For those with braces, eating can be a challenge as they have to avoid hard foods and cleaning the braces can be tricky. Don’t worry, as we will suggest 7 delicious and easy-to-eat meal plans for people with braces. Discover them in the article below.
1 Principles of Creating a Meal Plan for People with Braces
Recommended Foods
People with braces should only eat soft, liquid, and minimally crumbly foods that still provide adequate nutrition. Some recommended dishes include porridge, soup, or stew. These dishes are rich in vitamins and minerals and are beneficial for oral health. Additionally, soft and spongy foods like tofu, yogurt, and well-cooked rice are also easy to consume for those with braces.
Recommended foods for people with braces
If you crave meat, it is best to mince or puree it before consuming, or use it in soups or stews. Moreover, certain types of fish, eggs, and dairy products are also suitable and encouraged for people with braces.
Foods to Avoid
Initially, people with braces often experience discomfort, numbness, and pain around the jaw area. Therefore, it is advisable to refrain from consuming extremely hot or cold foods as they can aggravate the sensitivity.
Avoid hard and crunchy foods
Foods with a chewy or sticky texture, such as sticky rice cakes, steamed buns, or crispy fried foods, are not recommended. Moreover, you should absolutely avoid large or hard foods that are difficult to chew and may get stuck in the braces, making them tedious and time-consuming to clean.
2 Meal Plans for People with Braces
Meal Plan 1: Chicken Soup, Yogurt, and Banana
The jaw and gums of those who have recently gotten braces often feel sore, so a bowl of chicken soup with its soft and tender consistency will be easy to eat while still providing essential nutrients. Chicken soup is rich in proteins and minerals like calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium, and it can be cooked with various vegetables and herbs for added flavor and nutrition.
Chicken soup, yogurt, and banana
Yogurt, a fermented dairy product with a creamy texture and a naturally sweet and tangy taste, makes for a perfect dessert after the soup. Additionally, a ripe banana provides a good source of potassium and fiber.
Meal Plan 2: Sweet Potato and Mung Bean Porridge, Ripe Papaya
Sweet potato and mung bean porridge is a unique, appealing, and easy-to-eat dish for people with braces. The porridge is cooked until the beans are soft and tender, creating a creamy and flavorful consistency. Sweet potatoes are a good source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals, supporting heart health, digestion, and skin health. Mung beans are rich in protein and various vitamins and minerals.
Sweet potato and mung bean porridge, ripe papaya
Ripe papaya is a perfect dessert for this meal, packed with carotenoids, organic acids, vitamins A and C, and fiber, offering benefits for the heart, digestion, and antioxidant protection. Papaya is soft, refreshing, and a great source of nutrition.
Meal Plan 3: Honey-Glazed Steamed Eggs, Pumpkin Soup with Minced Meat, and Yogurt
Steamed eggs are a familiar and simple dish. A more innovative version is honey-glazed steamed eggs, where the natural sweetness of honey combines with the creamy texture of the eggs and the richness of condensed milk, resulting in a delightful dish.
Honey-glazed steamed eggs, pumpkin soup with minced meat, and yogurt
The pumpkin soup with minced meat is a comforting dish with soft, tender pumpkin and savory minced meat. It is a hearty and flavorful combination.
Yogurt is an excellent way to end this meal and provide beneficial bacteria for the digestive system.
Meal Plan 4: Minced Meat with Vegetables, Orange Sponge Cake
Minced meat with vegetables ensures a good supply of protein and fiber without causing a feeling of heaviness. The minced meat is soft, and the vegetables are fresh and crisp, including carrots, broccoli, and cabbage.
Minced meat with vegetables, orange sponge cake
If the minced meat dish doesn’t satisfy your appetite, try the orange sponge cake, which is visually appealing, soft, and delicious. The cake is not dry or hard but has a certain fluffiness and natural sweetness, making it suitable for people with braces.
Meal Plan 5: Shrimp, Mushroom, and Carrot Porridge, Caramel Cheese Flan
This meal plan offers another porridge option to vary your diet. Shrimp, mushroom, and carrot porridge is a vegetarian version of porridge that still provides a complete range of nutrients and vitamins. The mushrooms and carrots are cooked until soft, adding natural sweetness to the porridge.
Shrimp, mushroom, and carrot porridge, caramel cheese flan
For dessert, the caramel cheese flan is a beloved classic, with its soft and creamy texture and the enticing aroma of caramel.
Meal Plan 6: Soft Rice, Braised Pork Belly, and Taro Soup with Minced Meat
The braised pork belly is a popular dish, slow-cooked until the meat is tender and infused with flavors, resulting in a mouthwatering combination with hot rice.
Soft rice, braised pork belly, and taro soup with minced meat
It is accompanied by a taro soup with minced meat, which is visually appealing, nutty, and comforting.
Meal Plan 7: Soft Rice, Steamed Eggs with Meat, Vegetable Soup with Meatballs, and Dragon Fruit
The final suggested meal plan includes soft and fluffy rice, steamed eggs with meat for a soft and nutritious dish, and a vegetable soup with meatballs, providing protein, fat, iron, and various vitamins and minerals.
Soft rice, steamed eggs with meat, vegetable soup with meatballs, and dragon fruit
Dragon fruit, with its sweet and soft flesh, provides a refreshing balance to the meal and helps reduce any greasy feelings from the oily dishes.
These are seven delicious, appealing, and easy-to-eat meal plans for people with braces. With a little preparation, you can create these simple dishes and take good care of your oral health.