
Elderly people or people who have a problem chewing and swallowing, find it difficult to consume normal food. However, there are special soft diet recipes for them, which are healthy and easy to eat.
As the name suggests, soft diet is prescribed for people suffering from dysphagia, mouth or jaw surgery, gastrointestinal tract surgery, etc. Some people find it difficult to swallow with new dental braces. Soft diet is also recommended for them. We have a general idea of what soft foods are and which ingredients can be included in the diet, but when it actually comes to soft diet recipes, we go blank.
Just pureed food cannot be counted as soft food, it should have taste and nutritional value too. You will also need to take into consideration other medical conditions of the patient. For example, if the patient is suffering from acid reflux, you will have to avoid the use of tomatoes, citrus fruits, spicy foods, alcohol, chocolate, etc., as these foods can aggravate the condition. The following are some easy soft food recipes.
Rice Pudding
Ingredients
- Egg (beaten), 1
- Milk, 1 cup
- Well-cooked rice, ½ cup
- Granulated sugar, 1 ½ tbsp.
- Cornstarch, 1 tbsp.
- Vanilla, ½ tsp.
Process
- To make rice pudding, add cornstarch, egg, and sugar to a saucepan and blend until smooth.
- Gradually add in milk, stirring constantly to mix well, and then add in rice and mix well.
- Cook the mixture over medium heat until it is thickened, stirring constantly till it comes to a boil.
- Remove from heat, and then add vanilla. Let it cool. When cooled, sprinkle nutmeg and cinnamon.
Caponata
Ingredients
- Anchovy fillets (drained and pounded smooth), 4
- Aubergines, 2 lb.
- Italian plum tomatoes, 2 x 14 oz. cans
- Finely chopped celery, 8 oz.
- Finely chopped onion, 3 oz.
- Olive oil, 2 fl oz.
- White wine vinegar, 2 tbsp.
- Tomato puree, 2 tbsp.
- Capers, 2 tbsp.
- Seasoning
Process
- This is one of the best soft diet recipes for people having swallowing and dry-mouth disorders. Firstly, peel and cut aubergines in ½ inch cubes, season with salt and set aside for about 30 minutes, after the required time, pat dry.
- Take a saucepan, add oil to it, and saute celery in it for about 10 minutes or until soft.
- Then add in onion and cook further for about 10 minutes, add salt, and remove from pan.
- Now, saute the aubergines in the same pan, for about 8 minutes, on high heat, until browned. Now, return the onion and celery mixture to the pan, add tomatoes, capers, vinegar, tomato puree, anchovies, and seasoning.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, simmer, and let cook for about 15 minutes, or until soft and slippery.
- You can store it in the refrigerator.
Tofu Stew
Ingredients
- Eggs, 2
- Green onions, chopped, 2
- Garlic, crushed, 2 cloves
- Carrot (julienned), 1
- Soft tofu, 4 oz.
- Fresh spinach, 2 cups
- Cooked brown rice, 1 cup
- Water, 1 cup
- Vegetable broth, 1 cup
- Korean red pepper powder (chili paste or any other sauce of your choice can be substituted too, but the taste may differ), 4 tbsp.
- Soy sauce, 1 tbsp.
- Sesame oil, ½ tbsp.
Process
- To make this recipe, take a small bowl and mix red pepper powder, garlic, sesame oil and soy sauce in it, set aside.
- In a large pot, combine tofu, water, and broth. Bring it to a boil, and then stir in the seasoning mix along with green onions, carrots, and spinach. Now, gently crack the eggs into the broth and allow them to poach. Serve immediately with well-cooked rice.
You can make changes in any of the above recipe, as per your taste; however, make sure that the base does not change. Not just for the taste, but also for maintaining the nutritional value of the food.