Post Operative Diet

Week 3

Soft Food Meal Plan

This is an exciting stage where you are ready for more options. The soft food diet adds food textures such as: cooked beans, low fat cheeses, eggs or egg substitutes, canned meat like tuna or chicken, canned chili, unsweetened canned fruit or cooked vegetables.

Chewing needs to be a conscious part of your meal. Bites need to be the size of a small marshmallow and chewed 20-30 times before swallowing.

Food tolerances may vary from day to day. Remember you can eat slow and introduce new foods back in your diet as tolerated.

You will now eat three soft food meals and one protein shake a day. The volume per meal will remain at 1/2- 3/4 cup per meal.

Sample Menu

BREAKFAST

One scrambled egg

garnished with 1tsp

canned salsa

1/4 c cream of wheat

w/ 1tsp honey

LUNCH

2oz tuna patty

1/4 c cooked peas and

carrots

Mid Afternoon Snack:

12oz protein shake

DINNER:

1/2 c puréed beef stew

1/4 c canned pears

REMEMBER to drink 64-120 ounces of fluids a day.

REMEMBER to eat dry meals

REMEMBER to eat slow, chew, and eat gauged foods

Choose to eat gauged foods that will help you feel more full

Gauged foods allowed:

chicken, turkey, beef, pork, and fish

On a regular diet, you will be able to add raw fruits and vegetables to eat as gauged foods