Text alternative: Soft Options brochure

Breakfast choices

Cereal

• Soften with warm milk
• Choose high fibre like flakes and Weetbix

Porridge

• Rolled oats, semolina, rice cereal, congee
  

Dairy

• Plain yoghurt, cheese, fruit smoothies
  

Egg

• Soft boiled, poached, scrambled, omelette
  

Bread

• · Try avocado, cream cheese or soft yellow cheese, hummus, labneh or other preferred spreads
  

Hot foods

• Baked beans, spaghetti, creamed corn, savoury mince, steamed/poached fish
  

Rice or noodles

• Steamed/boiled until soft (cut noodles into smaller pieces after cooking)
  

Lunch/Dinner Choices

Soup

• Use a variety of vegetables
• To increase energy and nutritional value add: meat, split peas, lentils, barley, creamed corn, grated cheese, pasta, noodles
  

Fish

• Grilled, steamed, poached, canned, fishcakes
• Try adding a tasty sauce
  

Sandwich

• Remove hard crusts
• Try salmon, tuna, sardines, hummus, chopped chicken, savoury mince, ricotta cheese, baked beans & egg
• Add mayonnaise, mustard, etc to taste and moisten for easier eating
  

Eggs

• Scrambled, poached, soft boiled, omelette
• Try adding baked beans, cheese, creamed corn, savoury mince, vegetables
  

Mince dishes

• Try different types of minced meat: beef, lamb, veal, pork, chicken
• Try tasty mince recipes: lasagne, moussaka, meatloaf, rissoles, shepard's pie, savoury mince with vegetables 

Casseroles or stews

• Cook until meat is very tender
• Add lots of vegetables
• Use plenty of gravy or sauces
  

Vegetables

• Cooked until tender or enjoy mashed or added to favourite recipes
  

Noodles and pasta

• Cooked until soft. Use lots of tomato-based sauce and cut into smaller pieces.
  

Rice, semolina or couscous

• Steamed or boiled until soft
• Add extra sauce or gravy and a variety of other ingredients
• Try a risotto recipe
  

Dessert

• Ice cream, yoghurt (regular or frozen), soft fresh fruits, stewed or canned fruits, custard, jelly, steamed or baked puddings
  

Beverages

• Water, milk, vegetable and fruit juices, tea, coffee
  

Snacks

• Plain yoghurt, milk, milkshakes, fruit smoothies, soup, pikelets, soft fresh fruits, small can salmon/tuna
  

Easy to prepare

• Choose frozen products and meals, canned & pre-made meals
  

If you develop any of these problems:

Constipation

• Drink plenty of water
• Choose cereal with oats, wheat and bran
• Try stewed dried fruit eg. prunes, peaches
• Include fibre enriched bread
• Use legumes and barley in soups and stews
• Do regular moderate exercise
  

Overweight

• Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables
• Choose healthy protein: Lean meat, fish, egg, tofu, legumes (lentils, beans, chickpeas)
• Reduce portion sizes at meals
• Choose low fat dairy: milk, yoghurt, cheese
• Limit processed meats, sugars, and fat
  

Losing too much weight

• Eat small healthy meals more often
• Include nutritious drinks like milk, milkshakes, smoothies, hot chocolate and soups
• Try a high protein, high energy drink
• Include food high in healthy fat e.g., avocado, olive oil, nut spreads and hummus
  

If you have a sore mouth:

• Drinking cool fluids
• Using a straw
• Avoiding acidic and spicy foods
• Avoiding hot foods

Foods you may need to avoid:

• Hard: eg. firm fruit, raw vegetables, lollies, nuts
• Dry, crunchy: eg. crisps, crusts, popcorn, seeds, crackers
• Tough and stringy: eg. vegetable skins, corn, pineapple, some meat
• Small seeds: eg. passionfruit, seeds in bread/cereals etc
• Sticky: eg. peanut butter, biscuits, toffee
  

Caring for your teeth

• Brush your teeth  twice a day with  fluoride toothpaste '
• Floss daily 
• Visit your dental practitioner regularly 
• Eat a well balanced diet 
• Quit smoking

If you wear a plate or dentures

• Clean everyday and if possible, after each meal
• Clean using a toothbrush with mild liquid soap and water
• Store in a clean, dry container overnight 
• Have a dental checkup every year