There are various reasons why you may have difficulty chewing food, such as dental surgery (filling or extraction of teeth), chin/face bone damage that causes the chin to be closed, and pain after braces. In addition, cancer treatment or head surgery may also make it difficult for you to chew. Although chewing is not necessary to maintain a healthy or balanced diet, without chewing, you will find it increasingly difficult to maintain a healthy diet. However, with a little planning and preparation, you can still enjoy healthy, nutritious meals.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Preparing for a Restricted Diet
Step 1. Consult a doctor
Your doctor can advise you on dietary restrictions and textures of foods that are safe to eat (such as porridge or liquid). In addition, the doctor can also tell you how long you should follow the diet.
- Ask the doctor about the taboos and foods that can be consumed clearly. Getting clearly informed is better than accidentally eating something painful or causing a more serious illness.
- Also ask if you may be malnourished, or if there are any types of food that should be consumed every day/avoided.
- You are also recommended to visit a nutritionist to get a diet that is in accordance with the health problems you are experiencing. Ask your doctor for a referral to a nutritionist.
Step 2. Write a meal plan
This plan can help you eat your food, so you don't have to guess at what you're eating.
- Write down a meal and snack plan that fits your condition for the week. You may need to try different recipes, especially if you have to maintain a restricted diet for a long time.
- Examples of menus based on soft foods: oatmeal for breakfast, meat soup for lunch, and steamed steak and broccoli for dinner.
- Examples of liquid diets: yogurt with smooth peaches for breakfast, a green smoothie (with spinach, milk, frozen fruit, and protein powder) for lunch, and black bean soup for dinner.
- Your doctor may have a sample meal plan. Ask for a copy of the sample meal plan to take home, as a guide to meal plans for several days.
Step 3. After you make a meal plan and consult a doctor, shop according to the diet
Preparing the right food ingredients will make it easier for you to follow a limited diet.
- Keep in mind that you can cook hard or solid foods with certain techniques so that they are safe to eat. For example, apples can be cooked into a sauce or pureed, which is easier to chew and swallow.
- Also consider buying ready-to-eat ingredients in the shape you need. If you can only eat liquid foods, buy low-sodium soups such as tomato soup, butternut squash, and black bean soup that come in liquid form. If you can eat soft foods, buy frozen fruit or vegetables (which when cooked will become very soft), or soups and soups from the prepared food section of the grocery store.
Step 4. Purchase the necessary kitchen utensils to make it easier for you to follow your diet
In addition, with the right equipment can make you more flexible in preparing various foods at home.
- A food processor is a must-have tool. This tool can break hard food into small pieces, or even into porridge. You can use a food processor to grind fruit and vegetables, or chop a variety of meats (fish, chicken, or beef). A food processor is worth having if you can eat refined foods, and don't need to turn food into purees.
- If you absolutely must eat food with a porridge-like texture, use a blender. You can use a blender to chop a variety of foods and make liquid foods. A blender can also help you make smoothies from a variety of hard and raw foods. For example, you can mix raw spinach into a smoothie, and it will stay pureed.
- A slow cooker pan is also useful for those of you who want to make soft or soft food. These pans soften foods with long cooking processes, and slow-cooker dishes can be easily chewed or swallowed.
Method 2 of 2: Prepare and Cook Appropriate Food
Step 1. Include soft protein sources
Protein is an important nutrient that must be included in your diet. A diet without protein is unhealthy, and you may lose weight or muscle mass as a result. Eating enough protein while following a liquid or soft diet may be difficult or unpleasant, depending on the rules or modifications required to the diet.
- If you can only eat liquid foods, try eating liquid protein, such as liquid bean soup (such as black bean soup), tofu mashed in soup, hummus, or other soups and soups that are pureed.
- You can also process meat (such as minced beef/chicken/fish) until it's really soft. Adding sauce or stock can thaw the meat.
- If you can eat soft foods and don't completely depend on liquids, try steak or meatballs with sauce/broth, soft grilled fish (such as tilapia or salmon), tuna/egg lettuce, tofu peppers, scrambled eggs, soups or other gravy foods, as well as processed meats that are boiled or grilled so that the meat is really soft, such as rib eye soup.
Step 2. Consume dairy products as an alternative protein source
Most dairy products can be consumed even if your diet is limited. Dairy products, which contain protein, calcium, and vitamin D, can also help you maintain a healthy diet more easily.
- Drink plain yogurt or Greek yogurt. Yogurt is a soft food that is suitable for consumption in a restricted diet. Regular yogurt may be easier to chew and swallow, as it is "thinner" in texture than Greek yogurt. Choose yogurt that suits your diet.
- Cottage cheese is also a protein-rich dairy product that is suitable for a liquid/soft diet. If you must eat really soft foods, puree the cottage cheese in a blender or food processor until it becomes a puree.
- Drinking milk or adding milk to other foods (such as soups, soups, or smoothies) can help you eat protein easily.
- If you can't eat dairy because of allergies, try dairy alternatives, such as soy or almond milk/cheese/yogurt.
Step 3. Cook and prepare fruits and vegetables until soft
Many fruits and vegetables, especially if they are raw or only lightly cooked, will be tough and too hard to chew/swallow. Generally, you should process vegetables/fruits until they change in texture before consuming them.
- Try eating frozen fruits or vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage, bean sprouts, or berries. Generally, after thawing or heating, frozen fruit/vegetables will soften.
- Steam the vegetables until you can easily soften them, either with a fork or with a processor. Sometimes, steaming vegetables too long (such as broccoli) can soften them. Try softening potatoes, carrots, peas, or other vegetables.
Step 4. Choose grain-based foods carefully
Grain-based foods, such as bread, rice or pasta, are less suitable for eating when you are on a soft/liquid diet because when softened, they may be sticky and require more chewing.
- Oatmeal, cream of wheat, or other hot cereals can be soft or liquid food options. You may need to grind several types of cereal to get the texture right.
- You can also mix certain types of grains (such as oatmeal) in a smoothie.
Step 5. Make a soup or smoothie
Making soup or smoothies is a good way to meet the food intake for those of you who are on a liquid or mushy diet. You can customize your soup by including a variety of nutritious ingredients.
- When making soups/smoothies, add a variety of fruits and vegetables. Mixing fruits and vegetables can help you get the nutrients you need.
- Soup is a good preparation to get protein and vegetable intake. Cook ingredients until soft, or puree if needed.
- You can make smoothies from a variety of foods, including dairy products, fruits, vegetables, and even peanut butter. Use a blender to make a smooth, liquid smoothie.
- You can also mix plain protein powder into soups or smoothies for more protein intake.
Step 6. Buy a meal replacement drink
If you're pressed and need immediate food, consider buying a meal replacement drink. These supplements generally contain sufficient protein, calories, and vitamins.
- There are a variety of meal replacement drinks to choose from. Find a drink that fits your protein and calorie needs.
- Meal replacement drinks are available in powder or ready-to-serve form. Add powdered drinks to smoothies to increase the nutritional value of smoothies.
- Be careful when consuming drinks rich in sugar or calories. These drinks can increase weight if consumed carelessly.
Step 7. Purchase liquid dietary supplements
You may need the supplement, depending on how long you have been on a restricted diet. These supplements may help you meet your nutritional needs when your diet is restricted.
- Find a 100% multivitamin and multimineral supplement for perfect results.
- Add supplements to food, or take supplements directly.
- Consult your doctor before taking supplements.
Tips
- Consult a doctor before starting any diet. Also get as much information about taboos as you can from your doctor.
- A liquid diet may make it difficult for you to eat a nutritionally balanced diet if not planned carefully. Watch your food intake to ensure that you are consuming enough nutrients.
- Try new recipes or find recipes/tips on the internet for a soft/liquid diet.
- You can find recipes for soft foods or purees in several sources, such as the Pureed and Soft Diet Eating Guide & Recipes and Puree Recipe Guide.
