Any suggestions for "soft" meals?

[always quiet]

I am running out of ideas on what to make for dinner!! Dennis' throat is getting sore from radiation and I have been trying to stick with softer foods for dinner that all of us can enjoy. I think he is "souped" out at this point! Spaghetti is no good as the sauce stings. I really don't feel like making 2 seperate dinners each night. Anyone have any suggestions or recipes that would make everyone (especially the cook ) happy??

Thanks for any ideas!

 

[DCLuvinit]

How about sheppard's pie? Or anything with mashed potatoes.

 

[wdwmom2]

How about baked chicken and mashed potatos. Smother both with gravy. Hope his throat improves soon.

 

[helenabear]

Is it just the acidity from the tomato sauce that causes the pain? If so, you could try an alfredo or a pesto sauce with noodles. You could also make something like manicotti or stuffed shells of some sort w/ a cheese sauce as well. I agree with the mash potato idea... and you can "dress it up" a little with cheeses and garlic as well. I think Shepherd's Pie is a great idea as well. I'm not quite sure how soft it needs to be, but if he can do pasta, can he handle rice? There are a ton of recipes out there for good tasting rice you could also make up.

You could also make more soft side dishes for him and have a main course meat or something for others if he needs it. That way you odn't have to do two meals, but just more of one thing (I know I can get away with that with my sister since she doesn't eat meat at big family events). Oh also, try Lo Mein... you can have just the noodles in some sort of sauce like that (or maybe a peanut sauce as well). Good luck!

 

[Pooh67_68]

You could make a meal and than put his in a blender and make it drinkable. It may seem gross, but my cousin had to do that for awhile after his gastric bypass because he had to have very, very, very small pieces so he could digest the food.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

Some of the Mexican foods are soft, like burritos, refried beans, enchiladas. If you prepare them yourself you can limit the amount of spice.

I am trying to think of what DD ate when she had braces. The different mashed flavored potato bowls and pasta meals from the grocery store. Grilled cheese sandwiches.

I know this sounds gross, but people that have to have a purreed diet because of swallowing difficulties run food through the blender or food processor.

 

[browneyes]

Will he eat corn beef hash?

 

[my3kids]

You can make instant mashed potatoes really quickly. Mix those with some grated chedder cheese and maybe some sliced green onions.

A chicken casserole made with diced chicken instead of whole breasts.

Some of the rice mixes are good, and there are enough flavors that I think you could find one mild enough to not hurt the throat.

Noodles tossed with butter and parmesan cheese.

Apple sauce could go along with any meal. Also fried apples are so good. Add a little sugar and cook the apples on the stove top until soft and mushy.

 

[kasar]

Macaroni and Cheese?

If you cook meat in a crockpot for a long time it becomes very soft (I've learned this the hard way - when I didn't want it to be soft!) - maybe beef stew?

How about sloppy joes (don't put in the whole packet of seasonings) or chicken pot pie - the crust becomes mushy and the meat and veggies are always soft as well. Good luck!

 

[pjlla]

How about breakfast for dinner? Scrambled eggs are nice and soft and so are pancakes with lots of butter and syrup. And oatmeal with brown sugar and milk/cream. Yogurt, pudding, ice cream.... all soft for dessert. And I know you said he was "souped' out, but how about chowders.... corn chowder, seafood chowder, lobster bisque, potato soup

As a matter of fact... here is my personal potato soup recipe...

6 C cubed, peeled potatoes
5 C wtaer
2 C chopped onion (I usually use less)
1/2 C chopped celery
1/2 C finely chopped carrot
1/4 C butter or margarine (okay to use a little less if you are watching your fats)
4 tsp. Chicken bouillon
2 tsp salt
1 12 oz can of evaporated milk (I usually use fat free)

Combine all ingredients EXCEPT the evap milk into a large kettle on the stove or a slow cooker. In slow cooker cook for about 7 hours on high. On stove top bring to a boil, reduce heat, and cook for about 45-60 minutes or until veggies are soft.

Add evap milk and heat through.

Remove about half of soup to blender and blend on "liquify". Return to soup pot/crockpot.

Garnish with parsley, chives, and/or grated cheese.


Hope this helps.... you could certainly "blend" the entire batch of soup if that helps your husband. Pre-Atkins for my DH I made this soup frequently in the winter!!....................P

 

[ahutton]

Tuna casserole might be good, you could also do it with canned salmon. I've made chicken and rice using canned chicken so it is shreaded very small, following the recipe on the cream of mushroom soup mix. Maybe if you can find some chicken ala king? Or Chicken and Dumplings? They have that in a boxed meal that is very good, and very easy/fast.

 

[cajunmommy]

What about a loaded omelet or scrambled eggs? Those usually worked for me when I had post-braces pain. My favorite meal replacement in those days was a chocolate malt!

DMIL is going through chemo at this point as well. I know she's including more yogurt & smoothies in her diet. Not sure if the dairy-induced phlegm would aggravate his throat.

 

[grlpwrd]

How about smoothies? Not totally good for dinner , but you can add protein powder, fruit, ice, and milk, it's cold, and down the hatch it goes. lol

 

[mrsmom]

My dd had throat surgery she could eat. Bake potato at wendy's they are good they have what ever you want on them and they are easy to swallow. biscuits and gravy,tuna cassarole, stuffed peppers.
Kim

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I've read the other posts and agree, I told you before about our principal who had surgery like your dh with the chemo/radiation etc. They also told him to get as much protein as possible and recommended the fruit smoothies, potatoes and I too was thinking of the corned beef hash and omelets etc. He too could eat nothing with tomatoe sauce etc. Our poor princiapl was living on ensure for quiet a while and cranberry juice he seemed to like. Bless dennis and your family. Hang in there. Prayers for your family. Does your dh dr. have a nutritionist on staff , maybe if you ask the office they might already have like a preprinted booklet etc. they can give you.

 

[2lilprincesses]

I made something similar to a pot pie.

i took some chicken breast and diced it. I added frozen peas and carrots and peeled and diced some potatoes. I added 2 cans of cream of chicken soup. Put it all in the crock pot and let it cook. Also, add salt & pepper. I cooked some biscuits and served with it. It was actually pretty tasty. EASY! My dh enjoyed it.

Hope he feels better soon.

 

[always quiet]

Thanks for the great ideas! I found a recipe on Kraft's website for easy Chicken and Dumplings.....4 cans cream of chicken soup, prepared.....diced chicken breast (or you can use the canned chicken).....2 cans of biscuits.

Cook the soup to a boil
Roll pieces of the canned biscuits, cook in boiling soup
Add chicken


Sounds yummy...............and EASY!