In September, I had oral surgery. September 14, I had surgery on one side of my mouth, September 29, I had surgery for the other side of my mouth. I usually do better handling challenges when I have a plan. In the weeks before my surgery, I spent quite a bit of time preparing meal plans and cooked freezer food to enjoy after my surgery. Some challenges I needed to plan for: eat smoothies with a spoon since no straws allowed in first days after surgery, eat soft foods for two weeks after each procedure, avoid nuts, seeds, and crunchy food for around 6 weeks after the second surgery.
I like crunchy food. Years ago, a coworker remarked that I like crunchy food. I guess he was aware that I enjoyed snacking on pretzels in the afternoon. But, I also enjoy creamy food. Many years ago, when I worked in NYC, I dated a man who actually did not like creamy food. I am glad that I like creamy food since it made life easier after oral surgery.
I designed a meal plan that covered a month of meals. I made modifications before the second surgery with what I especially liked (yogurt in pottery or glass) and didn’t like (pumpkin oatmeal). Overall, my plan worked and it made a difficult time easier.
I created smiling tooth stickers to indicate oral surgery approved meals in my freezer.
Goals:
- Remain on the same calorie / carb plan that has worked for me this year. (So far this year, I lost a substantial amount of weight and achieved an amazing A1C).
- Eat plenty of vegetarian protein sources to help with healing.
- Eat food that fit the needs of my mouth after surgery but was interesting and enjoyable.
- Make myself smile during a time I expected to be moody due to pain and food restrictions.
- Eat a combination of freezer meals and freshly prepared meals.
- Eat yogurt in glass and pottery as a special treat for myself. It is better for my health goals than ice cream.
Notes:
After my second surgery I remained on the mostly liquid diet (smoothies for breakfast), one day longer than I had planned the first time. My mouth and jaw were sore and any movement on one side of my mouth impacted the other side.
Freezer Meals
- Mom’s Mac & Cheese – I asked her to make it without the breadcrumb topping.
- Zucchini Chickpea Soup with Spinach
- Peanut Butter Muffins
- Baked Risotto with Asparagus and Spinach
- Smoked Sweet Potato and Coconut Soup
- Broccoli Soup
- Pumpkin Cheddar Stuffed Shells
- Black Bean Soup
Other Soft Meals
- Irish Feast – Mashed potato cake with cheddar and garlic shaped with a shamrock cookie cutter, mashed rutabega, ground cabbage, ground carrot
- Cucumber White Bean & Avocado Soup
- Smoothie – 1 cup frozen fruit (without seeds), plain Greek yogurt cup, 2 TBS peanut butter powder, milk (as desired)
- Creamed Spinach – Chopped cooked spinach, ricotta, salt, pepper
- Individual Shepherd’s Pies – Mashed white potato with cheddar, mashed sweet potato with almond butter powder, cooked lentils
- Mashed potato cake with Mole sauce and Ricotta
- Apples with Brie – Roasted apples with brie, Greek yogurt, maple syrup
- Roasted Winter Squash with Goat Cheese, applesauce
- Baked Sweet Potato with Almond Butter, milk
- Pasta with Roasted Vegetables and Cheese
- Oatmeal with Peanut Butter Powder and Milk
I did not take photos of all of my meals during this time. Included in this post are a sampling.
