From days at school to weekends at home, you might be a bit stumped on what to offer your child for lunch now that they’ve begun the teeth-straightening process. While hard, crunchy, sticky, and sugary items should no longer be on the menu, there are lots of delicious and braces-friendly lunches out there. To help guide you, keep reading to learn some orthodontist-approved options as well as which foods to avoid for the time being!
7 Braces-Friendly Lunch Options
When deciding what to pack in your child’s lunch, there are three things you should consider: what they enjoy, what won’t damage their braces, and what gives them the vitamins and energy they need. With this in mind, here are some ideas:
- Smooth peanut butter and jelly sandwich
- Spaghetti with vegetables, like cooked broccoli
- Tuna sandwich
- Soft-boiled eggs with a soft fruit (like kiwi) and steamed vegetable (like carrots)
- Egg salad
- Canned peaches with cottage cheese
- Vegetable soup
Of course, you can also bump up the satiety factor with additions like applesauce, yogurt, pudding, Jello, or fresh avocados.
What You Shouldn’t Include in Your Child’s Lunch
Of course, it’s equally as important to know what not to include when putting together your child’s lunch. As previously mentioned, foods that are particularly crunchy, hard, and sticky are not ideal because they increase the chances of your child breaking a bracket or wire. A few products that make this list are:
- Beef jerky
- Hard and gummy candies
- Bagels
- Popcorn
- Licorice
- Hard pretzels
- Gum
- Peanut brittle
What About Drinks?
When it comes to beverages, water is the best choice. In addition to keeping your child hydrated and helping their body flush toxins from their system, it’s ideal for patients with braces because it rinses away food particles and is sugar-free. Unfortunately, many popular beverages – from fruit juices and soda to sports drinks – are loaded with added sugar, increasing their risk of developing cavities. So, while indulging in “fun” beverages is certainly okay, it’s best to refrain from it becoming a daily habit.
At first, creating a lunch that is healthy, braces-friendly, and something your child will enjoy might seem like an impossible task. Hopefully, the above dos and don’ts help simplify this process!
About the Practice
Dr. Gutierrez, Dr. Alkhoury, and the rest of our talented team at Simply Orthodontics aren’t just happy to help patients in Webster achieve their dream smiles; it’s their passion! From children to adults, we love creating healthy bites and gorgeous smiles that result in better function and boosted confidence. We also pride ourselves in being a reliable resource for our patients, answering questions on everything from how to prevent an orthodontic emergency to what to pack for a braces-friendly lunch. If you have any questions about life with braces or would simply like to schedule an appointment, don’t hesitate to visit our website or call (508) 943-2100.