Healthy, soft-food recipes that are tasty and gentle on teeth

Fruits and vegetables

Soft fruits with no skin
Cooked/baked fruits
Tinned fruits
Pureed fruits and vegetables
Soft, cooked veggies.

Protein

Cheese, thinly sliced
Ricotta and cottage cheese
Milk
Reduced-sugar ice creams
Natural or low-sugar yoghurts

Foods to steer clear of

If being placed on a soft-food diet (or you are a willing candidate), there are certain foods to avoid. Anything that is crunchy, sticky, hard or difficult to chew, and might upset your stomach, should be avoided. These foods include:

Starches

Hard crackers
Toast
Chewy cereals

Fruits

Any hard fruits
Stringy fruits, such as mango or pineapple
The skin of fruits

Vegetables

Corn on the cob
Peas
Any hard, raw or unmashed vegetables

Protein

Steak
Beefy jerky
Bacon
Sausage
Hot dogs
Peanut butter, smooth and crunchy.

Where’s the food-fun factor?

‘But these foods are delicious and fun to eat’ you might be countering. It’s true that while some of the foods to avoid are good for you and taste great, you don’t need to sacrifice taste and quality for food texture. Your dentist Buderim offers a range of healthy-alternative food types.

The following recipes are designed for a taste-tempting sample of healthy eating and dental health — to hasten the recovery process of intensive dental treatments or oral surgery.

The simplest and tastiest soft-food recipes

• Scrambled eggs with grated Parmesan and a dash of truffe oil (whisk three free-range eggs with a splash of milk, scramble in a hot, lightly oiled pan and gently scramble. Finish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and a sprinkling of truffle oil — for added creaminess and luxuriousness).
• Soft-baked skinless salmon fillet with an avocado and ricotta salad (gently bake skinless salmon fillet in a moderate oven for 10-15 minutes. Season and serve with a fresh salad or thinly sliced avocado and fresh ricotta — for a protein punch that is not only flavoursome but also soft and creamy on the palate)
• Fruit smoothies with natural yoghurt and a dash of freshly squeezed orange juice (avoid stringy or seeded fruits and fruit skins. Baked, stewed or fruit compotes are ideal for use — vitamins, minerals and a flavour hit that refreshes, restores and energises.)
• Creamy pumpkin soup (boil and puree deskinned and seeded pumpkin to a thin consistency. Add to a pot; gradually include vegetable stock and simmer until the soup is blended and warm. Season and serve with a dollop of natural yoghurt or thickened cream.)

These healthy, soft-food recipes are not only designed to be enjoyed following your dental treatment or while in recovery mode. They offer affordable, easy-to-prepare meal plans and snack options that provide great taste and the best of health all year round. For more information about making the most of your family’s dental health and dietary routine, contact your nearest dentist on (07) 5370 8865.