10 Tasty Foods You Can Still Eat With Braces
How to Eat Healthy With Braces
Most kids will need to wear braces for a year or two, so that means they’ll need to stick with a braces-friendly diet for a while. While wearing braces, it’s important to keep sugar to a minimum and try to eat a diet that’s nutritious, varied, and typically softer, especially after braces are tightened.
Here are our top 10 healthy and tasty foods to eat with braces.
1. Peanut Butter Oatmeal
Peanut butter is a great source of protein, and oatmeal is an easy-to-eat breakfast item for most kids. This recipe is quick to make but delicious and doesn’t include added sugar. For kids with braces, we recommend skipping the optional chopped apples and trying sliced bananas instead.
2. Chicken Noodle Soup
Kids and adults alike find comfort in a warm bowl of chicken noodle soup. It’s a great meal choice for kids with braces, especially for dinner after a tightening appointment when they might feel a little uncomfortable. Just be sure to very finely shred the chicken to make it easy to eat. If you don’t already have a family-favorite recipe, here’s a tasty one to get you started.
3. Scrambled Eggs With a Twist
Scrambled eggs are a perfect breakfast item for kids with braces, but we admit that sometimes the same ol’ eggs can get boring. This buffet-style scrambled egg recipe is perfect for families who want the protein boost of farm-fresh eggs with a little added pizzazz.
4. Turkey or Chicken Dumpling Soup
Another great chicken soup-style recipe is this one for turkey and dumplings—although you can use shredded chicken instead of turkey if that’s what’s available. The flavor profile is similar to a classic chicken soup, but the dumplings add more heartiness than noodles alone. The dumplings in this recipe are quite soft and shouldn’t be a problem for kids with braces.
5. Macaroni and Cheese With Herbs
Most kids love mac and cheese, but it isn’t the healthiest option. By opting for homemade mac and cheese, you skip the preservatives and hidden sugars or fats found in boxed or frozen options at the supermarket. This recipe offers a happy balance between cheesy deliciousness and healthy herbs.
By the way, if your child’s braces are feeling tight or uncomfortable, cook the noodles just a tad longer to soften them more to make it easier to eat.
6. Smooth Butternut Squash Soup
The first couple of days with braces, or the first day after a tightening appointment, can cause discomfort or mild pain. This silky smooth butternut squash soup is a healthy eating option for kids who don’t feel up to chewing anything.
7. Creamy Skillet Egg Noodles
On its own, this creamy skillet noodle recipe is pretty basic, but it does make a great foundation for adding in your family’s favorite extras. Along with the peas, you can add diced steamed carrots, spinach, corn, and protein, like shredded chicken, ground sausage, as well as a sprinkle of parmesan.
8. Ginger and Honey Salmon
If your family enjoys salmon, this Asian-inspired recipe will be a hit. While many salmon recipes that use a teriyaki base include brown sugar, this one only uses natural honey. Additionally, kids with braces often find properly cooked salmon easier to eat than other ground or lean meat options.
9. Mashed Parmesan Cauliflower
If your family loves mashed potatoes, but you want to offer something a bit healthier, mashed cauliflower is a great choice. This particular recipe is really tasty on its own, but we have one helpful tip for parents with picky eaters. To start off, go half and half with mashed potato and mashed cauliflower. When mixed, most kids won’t be able to tell the difference in taste.
10. Fruit and Vegetable Smoothies
Smoothies are a great healthy snack and perfect for kids with braces, but most smoothie recipes only include fruit. You can make things more nutritious by combining fruit with vegetables, like this strawberry and carrot smoothie recipe. We also recommend trying out some green smoothie recipes that include leafy greens, celery, and other veggies with fruits like apple, banana, or added extras like protein powder.
Share your favorite braces-friendly recipes with the Must Love Kids Pediatric Dentistry team!
Diet is an important part of keeping our family’s teeth healthy and cavity-free, especially when our family members wear braces. Dr. Mo would love to hear about your favorite braces-friendly foods you’ve been enjoying, and we bet she’ll even have some tasty meal and snack ideas to share!
If you do ever have questions about braces or what foods you can and can’t eat with them, call Must Love Kids Pediatric Dentistry to get the answers you need. Our team provides complete pediatric dental care in Vancouver, WA.