MEAL PLANNING FOR MECHANICAL SOFT DIET

Definition of Terms

Calories Units of energy.

Protein A nutrient used by your body for growth and repair. The best sources are
milk, meats, fish, eggs, cheese, peanut butter, and dried beans and peas.

Blenderized Food which is soft or cooked until tender and blended in a blender or a
food processor.

Pureed The thick, smooth consistency of food which has been blenderized.

Indication For Use

The mechanical soft diet is recommended for people who have trouble chewing.

Goal

The goal of the mechanical soft diet is to provide a balanced diet with adequate amounts of
protein and calories for people who have trouble chewing.

General Guidelines

Ease of chewing may be increased by mashing, chopping, or blenderizing.

The following guidelines will help you prepare foods with a blender:

1. Scrub all equipment with hot soapy water and rinse well.

2. To prepare food for cooking, remove skin, pits, or seeds. Remove bone, gristle, and fat
from meat. Bring to a full boil and cook until tender. Vegetables do not need to be
overcooked to blend well.

3. Add 1 cupful of food at a time to the blender with ¼ cup liquid.* More liquid may be
needed for meat to allow blades to operate: care should be taken, however, to use as little
water as possible so product is not too diluted.
 *Possible blending liquids include:
• Juices from canned vegetables and fruits.
• Water used to boil vegetables, rice, or spaghetti for a fuller taste.
• Pan gravy.
• Water-flavored adding parsley, carrots, celery, and a mixture of herbs when
boiling meats or potatoes.
• Sour cream, cream, and clear soups, ice cream, tomato and vegetable juice, water
with an added bouillon cube, and whipped cream.

4. Force food through a strainer to remove large particles that could clog your syringe.

5. Save time! Prepare several days’ feedings at once and freeze.

TO MAINTAIN YOUR CURRENT WEIGHT,

YOU NEED ________ CALORIES EVERY DAY.

Your weight is your best indicator of your intake of calories. If you find yourself losing more
than five to six pounds, try the suggestions for increasing calories.

YOU NEED AT LEAST _______ GRAMS OF PROTEIN EACH DAY.

Good sources of protein are meat, eggs, milk, cheese and yogurt. To help you decide if you are
getting enough protein, here are some examples of the amount of protein in different foods.

FOOD PROTEIN CALORIES

grams

1 cup whole milk 8 160

1 cup skim milk 8 80
*1 cup double strength milk 16 250
*1 cup milkshake with whole milk 16 420
*1 serving blender eggnog made with whole milk 26 423
1 cup yogurt, plain 8 125
1 egg 7 75
1 cup instant breakfast with whole milk 17.5 290
2 tablespoons peanut butter 10 230
1 ounce of meat, fish, or poultry 7 75
1 ounce of cheese 7 100
½ cup of cottage cheese 14 150
fruits and vegetables 1-2 varies
1 jar strained meats (baby) 13 120

* Recipes in page 5.

Avoid drinking raw eggs. This can lead to Salmonella food poisoning.
 DAILY FOOD GUIDE

FOOD GROUP ALLOWED FOODS AVOID

Milk and milk products

Milk; all types
Yogurt
Custard
Ice cream
Cottage cheese
Cheese
Eggnog
Milk drinks*

Protein Foods
Tender meats and poultry, Tough meats
ground or chopped
Eggs, egg salad
Tuna salad
Meatloaf, meatballs
Soft fish
Casseroles
Smooth peanut butter

Fruits and Vegetables

All juices Fresh fruit with membranes or
All canned fruits tough skins
Fresh fruits: Dried fruit
Applesauce
Banana
Cantaloupe
Melon (seeded)
Grapefruit sections
(without membranes)
Berries
Avocado
Apple (peeled)
Pear (peeled)

Well cooked soft or pureed Raw vegetable

vegetables Vegetables with tough skins
Tomato paste or membranes
Tomato catsup
Tomato puree
 FOOD GROUP ALLOWED FOODS AVOID

Grain Groups
Soft bread including: Hard rolls
Toast Bread sticks
Rolls Bagels
Biscuits Popcorn
Muffins
Cornbread
Cooked cereals
Dry cereals with milk
Cooked noodles
Rice
Crackers with beverage
Waffles
Pancakes

Fats
Butter Bacon
Margarine Nuts
Mayonnaise Deep-fried; crispy food
Salad dressings
Cream:
Sour
Whipping
Coffee
Cream cheese
Gravy
Olives

Desserts
Sherbet Desserts containing nuts or
Gelatin dried fruits
Puddings
Cakes
Pies
Cookies with beverage

Miscellaneous
Sauces Potato chips
Soups Snack chips
Seasonings
 HINTS AND SUGGESTIONS

 If constipation is a problem while you are on this diet, you may wish to try:
 adding bran to milkshakes, cream soups, yogurt.
 including a whole grain cereal in your breakfast such as cream of wheat or oatmeal
OR eating a whole grain cold cereal soaked in milk.
 prune juice.

 Since it is now more difficult for you to eat, you may find it easier to have six small
meals each day instead of three larger ones. Remember, when snacking, choose snacks
which provide protein, vitamins, and minerals rather than empty calories.

 Try adding dry milk to mashed potatoes to help increase the protein content.

 Add grated cheese to mashed potatoes or vegetables.

RECIPES FOR DRINKS HIGH IN PROTEIN AND CALORIES

Vanilla Milkshake – makes 1 cup

Vanilla ice cream ½ cup Calories 289 per cup

Whole milk ½ cup Protein 12 grams
Skim milk powder 1 tbsp Fat 13 grams
Vanilla 1/8 tsp Carbohydrate 31 grams

Chocolate Milkshake – makes 1 cup

Chocolate ice cream ½ cup Calories 321 per cup

Whole milk ½ cup Protein 11 grams
Skim milk powder 1 tbsp + 1 tsp Fat 13 grams
Chocolate syrup 1 tbsp Carbohydrate 40 grams

Swiss Miss Drink – makes 1 cup

Vanilla ice cream 1 cup Calories 478 per cup

Whole milk ¼ cup + 2 tbsp Protein 14 grams
Swiss Miss mix 1 package or 1/3 cup Fat 18 grams
Eggnog mix* 3 tbsp Carbohydrate 65 grams

Peanut Butter Drink – makes 1 cup

Heavy whipping cream ½ cup Calories 829 per cup

Smooth peanut butter 3 tbsp Protein 15 grams
Chocolate syrup 3 tbsp Fat 65 grams
Vanilla ice cream ½ cup Carbohydrate 46 grams
 Creamy Milkshake – makes 1 cup

Vanilla ice cream ½ cup Calories 680 per cup

Heavy whipping cream ½ cup + 2 tbsp Protein 16 grams
Eggnog mix* 2 tbsp Fat 54 grams
Sugar 1 tbsp Carbohydrate 32 grams

If any of these drinks are too thick, thin them with milk.
Avoid overblending the drinks which contain whipping cream; they may become too thick.

*Egg custard mix, or Carnation Instant Breakfast Egg Flavor may be substituted for the Eggnog
Mix.

Nutritional Adequacy

If an individual consumes a variety of foods from all food groups, the diet will be nutritionally
adequate.

File # 14.1