As a parent, finding school lunch ideas that are nutritious and delicious is hard enough. Now add “braces-friendly” into the mix, and you may find yourself utterly overwhelmed. Luckily, there are several options that meet all of those requirements and take little-to-no time to put together. To learn what they are, read on!
10 Braces-Friendly Meals & Snacks
At first, you may be wondering what your child can eat with braces. After all, practically every crunchy, hard, and chewy food is off the table. The good news is that the list of foods your child can eat is quite extensive. A few examples include:
- Salads without crunchy ingredients, like croutons
- Soups
- Mac and cheese
- Pasta
- Bean and cheese tacos
- Pudding
- Steamed vegetables, like green beans
- Soft fruits, like mangos
- Oatmeal
- Eggs
School Lunch Ideas for Every Day of the Week
Looking for some inspiration? Here’s a lunch idea for every day of the week:
- Monday: A cup of chili with a side of soft cornbread and green beans
- Tuesday: A peanut butter and jelly sandwich with peas and a cheese stick
- Wednesday: Potato salad with thinly sliced apples and steamed carrots
- Thursday: Hard-boiled eggs with grapes, turkey slices, and sliced cucumbers
- Friday: A turkey or ham sandwich with pineapple chunks and pudding
A Few Foods Your Child Should Steer Clear Of
Of course, any guide to packing a braces-friendly school lunch would be incomplete without discussing the items you shouldn’t include. The general rule-of-thumb is to steer clear of hard, sticky, and crunchy foods. Some good examples include caramel apples, uncooked vegetables, popcorn, nuts, taffy, and chewy meats. Indulging in items like these increase your child’s chances of experiencing an orthodontic emergency, like a loose bracket or broken wire. So, it’s best to avoid them altogether.
Packing school lunches can be tricky. After all, you want to create a meal that will sustain your child’s energy levels while also making sure it’s tasty enough that they’ll actually eat it. Fortunately, you can accomplish both without damaging their braces thanks to the above meal ideas!
About the Practice
Our team at Super Braces knows that your child starting orthodontic treatment can be an adjustment for your whole family. That’s why our knowledgeable smile-enthusiasts go the extra mile to share as many tips as we can about life with braces! If you have a question about whether or not a food is “braces-friendly” or you’d like to schedule an appointment, don’t hesitate to visit our website or call (508) 755-2207.