Soft Foods
Eating "soft foods" is often recommended to help reduce nausea. I would recommend eating small amounts first, to see how you do with each food individually before combining them. Everyone is different.
- Eggs (soft cooked rather than hard boiled)
- Potatoes (mashed, baked, anything but fried really)
- Slightly over-cooked pasta (perhaps with Alfredo sauce--there are some good bottled ones now Bertonnelli for example, lot of calories, but 'soft."
- Rice
- Soups and Chowders
- Custards
- Puddings
- Smoothies (blended fruits of your choice with water, ice cream, milk, or protein powder)
- "Soft" bread (a super soft kid's style bread, they make these with whole wheat now too) for sandwiches. Really mash up tuna and mayo (extra mayo) until it's really soft and make a skimpy sandwich and see if it works for you. Or deviled ham (if you like it) or any other soft spread. The canned chicken is "softer" and more shredded, so if you mixed that well it might digest easily on a sandwich too. It's mushier than fresh chicken.
- Tofu pudding is good and makes a "mousse" like treat. Easy! Two packages "silky" tofu chilled (it's boxed and last 6 months), 1 lg package chocolate Jello pudding, sugar free or not, & a bit of milk. Whirl it all together in a food processor until smooth. Chill, serve. It's outstanding, rich, no "tofu" feel at all.
- You could try some creamed vegetables too, like creamed spinach if fresh greens are hard for you.
- Avocados & guacamole!
- Bananas, mangoes, papaya, kiwi, melons (you may have to juice the melons though.)
- You need some veggies and if you are having trouble with them, how about juicing some of the ones that are hard to 'eat?"
- Yams and Sweet potatoes cooked as savory or sweet. You could cook and mash or puree with milk or cream, various other root vegetables too, carrots, turnips, parsnips, beets, etc. You may need to OVER cook a bit--but you will still get nutrients and taste.
- Remember to use small amounts of things that are hard for you as "flavor." If, for example, a few slices of bacon are hard to digest, try a bit of crumbled bacon on your potato or eggs. Big flavor for small amount, and crumpled may make digestion easier. You can do this with parsley, a bit of fresh shrimp, a bit of crab meat, etc. etc. too.
- A soft fish, such as sole may be easier for you. It's also fast to cook and might go well with that rice! You can pan-fry or over cook it in minutes with just some olive oil or butter, and a bit of lemon and herbs.
- "Soft" may also mean very finely chopped and cooked (as far as veggies.) If so, this sound bad, but it's outstanding. Shred brussel sprouts fine (I use the slicing blade on the food processor, but a knife works fine--thin slices top down--you want it like "slaw." Heat olive oil in frying pan. Sauté the brussel sprouts until vivid green (barely)...you may want to cook them a bit longer. This is so good, bright green, no icky sprout taste or smell--just fab. No one has ever guessed what it is, just said they loved it, and they have been shocked when I tell them is Brussel sprouts! Because it's so finely sliced and it's cooked, it might be easier for you.
- Cottage Cheese (for fruit salads, plain, or to add to pasta dishes as a "ricotta" type cheese.)
- In frozen foods you may find a treasure trove of things. Stouffers corn or spinach souffle, lean cuisine mild enchiladas, Amy's various veggie items that look "soft", creme brule, etc.
- Oatmeal and other cooked cereals. Add maple or chocolate or other flavors for variety.
- Delicious brussel sprouts:
- Wash, take off the stem end, then shred them. (Like coleslaw) I use the slicing blade on the cusinart and just put them all through the tube. Or, thinly slice them with a sharp knife.
- Heat some extra virgin olive oil in a frying pan or WOK. (more than a coating, but not deep, maybe 1/8 -- 1/6 inch in the bottom of pan. Just dump the shredded BS in, and stir fry over medium heat until they are all a vivid dark green, and just barely wilting. Add pepper. Salt to taste if you like it.