A soft diet is exactly what it sounds like. It includes foods that are soft in texture for easy chewing and swallowing. They may be chopped, ground, mashed, pureed, or moist. It excludes food that is very hard, crunchy, or sticky. The food can also be softened with sauces and gravies. Many surgeries such as head, neck, or stomach surgery may require this diet temporarily. It may also be ordered if there are issues with chewing or swallowing due to missing teeth or failure of a swallow study.
