It happened, your child got braces, and now their life is ruined — their usual words, not ours, of course.
When your child gets braces, they may feel as if their food choices are limited. And while yes, some snacks should be avoided you can rest assured that there are still plenty of braces-friendly options:
Breakfast Pancakes
A huge breakfast favorite and luckily kids with braces can still eat them! Change up the recipe for a more healthy alternative. TIP: Replace syrup with applesauce. Syrup is high in sodium, sugar, and carbohydrates — yuck!
Smoothies
A great breakfast for brace-filled mouths on-the-go! Check out these delicious smoothie recipes and keep these tips in mind to keep your smoothie healthy.
Cold Pasta Salad
This can be prepared in a variety of ways with many different ingredients. Your child can enjoy this dish for lunch and/or dinner! Don’t forget: stay clear of hard vegetables that may hurt your child’s mouth.
Acai Bowls
Acai bowls look good and taste even better! These delicious small berries are packed with antioxidants, amino acids, and essential fatty acids you didn’t know your child needed in their life! Be sure to try one of these recipes.
Lasagna
A delicious dinner dish for kids and they will love to make it with you too! Keep this dish on the light side with whole wheat noodles and lean ground beef.
Frozen Banana “Ice Cream”
This is a healthy alternative to actual ice cream — dairy, fat, and sugar-free!
This is a healthy alternative to actual ice cream — dairy, fat, and sugar-free!
Foods to AVOID:
- Hard nuts, candies, fruits (apples and pears)
- Hard vegetables (carrots and corn on the cob)
- Chips
- Pretzels
- Taco shells
- Pizza crust
- Sticky stuff like taffy, gum, or caramels
- Foods that are high in acidity that could cause discoloration (lemons, limes, or sodas)
For more braces-friendly recipes and orthodontic tips, check out our Pinterest page!