f. Dental Soft Diet. This diet is prescribed for patients who are recovering from
extensive oral surgery, have severe gingivitis, have had multiple extractions, have chewing
difficulties because of tooth loss or other oral condition, or for the very elderly, toothless
patient.
(1) The diet is composed of seasoned ground meats, vegetables, and other
foods, which are easily chewed. The individuality of the patient must not be overlooked
when a dental soft diet is prescribed. Many patients resent being served ground meat.
(2) Standard menu mats available are DA Form 2902-6-R (dental soft diet)
and DA Form 2906-13-R (dental soft, 2000 mg sodium diet). The dental soft diet does not
meet the RDA in thiamin for males, nor iron for females.
g. Regular Diet. Regular diets are planned to meet the nutritional needs of
adolescents, adults, and geriatric phases of the life span.
(1) The regular diet includes the basic food groups and a variety of foods.
The basic food groups include meat, milk, vegetables, fruits, bread and cereal, fats, and
sweets.
(2) The standard menu mat, DA Form 2901-R (Regular Diet) provides
approximately 3375 calories. The selective menu is developed by each individual hospital
according to patient needs, food availability, and cost. The regular diet is designed to
provide exceptionally generous amounts of all recognized nutrients and meets or exceeds
the RDA for all nutrients tabulated.
(3) The Food Guide Pyramid is an outline of what we should eat each day
(see figure 5-1). It shows six food groups, but emphasizes foods from the five food groups
shown in the lower sections of the Pyramid. You need food from each group for good
health. Each of the food groups provides some of the nutrients you need. Food from one
group cannot replace those of another group.
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