Braces for Kids School Lunch Solutions
What’s OK to Eat With New Braces
When you first get braces, your mouth will feel sore. These foods are perfect for those first few weeks:
Braces-Friendly Foods:
- Scrambled eggs (soft and full of protein!)
- Oatmeal (add cinnamon or fruit for extra flavor)
- Soup (warm and easy on your teeth)
- Mashed potatoes (who doesn’t love these?)
- Pasta (so many tasty options!)
- Smoothies (cool and soothing on sore spots)
- Yogurt and shakes (quick and filling)
Foods That Will Hurt Your Braces:
- Crunchy snacks like chips (they’ll break your braces!)
- Sticky foods like caramel or gummy candy (these pull off brackets)
- Hard foods like whole apples or carrots (too hard on front braces)
- Tough meats (not worth the pain)
The #1 Trick for Eating With Braces
Here’s a tip that will make eating with braces SO much easier: Cut food into small bites and chew with your back teeth! This keeps food from getting stuck and stops your braces from breaking. Such a simple trick, but it works!
Braces for Kids: 10 Delicious Lunch Ideas
These lunches are so good, even friends without braces will want what you’re having:
- Mini Pita Pockets: Soft pita bread with hummus, soft veggies, and cut-up peaches. Yum!
- Better PB&J: Smooth peanut butter and jelly on soft bread with sliced strawberries and yogurt. A classic made even better! (No peanuts? Try sunflower seed butter!)
- Turkey Rollups: Roll up turkey and cheese slices with soft veggies on the side. Easy to eat and fun too!
- Protein Box: Hard-boiled eggs, soft veggie slices with dip, and a soft muffin. Keeps you full all afternoon!
- Veggie Power Lunch: Soft baked tofu strips, potato wedges, and sweet blueberries. Colorful and tasty!
- Soft Sandwich Switch: Egg salad or chicken salad on soft bread with a juicy orange. Way better than plain sandwiches!
- Morning Foods at Noon: Pancakes with nut butter, berries, and Greek yogurt. Breaking lunch rules is fun!
- Rice Bowl Blast: Soft rice or quinoa with roasted veggies and dressing, plus string cheese and melon on the side. Looks fancy but easy to eat!
- Tex-Mex Treat: Soft bean and cheese quesadilla with guacamole and salsa, with a banana for dessert. All the Mexican food taste without the risk!
- Italian Day: Pasta salad, grapes, and a soft cookie. Something sweet and something savory!
School Lunch Hacks
Good news! Many foods in the school lunch line work great with braces:
- French fries (soft ones are perfect)
- Mac & cheese (always a safe choice)
- Pizza (cut in small bites, skip the crust)
- Steamed veggies (healthy and braces-safe)
- Mashed potatoes (always works)
- Soft meats like meatloaf (much better than tough burgers)
Just be smart about what you pick, and cut foods into smaller pieces to keep your braces safe!
Braces Don’t Have to Ruin Lunch
With these ideas, you’ll actually look forward to lunch, even with braces! Your friends might even be jealous of your awesome meals. Talk to Dr. David Ross if you need more food tips.
