27 Soft Food Ideas for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

There are many soft foods, but when you need to eat them out of necessity, it can be hard to think of all the types of food available to you. Little thought is often given to the hardness of food, but sometimes soft foods are a must. 

Whether you require a diet of soft foods or you have a teething baby or picky toddler, here’s a list of soft food ideas for you to try.

Soft food ideas for breakfast

Cereal, granola, and bagels can be too tough for breakfast when you need soft foods. Luckily, there are lots of breakfast foods that fit the bill.

1. Eggs

Scrambled, poached, fried, and even hard-boiled, eggs are pretty soft no matter how you cook them. 

2. Pancakes 

Pancakes from a box mix are easy to whip up and much softer than their frozen counterparts. 

3. French toast casserole

Cut off the crusts of the bread and top with crushed strawberries for a breakfast that you can devour without much effort. 

4. Biscuits and gravy

Biscuits topped with creamy gravy and bits of sausage are both satisfying and easy to eat when you need soft breakfast food. 

5. Instant oatmeal

Choose your favorite oatmeal flavor or get a variety pack. Use warm milk and top with sliced bananas to make your oatmeal more filling. 

Soft food ideas for lunch

For some, lunch may be the biggest meal of the day. Make it a nutritious meal by choosing several options from the list below. 

1. Bone broth 

Rich in minerals and good for overall health, a warm cup of bone broth with a bit of added salt and spices will ensure you’re staying hydrated even if you’re not hungry.

2. Peanut butter and jelly sandwich

Using soft bread and creamy nut butter, you can enjoy a childhood favorite. 

3. Macaroni and cheese

From a box or from scratch, mac and cheese is sure to please. Cook the noodles a little longer than usual to ensure they’re soft and can be digested easily even if you can’t chew well. 

4. Soup

A bit more hearty than bone broth, canned soup is great to have on hand at all times. 

5. Guacamole

Make your own or buy packaged guacamole from the store. Skip the chips and eat it with a spoon or on small slices of soft cheese. 

6. Potato salad

Boiled potatoes, eggs, and creamy dressing fit the bill for a soft food meal. Remember that you might need to forego (or pick out) crunchy ingredients like celery, bell pepper, and bacon. 

7. Deli meat

Thinly sliced deli meats like chicken, turkey, and roast beef are rich in protein and help with recovery. Eat it on soft bread or roll it up and dip it in your favorite sauce. 

8. Pasta salad

Many pasta salads fit the bill for soft foods. When buying premade deli pasta salad, make sure it doesn’t include ingredients that might hinder your recovery or upset your stomach. 

9. Refried beans

Refried beans are so versatile. You can eat these warmed up with a bit of cheese or heated up in a soft tortilla. Add some sour cream and guacamole to make your own burrito bowl. 

Soft food ideas for dinner

There’s no need to spend dinner eating applesauce and yogurt. All of these soft foods are great dinner options and can be made for the entire family.

1. Salmon

Baked or pan-seared, salmon flakes apart easily, so even if you can’t chew well, you can consume it.   

2. Fried rice

For best results, use leftover rice plus some precooked veggie pieces. Add a couple of scrambled eggs for extra protein. 

3. Canned vegetables

A quick and easy addition to your dinner, canned vegetables are great because they’re precooked and soft. Top them with things like butter, salt, pepper, and garlic powder to add some extra flavor. 

4. Spaghetti and pasta sauce

Cooked well, and even on the overdone side, spaghetti and your favorite pasta sauce make an easy-to-consume yet hearty meal. 

5. Tofu

There are so many ways to cook tofu that even if you’re not vegan or vegetarian, you can find something you like. It can be baked, boiled, sauteed, and even added to smoothies! 

6. Mashed potatoes

You’ll get the creamiest, smoothest mashed potatoes when you make them from boxed potato flakes.

7. Baked squash

Butternut and spaghetti squash cooks up very well and can be eaten in many ways. Enjoy it plain with a bit of butter or top with a marinara sauce for a more substantial dish. 

Soft food ideas for snacks

Just because you’re limited to soft foods doesn’t mean you won’t want snacks in between. And, there’s no rule for when to eat these, so enjoy them whenever you’re hungry for them! 

1. Yogurt

Yogurt cups make excellent snacks. They’re just the right size and come in dozens of flavors. 

2. Smoothies

Buy premade smoothies in bottles or make your own in the blender with fruit and milk. 

3. Cottage cheese 

High in protein, cottage cheese will take the edge off your appetite between meals. 

4. Pudding cups

The quintessential food when the doctor or dentist prescribes a diet of soft foods, pudding cups are always a great option, especially when you’ve got a sweet tooth. 

5. Jello cups 

A bit lighter than pudding, fruity gelatin cups are favorites for people of all ages when soft foods are required. 

6. Applesauce

Individual applesauce cups are handy, but larger jars are more economical. 

Order soft foods online

When you need to stock up on soft food ideas to prepare for an upcoming medical procedure or need soft foods for your teething baby, one thing you don’t have time for is extra trips to the grocery store. Stock up on a variety of soft foods and save yourself time by having an Instacart shopper do the heavy lifting, literally! Choose home delivery for the most convenient, but in-store pick-up is available and ready in about two hours if you’re in a hurry. Try it now! 

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