ideas
- Chicken or tuna without vegetables
- Chicken soup with soft noodles, boiled vegetables and small pieces of delicate crushed chicken
- couscous, feta and soft vegetable salad of rolled.
Dinner ideas
- minced beef or tofu with sweet potato puree
- fried flounder with boiled beets and carrots or mashed potatoes with cheese
- soft chicken and rice with boiled green beans
- shepherd's pie with minced turkey
In addition to meals, many people on a soft diet may want to include one or more snacks during the day in their diet.

Some snack ideas include:
- cottage cheese with boiled or soft canned fruit
- yogurt with boiled peeled apples and cinnamon
- vegetable and grain soup
- well-blended smoothies made with protein powder, smooth nut butter and fruit
- egg salad with mashed avocado
- moist pumpkin or banana bread with tender almond butter
- pureed vegetable soups such as pumpkin soup with nuts
- banana tender natural peanut butter boats
It is important that all meals and snacks are as balanced as possible and include foods high in protein, especially for those who have recently had surgery or have higher nutritional requirements, for example, for cancer patients (9, ten).

CV

Healthy and delicious food and snacks can be eaten with a sparing diet. Meals and snacks should be rich in nutrients to promote recovery and overall health.

Helpful Tips for Soft Dieters

While sticking to a soft-only diet can be difficult, the following tips can make it easier to follow (7, 8):
- Choose healthy options. While bland foods high in sugar, such as cakes and pastries, may seem appealing, make sure you consume healthy foods such as vegetables, fruits, and proteins that are best for your health. Choose a variety of nutrient-dense foods.
- Spice up your food. The use of herbs and other mild seasonings can help make food more palatable.
- Focus on protein. Adding protein to every meal and snack is especially important for people recovering from surgery and those who are undernourished.
- Eat small meals. Instead of eating large meals, it is recommended to eat several small meals throughout the day while following a soft diet.
- Eat slowly and chew thoroughly. Taking time to eat and chewing food thoroughly is important for many people on a bland diet, including those recovering from abdominal surgery and those with neurological disease. Sit up straight and take small sips of liquid between bites.
- Plan your meals in advance. Finding foods that work with the mechanical soft diet can be tricky. Planning meals in advance can help reduce stress and make meal times easier.
- Keep your utensils handy. Blenders, sieves and food processors can be used to create delicious, mild diet recipes.
Generally soft diets are used as transitional diets for short periods of time until the person is ready to start on the regular diet again.

Your health care provider will give you instructions on how long you should be on a soft food diet, and a registered dietitian can give you any other relevant information.

If you have any questions or concerns about following a soft food diet or about returning to a regular diet, ask your doctor for advice.

summary

Nutritious food choices, focusing on protein, planning ahead, frequent smaller meals, and taking your time eating are all sound advice for people on a soft food diet.

Bottom line

Health care professionals commonly prescribe soft-food diets to help people recover from surgery and illness, and to make food easier to chew and digest.

When following a soft food diet, it is important to choose soft, easily digestible foods and avoid foods that are difficult to chew or digest. Spicy and potentially irritating foods should also be avoided.

Although the soft food diet can be difficult to follow, it is used to speed up recovery, so it is important to follow your healthcare provider's instructions and follow them until you are ready to return to normal eating.
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