Ideas for Soft Meals for People With Dental Problems

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tooth decay affects children more than any other chronic disease, and one-third of adults have untreated tooth decay and one out of seven have gum disease. Poor dental health limits food options, making it difficult to prepare and eat a balanced and varied diet. However, appliances such as a food processor, meat grinder or blender can help create healthy and nutrient rich soft meals.

Breakfast

• Oatmeal, scrambled or boiled eggs, cream of wheat and grits are soft foods to eat for breakfast. You can also incorporate fruits into your diet by making a mango fruit smoothie. In a blender, combine one fresh or frozen banana, one-half cup each of frozen mango and pineapple, one cup orange juice and six oz of plain or vanilla yogurt. Blend until the mixture is smooth or reaches the desired consistency.

Lunch

• Hummus and brown rice is a quick and healthy meal to eat for lunch. You can prepare hummus by combining a 15 oz can of garbanzo beans, also known as chickpeas, two minced garlic cloves, one tsp ground cumin, one tbsp olive oil and one-half tsp black pepper into a food processor. Mix the ingredients until smooth. Other lunch options include ripe avocados, tuna fish, peanut butter sandwiches, pasta with tomato sauce or vegetable or tomato soup.

Dinner

• Soft meals for dinner can include meats like baked fish or ground beef. Serve with cooked vegetables such as spinach, green peas, kale and corn, macaroni and cheese or mashed potatoes. Legumes or beans and lentils create soft meals that provide both fiber and proteins. For example, black beans and rice is a nutritious meal that includes onions, garlic, tomatoes, corn, cumin and cilantro. It contains 307 calories, 15 g protein and 12 g of fiber.

Snacks & Desserts

• Instead of avoiding snacks and desserts, eat soft options like applesauce, yogurt, a banana or orange and ice cream, frozen yogurt, pudding or custards, respectively. You can make your own applesauce in 10 minutes using an apple corer, lemon juice, sugar and cinnamon. In addition, making pies for dessert can provide an opportunity to eat harder fruits like peaches or apples.

Tips

• In order to create healthy soft meals, plan ahead. Keep a record of all of the foods prepared so you can combine them in various ways throughout the week. Incorporating soft food options as a part of the family's overall diet can eliminate extra food preparation and provide an opportunity for those with dental problems to eat with the entire family.