Not every kid or adult who has to get braces likes to wear them, especially when it feels like you have a life sentence to them. Of course it is only for a couple of years, but I’m sure it feels that way to some. While having braces can give you a straighter teeth and a better smile, you do have to sacrifice the foods that you enjoyed beforehand. Don’t worry though because there are plenty of comfort foods that braces wearers can still eat.
Friendly Foods for Braces
When you first get braces, your mouth probably will be pretty sore until you get used to it. Most dentists will suggest foods that are soft and will not irritate your mouth even more. Some of these foods include:
- Seafood
- Vegetables
- Meats & Poultry
- Grains
- Breads & Baked Goods
- Soups
- Soft Fruits
You can take these suggestions and create a simple weekly meal plan so that you can have a variety other than eating yogurt and oatmeal continuously.
Friendly Recipes for Braces
After awhile, you probably would want to eat an actual meal that can keep your stomach full for a couple of hours. There are many recipes that you could make that are friendly for your braces. Here is a recipe that you can try yourself right now along with a roundup of several braces friendly recipes.
Soy Simmered Chicken Wraps
Ingredients:
3 boneless chicken breast halves
2 large onions, chunked
Small flour tortillas (pkg. of ten) wheat or white
(optional: 10-16 oz. of cooked chopped broccoli)
¼ cup soy sauce
¼ cup water
2 Tablespoons honey
1/8teaspoon ginger
2 Tablespoons peach or apricot jam
1 Tablespoon cornstarch
Directions:
In a slow cooker, or a large pan on the stove, layer the onions and the chicken breast. Allow at least three hours in the slow cooker on medium, or at least one hour on the stove—the longer the better, but you don’t have to do anything to it while it cooks. Spoon out the chicken onto a cutting board, and with a knife and fork, shred the chicken as finely as you’d like. In a small saucepan, stir all sauce ingredients together over medium heat until the mixture starts bubbling, then let it simmer for five minutes on low heat to thicken. In a serving bowl, stir sauce and onion into chicken; if you’d like, add cooked chopped broccoli. Makes about six to eight servings.
Recipe via Rinaldi Orthodontics
Three Cheese Macaroni Extravaganza via Orthodontics by Hipple
Crispy Oven-Baked Fish Filets via Southeast Orthodontics
Apple Bombolini via Michael Chiarello of Food Network
Image: iStockPhoto
