Surgical Transition Diet

What is a surgical transition diet?

A surgical transition diet includes foods that are soft in texture. These foods are easy to eat and digest while giving you the nutrition you need. This diet is used for patients who are not ready for foods of normal consistency or with too many spices. Surgical soft foods include cooked fruit and tender vegetables; baked, roasted, and stewed meats; as well as refined breads, cereals, and pastries.

If you have any questions about this diet while you are in the hospital, please ask your nurse to contact the dietitian or dietetic technician.

Foods that Are Okay to Eat

• Mashed potatoes

• Refined pasta, rice and bread

• Bagels without nuts or fruit

• Eggs

• Soft meat

• Fish

• Yogurt

• Ice cream

• Cottage cheese

• Pudding

• Cooked soft vegetables

• Cooked or soft canned fruit

• Soups or stews

• Blenderized foods such as shakes and smoothies

Foods to Avoid

• Raw foods with skin, seeds, and pulp such as fresh fruit and vegetables

• Fried foods

• Spicy foods

• Tomato juice and products

• Orange juice

• Nuts

• Crunchy chips

Teach Back

• What is the most important thing you learned from this handout?

• What changes will you make in your diet/lifestyle, based on what you learned today?

Who to Call

If you are a UW Health patient and have more questions, please contact UW Health at one of the phone numbers listed below. You can also visit our website at www.uwhealth.org/nutrition.

Nutrition clinics for UW Hospital and Clinics (UWHC) and American Family Children’s Hospital (AFCH) can be reached at: (608) 890-5500.

Nutrition clinics for UW Medical Foundation (UWMF) can be reached at: (608) 287-2770.