Braces-Friendly Recipes for the Summer

Summer is here, and that’s certainly something to smile about! If you’re heading into the summer season with braces, you can still enjoy all the activities and pastimes that iconify summertime – but when it comes to diet, you’ll have to be careful. While it may be tempting to bite into a juicy apple or crunch corn on the cob, these foods – and many more – are dangerous for braces. At Kurt Kavanaugh Orthodontics, we want all of our Kansas City and Sedalia patients to enjoy summer no matter what orthodontic treatment they’re getting, so here are our recommendations on the tastiest braces-friendly summer recipes!

Strawberry Avocado Spinach Salad

Summer is the season of salads – and this salad is easy, healthy, great for braces, and absolutely delicious! Whip it up for yourself on a summer afternoon or bring it to a potluck and watch it disappear before your eyes. Just make sure you make enough!

Ingredients

  • 1 avocado
  • 6 cups of fresh baby spinach
  • Half of a small red onion
  • 1 pint of strawberries
  • 1 tbsp Poppy seeds
  • 1/4 cup of sliced almonds
  • 4 oz Gorgonzola or blue cheese
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
  • Salt and pepper

Directions

First, make the dressing by whisking together the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, and poppy seeds, then add in salt and pepper to taste. Halve and hull your strawberries, peel and slice your avocado, and cut the onion into thin strips. Combine all the ingredients in a big bowl with as much dressing as you like, then toss it all together and viola! You’ve got a delicious, healthy salad ready in minutes that won’t hurt your braces.

Frozen Banana Soft Serve

Few things sounds as good as a cold cone of ice cream on a hot summer’s day, but unfortunately, the sugar in ice cream can pose a major threat to your teeth. Thankfully, there’s a little-known substitute that’s just as good and 100% braces safe: bananas! Bananas contain a compound that, when frozen, blends them into a smooth, creamy consistency that’s just like ice cream. Try this recipe and you’ll never want to go back!

Ingredients

  • 4 whole bananas, peeled and frozen solid
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tbsp chocolate syrup

Directions

First, you’ll need to peel and slice the bananas, then leave them in the freezer long enough to completely freeze solid – which means at least 8 hours. Once frozen, all you have to do is toss your bananas into a food processor and blend until creamy, or about 3-5 minutes. We recommend adding a teaspoon of vanilla extract and two tablespoons of chocolate syrup for a great ice cream substitute, but the truth is you can add just about anything to this one-ingredient ice cream recipe!

Contact Your Kansas City, MO Orthodontist

We hope these recipes add a little more flavor to your summer this year, and if you have more questions about navigating the summer months with braces, we’re always happy to help. Contact us today to learn more about what foods you should and shouldn’t eat with braces, or request an appointment online if you’d like to come in for a checkup or consultation. We can’t wait to hear from you, and we wish you a happy, healthy, braces-friendly summer!