Soft Food Diet for Stomach Aches - What is it? Let's find out!

You too have sometimes had a stomach ache, or maybe after surgery, and a doctor has told you to 'eat only light food for a few days'? Then you might wonder, 'What exactly is this light food? How exactly do you do this?' That's what we're going to talk about today. Knowing this properly will be very useful for you.

What is this soft food diet?

Simply put, a soft food diet is a diet that is easy to chew, soft, and low in fiber and digests quickly . We sometimes call this a gastrointestinal (GI) soft diet . This type of diet is usually recommended after surgery, when you have an upset stomach, or when you just want to give your intestines a break. Think about it, our intestines are like a machine. Sometimes they need a break, something to work on, right? This is the same.

When following this diet, you should eat 'easily digestible' foods and stay away from 'difficult to digest' foods . Just like we only put good oil in a car, we should feed our stomachs with the right and convenient food at the right time.

It is important to continue eating this way until your doctor or dietitian tells you to. This may take two to three weeks, or until your appetite returns and your bowel movements return to normal. If you find it difficult to eat at home, be sure to talk to your doctor or dietitian. They will be able to help you.

Just because someone said that not all foods are good for you, doesn't mean they're good for you. If you feel bloated or have stomach problems after eating a certain food, stop eating that food for a few days and then try again. Everyone's body is different, so you have to find what works for you.

Don't forget to read the labels of the packaged foods you buy from the store carefully . What you need to look for is to choose foods that have less than 2 grams of fiber per serving. Because this time we are looking at foods that are low in fiber.

Unless your dietitian or doctor has advised otherwise, you can choose a light diet as follows. Remember, if you feel uncomfortable after eating a certain food, stop eating it for a few weeks and try again later.

What else should we be careful about when following this soft food diet?

Okay, now let's see what other important points are needed to follow this diet correctly. If you follow these correctly, this diet will be a great help in helping you recover quickly.

• Chew your food well: This is one of the most important things. You should chew every food you eat until it is the consistency of mashed potatoes . Do not swallow the food as soon as you put it in your mouth. The more you chew your food, the easier it is for your body to digest. Just like when we chew a bite of rice well, it feels lighter on our stomach. This reduces the weight on our stomach a lot.
• Eat several times a day: It's easier to eat 4 or 6 small meals a day than 3 large meals at once. Keep eating small meals every few hours throughout the day. This will help your stomach feel less full and make it easier to digest.
• Drink plenty of water: You should drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. This includes liquid foods such as pudding, ice cream, sherbet, ice lollies (like Popsicles®), soup, jelly, and yogurt. It's not good to let water sit in your body, especially when you're recovering.
• Be aware of nutritional deficiencies: Since this diet restricts certain foods (especially high-fiber, hard-to-digest vegetables, fruits, and legumes), you may be missing out on some of the nutrients your body needs. If you are advised to eat this way for more than 2-3 weeks , you may need to take a multivitamin . However, you should definitely talk to your doctor before taking any vitamin or mineral supplement. They will be the ones who will tell you exactly what you need and how much. It is not a good idea to take vitamins on a whim.
• How to add fiber back in: Once your symptoms have improved, you should gradually start adding more fiber-rich foods back into your diet . Fiber is an important part of a balanced diet. Fiber is essential for bowel function and preventing constipation. Don't add too much at once. Try adding a new food (e.g., a high-fiber vegetable or fruit) every 2-3 days to see if it upsets your stomach, fills you up, or changes your bowel movements.
• Eat a variety of foods: Eating a variety of foods is very important for good health. Instead of eating the same thing every day, try to eat as many different things as possible (within these light food restrictions). That way, you will get almost all the nutrients your body needs.

The most important thing is to do all of this under the guidance of your doctor or nutritionist. They are the ones who know what is best for your condition. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask them.

Okay, so let's see how to prepare a sample meal plan for a day. This is designed to be easy to digest and suitable for the first two to three weeks after surgery. But this is just an example, you can change it according to your preferences, convenience, and what you have at home.

Let's see what a sample menu looks like.

Here's a meal plan for the day that you can get an idea for. These are light and easy to digest.

Breakfast

Option 1:

• An omelet with cheese.
• A croissant or an English muffin.
• Two teaspoons of grape jelly.
• A glass of milk (2% fat) (about 8 ounces).

Option 2:

• 3/4 cup vanilla Greek yogurt.
• A banana (well ripe).
• A slice of white bread spread with butter or peanut butter.
• A cup of tea (hot or cold, with less sugar).

Lunch

Option 1:

• Grilled chicken (about 4 ounces) with finely chopped parsley.
• 1/2 cup of peeled, well-boiled, and mashed potatoes, with smooth brown gravy.
• 1/2 cup boiled canned green beans.
• 1/2 cup applesauce.
• A biscuit with chocolate chips.
• A glass of lemonade.

Option 2:

• A turkey and Swiss cheese sandwich made with two slices of seedless rye bread, topped with a little mayo and mustard, to taste.
• 1/2 cup applesauce.
• A small packet of baked potato chips, about 20-30 grams.
• A glass of lemonade.

Afternoon Snack

• A piece of mozzarella string cheese.
• Four or six saltine crackers, or a packet of snack-size pretzels.
• A glass of water.

Dinner

• A penne pasta dish with meat sauce. If desired, sprinkle some Parmesan cheese on top and add a little olive oil or butter.
• A slice of seedless Italian bread.
• A cup of well-boiled carrots.
• 1/2 cup vanilla ice cream.
• A glass of cold tea.

Evening Snack

• 1/2 cup of cottage cheese, pudding, or jelly.
• 1/2 cup canned peaches.
• A glass of water.

Now you probably have a good idea of ​​what a soft food diet is and how to plan it. Remember, this is just an example. You can talk to your doctor or nutritionist to come up with a list of foods that are right for you. They may tell you to add or remove other foods in addition to these.

So, what is the take-home message from this story?

It's very simple. If a doctor tells you to go on a soft food diet , they are telling you to give your stomach and digestive system a little rest, to help them work more easily. This is not something to be afraid of, it is something you are doing to speed up your recovery.

• The main thing to remember is to chew your food well and eat slowly. Make this a habit.
• Eating several small meals a day is better than eating one big meal at a time. It's easier on the stomach.
• Drink plenty of water. Don't let your body dry out.
• Avoid foods that make you feel uncomfortable for a while. Not everything is right for everyone.
• Be aware of the fiber content of packaged foods. Read the label.
• Don't take things like vitamins without medical advice. It can cause other problems.
• Once you feel better, start adding more fiber to your diet. Talk to your doctor about this.

The most important thing is to follow the instructions of your doctor or nutritionist exactly. They are the ones who will guide you in the right way for your condition. So, there is nothing to worry about. This is only for a short time. If you do it right, you will recover quickly and be able to eat the foods you love again! I wish you a speedy recovery!

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