After three weeks on liquids you will graduate to eating soft or blended foods. These are foods that dissolve easily in the mouth. The key here is to keep the texture and consistency of baby food. Remember your tummy is quite small and does not work as efficient at digestion as your old tummy; you will need to “baby” it for a while.

This phase should included foods that are creamy and smooth, but provide greater variety of foods and more nutrition. Foods should be eaten in small bites chewed well or pureed in the mouth before swallowing.

Protein continues to be a key concern at this stage. You need to have a protein serving at each meal and continue to have at least 3 (15grams) protein drinks a day or 4 (12 grams) Optisource drink containers a day. Can have one Optisource high protein chocolate bar snack as a substitute for one drink a day.

Be sure you’re getting enough liquids between meals and remember to wait at least 30 minutes to an hour to resume fluids, the longer the better.

Compliance to these guidelines cannot be overemphasized in order to avoid negative consequences, discomfort, vomiting, medical complications and emergencies.

Food tolerance or intolerance is very individual and may vary from person to person. Foods that cause problems can be identified and avoided. In her book, “Living a Lighter Lifestyle” by author, Dr. Gaye Andrews, suggests: IF foods seem to cause problems in the beginning it might help to eat the very softest foods first, such as foods that are more liquidity, and then add more solid foods that digest more slowly, to be eaten last. The order would look something like this: jell-o, mashed or creamed potatoes, soft vegetables, and meat. Remember eating proteins first is recommended and important to get in, eating meat last is only suggested if problems occur otherwise.

* Don’t forget the protein shakes and supplements.

Time: You will be on this phase for 3 weeks.

Your portion size: ½ cup

Selections: Select one serving from carbohydrates and one serving from proteins for each meal. It is very important that you choose both protein and carbs; you will need some carbohydrate for energy, so do not skip this. If you do not eat carbs at all, the body will turn muscle into sugar and you will lose hair and muscle.  Your body will also "steal" protein in which to make carbs and sugars, to feed the brain, which depletes your protein efforts. 

Food Items:

Carbohydrates / Vegetables / Fruits

• ¼ cup Oatmeal (smooth is preferable)
• ¼ cup Cream of Wheat
• ¼ cup Grits
• ¼ cup cream of rice
• ¼ cup well cooked pasta
• ¼ cup whipped or very well cooked lima beans, navy beans, black beans, pinto beans, kidney beans, lentils or split peas
• ¼ Bean pastes like humus
• 2-3 Saltine Crackers 

• ¼ cup acorn squash
• ¼ cup mashed potatoes
• ¼ cup creamed/blended corn
• ¼ cup whipped sweet potatoes
• ¼ cup boiled potato or baked without skin 

• ¼ cup applesauce
• ¼ cup whipped or baby food pears
• ¼ cup whipped or baby food apricots
• ¼ cup whipped or baby food peaches 

• No sugar added yogurts
• No sugar added puddings 

Notes: make sure that cereals, rice and pastas have absorbed as much liquid as possible before eating.

Protein / Meat / Dairy / Eggs

• ¼ cup canned, pureed or whipped turkey, chicken, ham, tuna, (or light fish, such a tilapia) seafood (shrimp or scallops)
• ¼ cup tofu
• Low fat lactose free milk
• Soy milks
• Eggs and eggbeaters
• 1 chopped hard-boiled egg, 1 eggbeaters or 1 egg scrambled
• 1 egg crepe
• ¼ cup low fat ricotta and cottage cheese
• ¼ cup or 1 ounce light or 2% cheese melted 

 Note: Even though you cannot eat red meat yet, you may, however, eat Wendy’s chili.

Miscellaneous

•  All seasonings and spices of any kind
• Light or fat free mayo
• Reduced calorie dressings
• Sugar free drinks (no carbonation)
• butter sprays and cooking sprays

High protein entrees are a great and tasty way to get in your protein when you transition to phase 3 - soft foods menu. Spreads like this crab dish can be eaten with saltines or used as a topping on a boiled or baked potato, a sauce for pasta, or as a filling for an egg crepe. Tiny shrimp may also be sustitued for crab meat. 

Crab (or shrimp) Spread

• 1/4 of an 8 ounce pakage light cream cheese
• 1/2 cup fat free cottage cheese or tofu
• 1/4 cup light mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup shredded 2% cheese
• 1 Tablespoon hot mustard
• 1 Tablespoon horseradish sauce or 1/4 teaspoon real horseradish
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 can shreeded crab meat or tiny canned shrimp

 Place light cream cheese and cottage cheese in a food processor and blend until smooth. Mix in the rest of the ingredients by hand. Heat in microwave from 3 to 5 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes or until it thinckens up a bit.

1/4 cup serving = 1 protein serving. Serve with 2-3 crackers or as a filling for an egg crepe. 

This lasagna roll-up recipe was one of the first foods I ate on phase 3 - soft diet. 

Lasagna Roll-Up

• 1 lasagna noodle
• 1/4 cup light Ricotta cheese
• 1 Tablespoon Parmesan cheese
• 1 Tablespoon part-skim Mozzarella cheese
• 3 Tablespoons low fat Italian tomato sauce

Cook 1 lasagna noodle. Let the noodle sit in water and absorb as much water as possible. Then remove from water and spread with light ricotta and 1/2 the Italian tomato sauce. Sprinkle on Parmesan and Mozzarella. Roll up. Slice in half. Place half face up in a baking dish. Spread remaining sauce on top (to keep the pasta from drying out). Sprinkle with 2 teaspoons parmesan cheese. Bake in oven at 350 for 10-15 minutes. 1 roll up = 1 protein and 1 carb serving. 

Eggs. They aren't just for chickens...or Easter!

Eggs are great for this soft food stage. Try different recipes from omelets, deviled eggs, egg salad, hard boiled, scrambled, over easy, medium or sunny side up, poached and even soufflé. 

Try whipping your whole eggs with a mixer for fluffy, puffy and delightful good mornings! 

Cheese Soufflé

• 4 slices white bread cubed
• 3/4 cup low fat lactose free milk
• 1 cup shredded light chees
• 2 Tablespoons light margarine
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• dash ground pepper
• 3 eggs, separated 
• vegetable cooking spray

Combine bread and milk in a heavy saucepan; bring mixture to a boil. Add cheese and next 4 ingredients; margarine, salt, Worcestershire sauce, and pepper. Beat egg yolks; gradually stir about 1/4 of cheese mixture into egg yolks. Stir egg yolk mixture into remaining cheese mixture. 

Beat egg whites and fold (do not stir) into cheese mixture. Place the mixture into a 1 quart casserole dish coated with cooking spray; place casserole in a pan of water. Bake at 400 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until lightly browned. Serve hot. 

1/2 cup = 1 carb and 1 protein serving.