Patient Education Colorectal Cancer: Your Care and Recovery | Page 38

Some examples of foods included in a soft diet are:
• Fluids such as coffee, juice, and soda

• Fresh banana or avocado

• Low-fat milk products, yogurt
• Mild-flavored cheese

• Soft-cooked or canned
vegetables

• Cooked cereal

• Moist, tender meats or fish

• Plain white rice

• Eggs

• Pasta

• White, wheat, or rye bread

• Potatoes (mashed, baked, boiled)

• Ice cream, frozen yogurt,
sherbet, custards, or puddings

• Cooked or canned fruits

Foods to Avoid at First
• Foods that are hard to chew and swallow, such as raw fruits and
vegetables and meats that are tough
• Fried, greasy, and spicy foods
• High-fiber foods like whole grain breads and cereals

Adding Fiber
• Dietary fiber is the indigestible part of whole grains, vegetables, and fruits.
Add these foods to your diet slowly — only 1 serving each day at a time.
• Your goal for dietary fiber is 5 servings per day or 20 to 35 grams.
• You may want to start with ½ cup of cereal. If you do well with that, add
a piece of fruit or ½ cup of salad.
• Remember that you may react differently to some foods, so if one doesn’t
go well, try something else.
• Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water per day. If you add fiber without enough
water, you can become constipated.

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