Keto With Braces—HELP!

(Kareen Abarca) #1

Hello everyone!

I started Keto early last November, and it was going great… UNTIL I got braces in December.:sob::sob::sob: I have buttons on the back of my top front teeth, which prohibit my teeth from coming together—as a result, I’m unable to chew/grind my food. Which means no salad. No bacon. No meat (unless I want to swallow it half chewed). And tbh, it’s just a total hassle/drag to eat solid food now… I’m forever cleaning food out of my braces, and I can’t savor the experience anymore anyway, because I can’t chew completely.

Cue the sad trombone, right? Haha! Actually, I’m not looking for sympathy—only solutions!

Specifically I was hoping that you Keto gurus could recommend a convenient way to get my veggies back in—smoothie recipes, pre-made vegetable juices I can buy in stores—any suggestions you can share would be so appreciated! I’m a wife and mama on the go with a full-time job, so I’m really looking for any fast, convenient ideas you may have.

I really want to find a way back to eating (slurping?) Keto and feeling good again… thanks so much, in advance, for your help!

(Full Metal KETO AF) #2

I know this might not sound appealing but I will start by telling you I have an autistic son who went through a two year period of a nearly catatonic state at puberty. He would hold food in his mouth indefinitely without chewing it. We had to process his food into baby food basically with a food processor. He got way healthy during this period as I was able to give him foods he previously wouldn’t eat. You may have to purée some of your in unchewable food for a while.

(Frank) #3

I’d just throw the whole works into a blender for the time being. Big straw.

(Frank) #4

Just so you’re not feeling alone, I’ll take one of my full meals and do just that this week. I’ll post a pic along with a list of food and my impressions. I’m really curious now.

(Full Metal KETO AF) #5

I would put salad aside and do well cooked veggies also.

#6

Hi,

Think of the wonderful teeth you’ll have afterwards you will be glad you had braces. Meantime

You can easily get fat in olive oil or butter just add those to whatever you can chew or ideas along those lines.

As for protein I know you can get on unsweetened protein powder. I have seen keto recipes from the top experts Which include those ingredients.

Just make sure it is truly unsweetened big food always likes to throw sugar and wheat into everything.

I know bodybuilders are throwing eggs into the blender all the time, that should help

(Brian) #7

As far as veggies, cooking them softer can help. I know some people like everything crunchy but that doesn’t really work that well with compromised chewing. Maybe instead of steaks, you can look towards doing more with hamburger, kept moist and soft, not "hockey puck"ed. If you have to do salads, you’ll appreciate the individual ingredients chopped very finely if you decide to even go there. Cole slaw with finely grated cabbage can be pretty tasty.

Good luck!

(John) #8

Ground beef mixed up with tomato paste or marinara sauce, like a pasta sauce but with no pasta. Cauliflower mash. Creamed spinach. Salsa, sour cream, guacamole. Tuna salad. Egg salad. Chicken salad. Deviled eggs. Scrambled eggs. Poached eggs. Deviled ham spread. Soups. Yogurt. Nut butters.

(Kareen Abarca) #9

Haha! Big straw… check. Thanks! :slight_smile:

(Kareen Abarca) #10

Ack! Please don’t do that… nobody should be subjected to dinner in the VitaMix if they don’t have to! But you are very kind to offer. :slight_smile:

(Kareen Abarca) #11

Great ideas, thank you so much!

(Kareen Abarca) #12

Wow! I think you just wrote my shopping list for me… great ideas, thank you for your help!

(Kareen Abarca) #13

Agreed!

(Frank) #14

Too late. Yes these are the same meals side by side with 1 cup of almond milk for proper blending. Deconstructed bacon cheeseburger btw.

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(Frank) #15

Now for my impressions. Very close in taste. The whole food version obviously had more distinct textures with the cheese, bacon, beef, lettuce, etc. I would imagine that the blended version would be easier to digest??? If I were having tooth, jaw, or swallowing issues the blended version would be a life saver. And yes, I did finish it. I’m omad so nothing can stop me when it’s dinner time.

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(John) #16

#forscience