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Nutrition and daily life

Kissel and soft foods: easy to swallow and digest

With mouth sores, swallowing problems, nausea or weakness, soft foods make eating easier. Kissel, a cooked fruit drink thickened with starch, gives both fluid and energy.

Last updated: ~1 min read
Thick berry kissel in a glass.
Figure 1.Kissel — Kissel and soft foods: easy to swallow and digest

01Short answer

Make kissel by simmering fruit or berries in water and thickening with starch; bring it to the boil. Keep it in the fridge for 1–2 days. Other soft foods: mashed potato, porridge, soufflé, soft-cooked (fully set) omelette, cooked fish, puréed soups, cooked fruit purée, pasteurised yogurt and cottage cheese. With mouth sores avoid sour berries and drink kissel lukewarm. To add energy, stir butter, milk or cheese into purées. All food should be freshly cooked.

02Simple explanation

Kissel, boiled.

Mash, porridge, soufflé.

Enrich it.

Cook it fresh.

03Scientific explanation

ESPEN: with swallowing or chewing problems, texture-modified, energy-enriched foods increase intake.

ESPEN: enough energy and protein matter for preventing weight and muscle loss in people with cancer, and nutritional status should be assessed regularly.

NCI: practical eating tips exist for treatment side effects such as nausea, taste changes and mouth sores.

04What happens in the body?

Enriching

A spoon of butter, pasteurised cream or milk powder adds calories.

Mash, porridge, soufflé.
Figure 2.Soft foods — Kissel and soft foods: easy to swallow and digest

Children

Kissel and purées are good choices for children too.

Kissel thickening in a pan.
Figure 3.Cooking kissel — Kissel and soft foods: easy to swallow and digest

Dietitian

If you are losing weight, have no appetite or need a special diet, ask to see the hospital dietitian.

Food safety

Food-safety rules for neutropenia (see “Handwashing: the simplest protection” and “Eggs and dairy: safe choices”) apply at every stage.

05Nutrition: four steps

Assess, swap the risky, cook safely, eat regularly.

Assess — Weight and appetite.1AssessWeight and appetite.
Swap — A safe choice.2SwapA safe choice.
Cook — Hot throughout.3CookHot throughout.
Eat regularly — Small portions.4Eat regularlySmall portions.
StrengthEnergy.
ProteinFor muscle.
SafetyFood rules.

06Key points at a glance

TopicIn brief
EnrichingA spoon of butter, pasteurised cream or milk powder adds calories.
ChildrenKissel and purées are good choices for children too.
DietitianIf you are losing weight, have no appetite or need a special diet, ask to see the hospital dietitian.
Food safetyFood-safety rules for neutropenia (see “Handwashing: the simplest protection” and “Eggs and dairy: safe choices”) apply at every stage.

07Key terms

Kissel
A fruit drink thickened with starch.
Enriching
Adding energy and protein to food.
Dietitian
A nutrition specialist.
Protein
A nutrient for repairing muscles and tissues.
Neutropenia
Low neutrophils.

08Key points

  • Soft and fresh.
  • Enrich it.
  • No sour foods with sores.
  • A diet is not a treatment.
  • Talk to a dietitian.

09Frequently asked questions

Is packet kissel OK?

Yes, if boiled as directed.

Is kissel sugary?

You can cut the sugar; allow for it with diabetes.

Can a special diet cure leukemia?

No. Good nutrition helps you cope with treatment, but it does not cure.

10Questions for your doctor

Take these questions to your appointment. The ones you save are collected on the “My questions” page and stay on this device only.

  1. Is packet kissel OK?

  2. Is kissel sugary?

  3. Can a special diet cure leukemia?

My questions

12Sources

  1. National Cancer Institute. Eating Hints: Before, During, and After Cancer Treatment
  2. ESPEN. ESPEN practical guideline: Clinical Nutrition in cancer (2021)
  3. Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Food and Nutrition
  4. World Health Organization. Healthy diet fact sheet
  5. NHS. Botulism
  6. European Food Safety Authority. Hepatitis A virus in frozen berries
  7. NHS. Probiotics
  8. American Cancer Society. Food Safety During Cancer Treatment
  9. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Green Tea
  10. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center — About Herbs. Green Tea
Medical disclaimerThis information is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice.
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