Food suggestions following cleft surgery

After cleft surgery, it is advisable to have a sloppy or soft diet for the first two weeks. Your child will find this more comfortable and it will reduce the risk of damage to the repair. Your child should be able to build up to their normal diet by the third week. This information sheet about suggested foods accompanies the cleft surgery information sheets produced by Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).

The suggestions listed are for all age groups - please note that some foods may not be appropriate for children under one year old.

Please note: This information sheet suggests specific brand names but own-label foods can be substituted – including them in this information sheet does not mean that they are recommended by GOSH and alternative products may be available.

• Feed your child small amounts more frequently – this can be more manageable than larger meals three times a day
• Try using sauces, gravy, butter, cream or custard to soften foods
• Soften foods by chopping, mincing or mashing
• Avoid foods that are hard, sharp or require a lot of chewing

• Porridge or Ready-Brek® made with milk
• Weetabix®, cornflakes or Rice Krispies® well soaked in milk
• Bread – cut off the crusts and do not toast

• Well cooked and tender minced meat (Shepherd’s pie or cottage pie)
• Corned beef hash or meat loaf
• Chilli con carne
• Skinless sausages
• Tender meat in stews, hotpots or casseroles – do not use large chunks of meat

• Flaked fish in white, cheese or parsley sauce
• Fisherman’s pie, fish cakes, fish and potato nests
• Fish mousse or light pate
• Tinned fish such as salmon or sardines
• Tuna mixed with mayonnaise

• Scrambled, poached, boiled or as an omelette
• Egg mayonnaise
• Egg dishes such as sweet or savoury egg custard or soufflés
• Quiche
• Cauliflower cheese
• Cottage cheese
• Grated cheese
• Dairylea® triangles, cheese spread or cream cheese

• Baked beans with grated cheese
• Mushy peas
• Lentils made into dahl
• Smooth peanut butter
• Avoid whole nuts due to the risk of choking

• Lasagne
• Moussaka
• Bolognaise sauce with pasta
• Macaroni cheese
• Ravioli
• Pasta with different sauces such as goats’ cheese, mushroom, carbonara or creamy tomato
• Tinned spaghetti
• Noodles
• Rice

• Soft carrot, parsnip, turnip, swede, cauliflower, broccoli and courgettes are all easy to mash
• Avoid raw vegetables
• Try adding grated cheese, extra butter or margarine and serve with white sauce, cheese sauce or gravy
• Ratatouille
• Instant mashed potato as a quick alternative to fresh
• Mash the inside of a jacket potato with butter and add a suitable filling
• Dips such as hummus, guacamole or taramasalata

• Tinned or stewed fruit such as apples, pears and peaches
• Fresh fruit such as banana, melon, strawberries, soft plums

• Milk puddings such as rice pudding or semolina
• Yoghurt, fromage frais or milk jelly
• Ice cream or sorbet
• Jelly or trifle
• Mousses and whips
• Ready made chocolate desserts
• Egg custard
• Crème caramel
• Blancmange
• Home made, powdered, ready made cartons or tins of custard
• Fruit fools and purees
• Cheesecake
• Bread and butter pudding
• Sponge pudding with custard or cream
• Lemon meringue pudding
• Fruit crumble
• Savoury or sweet pancakes
• Biscuits dipped in a hot drink to soften
• Soft cake

• Milk shakes
• Hot milky drinks
• Fruit juices
• Complan® or Build Up®

• Diluted fruit juice if desired
• Cereal or porridge with milk
• Bread (crusts removed) with margarine/ butter and jelly-type jam
• Egg/fish if desired
• Milk or tea/coffee with milk

• Meat/fish/eggs/cheese/baked beans
• Potato/rice/pasta/bread (crusts removed)
• Soft cooked vegetables
• Soft fruit or suitable pudding from suggestions above

• Meat/fish/eggs/cheese
• Potato/rice/pasta/bread (crusts removed)