The purpose of the palate soft diet is to prevent injury to the fragile tissues in the mouth and throat after having a surgery to that area.
Safest Way to Feed Your Child
Place your child in a sitting position for feeding.
Give fluids and foods from a cup or use the side of a spoon.
Infants may use the nipple they were using before surgery.
Do not change nipples at this time.
Do not use a pacifier.
Do not use straws or foods served on a stick.
How to Provide Mouth Care to Your Child
Use water to rinse mouth of leftover food.
Clean teeth on the outside of the gums with moistened gauze. Do not use a toothbrush or sponge applicator.
Tips to Prepare Food
You can use a food processor or blender to turn table foods into food that is smooth and easy to swallow. Prepared baby food is a good example of the consistency you will want to achieve. You will find that chicken or beef broth works well to blend with meats and vegetables. Fruit juice works best when blending fruit.
Milk Allowed
Infant formula
All milk and milk drinks
Milk-based soups
Pudding and custard
Ice cream and sherbet
Yogurt without seeds or nuts
Oat or soy milks
Milk to Avoid
Milk products with nuts or seeds
Ice cream with candies or chips
Yogurt with granola or pieces of whole fruit
Meat and Meat Substitutes Allowed
Soft cooked meats processed to puree
Baby food meats: beef, chicken, veal, pork
Cream soups
Soft scrambled eggs
Creamed cottage cheese
Blended, cooked legumes such as lentils or black beans (baby food consistency)
Tofu
Meat and Meat Substitutes to Avoid
Whole pieces of meat, fish, poultry
Cold cuts, sausage, hot dogs
Hard cooked eggs
Vegetables and Fruits Allowed
Fruit or vegetable juice
Baby food fruits or vegetables
Vegetables blended with broth
Fruits blended with fruit juice
Tomato soup
Mashed, canned fruit without skins or seeds
Vegetables and Fruits to Avoid
Fresh fruit or canned with skins or seeds
Fresh or canned, non-blended vegetables
Thick or gummy mashed vegetables
Fried or crisp-cooked vegetables
Veggie chips/straws
Breads and Cereals Allowed
Any cooked cereal that has been thinned with milk or water
Soft-cooked macaroni and noodles
Soft-cooked rice
Breads and Cereals to Avoid
Breads, toast, buns, bagels
Dry cereal, muffins, sweet rolls
French toast, pancakes
Crackers, cookies, popcorn
Pretzels, chips
Fats Allowed
Butter, oils, dressings
Fats to Avoid
None
Others Allowed
Gelatin desserts
Others to Avoid
Gum, caramels, lollipops
Hard candy, jellybeans, sticky candy
Honey, syrup, molasses
Carbonated drinks
Seasonings Allowed
Sugar, salt
Seasonings to Avoid
Other spices (pepper, chili powder)
Who to Call
If you are a UW Health patient and have more questions, please contact UW Health at the phone number listed below.
Nutrition clinics for UW Hospital and Clinics (UWHC) and American Family Children’s Hospital (AFCH)
(608) 890-5500
You can also visit our website at: www.uwhealth.org/nutrition.