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School Is In Session
The beginning of the new school year is nearing! Prepping school lunch options may be challenging if you’re the parent of a child who got braces over summer break.
It’s advisable for you to pack a lunch every day to prevent your child from selecting food in school cafeterias that they cannot chew with braces.
Packing school lunches doesn’t have to be complicated. Smile Studio Orthodontics is here to be a helping hand and provide tips on making braces-friendly school lunches (plus some of our favorite recipes). Take a look!
Tip 1: Plan Ahead
It seems that kids are always hungry, but with busy schedules, it can be challenging for parents to prepare hearty, healthy meals on the fly. If you’re scrambling to make a new lunch every day, you may find yourself trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. Our best piece of advice? Plan your child’s school lunches ahead of time.
At the beginning of your child’s braces journey, set clear expectations on what foods are and are not acceptable to eat. After these expectations are set, try to sit down with your child every Sunday and plan their meals for the upcoming week. Make a clear plan on what they will eat each day of the week, Monday to Friday, ensuring that meals include food your child actually likes while not compromising the utility of their braces.
Tip 2: Avoid Sticky & Hard Foods
Foods that are sticky or mushy can be challenging to eat with braces, as they will get stuck in the brackets. Sticky foods can also make braces more challenging to clean.
As a general rule of thumb, avoid the following sticky foods:
- Caramels
- Honey
- Starburst
- Tootsie Rolls
- Licorice
Additionally, hard foods can break braces brackets and bend wires, which can result in an emergency orthodontic visit. We suggest avoiding the following hard foods when packing your child’s school lunches:
- Pretzels
- Croutons
- Corn on the cob
- Whole apples
- Thin crust pizza
Tip 3: Utilize These Healthy Recipes
Many different foods are great options for your child with braces while also providing your kiddo their daily fiber, vitamins, and minerals! Below are some of our favorite recipes for nutritious, braces-friendly school lunches, sides, and desserts:
Main Course
- Wraps for kids
- Chicken and dumplings
- Air-fried chicken nuggets
- Baked fish sticks
- Turkey meatloaf
- Spaghetti with meat sauce
Side Dishes
- Tomato and avocado salad
- Baked cauliflower “mac” and cheese
- Kid-friendly pasta salad with chicken
- Oven-baked potato wedges
- Brown sugar-glazed carrots
- Cottage cheese and tomato bowl
Dessert
- Greek yogurt parfait
- Homemade applesauce
- Chocolate chip and banana cookies
- Watermelon sorbet
- Vanilla chia pudding for kids
- Pineapple smoothie bowl
Your child’s braces journey is an exciting time because they will soon have the smile of their dreams! In the meantime, if you or your kid begin to feel overwhelmed, know that we are here to help guide your family through the process and achieve perfect smiles across the board.
Give Your Child a Perfect Smile at Smile Studio Orthodontics
Are you looking to give your child their dream smile? Smile Studio Orthodontics has provided exceptional service to Colorado children and adults alike for 16 years. Our skilled staff is aware that every patient has unique needs, and we are pleased to be able to provide you with tailored care in a friendly environment.
Your perfect smile is waiting for you at Smile Studio Orthodontics. To get started, call our office at (720) 815-3540 or contact us online today!
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