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.