A new school year is underway. As a parent myself, I know the first few months of school can be hectic. With trying to get the kids out of the door on time and juggling after-school activities, the thought of coming up with school lunch ideas every day on top of that can be overwhelming. If your kiddo or teen is in braces, it can seem even more daunting. Fresh Orthodontics is here to help! I’ll be covering what to eat with braces from the cafeteria and foods to avoid, as well as braces-friendly school lunches if you decide to brown bag it.
What to Eat With Braces From the Cafeteria
As I always tell our Park Slope braces patients, though there are a few exceptions, which we’ll get to next, you can still eat most of the foods you love even when you’re in treatment. However, it’s important to avoid biting directly into foods or tearing at them with your front teeth. Instead, cut or break them up into manageable, bite-sized pieces and chew with your back teeth. That being said, when you first get your braces put on and after adjustments, or even when you pop in a new set of Invisalign aligners, your teeth can be sensitive. Sticking with soft foods and cold drinks is a good idea. While the school lunch menu will vary depending on what school you go to, here are some braces-friendly choices you should consider if they’re offered in your cafeteria:
Macaroni and cheese
Pasta
Egg salad, chicken salad or tuna salad
Meatloaf
Soft casseroles
Soup
Shredded chicken, beef or pork
Steamed veggies
Bananas
Apple sauce
Mashed potatoes
Tofu
Beans
Soft bread
Soft tortillas
Salad (skip the croutons and large pieces of crunchy vegetables)
French toast sticks
Smoothies
Fruit cups
Yogurt
Foods to Avoid With Braces
When doing your school lunch meal prep or when kids are buying from the cafeteria, there are certain foods to avoid with braces. Here is what to steer clear of:
Hard foods: Pizza crust, Doritos, hard candy, hard taco shells
Chewy foods: Hard rolls, bagels, beef jerky
Sticky foods: Caramel, taffy, toffee, Starburst
Foods you bite into: Corn on the cob, meat on the bone, whole, raw apples and carrots (note: you can take corn of the cob and meat off the bone and cut raw apples and carrots into tiny pieces and chew with your back teeth)
Foods that can get stuck in braces: Popcorn and nuts
If you would like to know more about my practice, what I do and how I can help you regain your smile contact me:
Cel: +52 811 741 0157
Email: cadenaortho@gmail.com
Comments