Jaw Fracture Eating Plan

Jaw Fracture Eating Plan Tips

A break (fracture) of the jaw bone often needs surgery for treatment. After surgery, you will need to eat foods that can be blended so that they can be sipped from a straw or given through a syringe.

Work with a diet and nutrition specialist (dietitian) to create an eating plan that helps you get the nutrients you need in order to heal and stay healthy.

What are tips for following this plan?

General guidelines

  • All foods in this plan must be blended. Avoid nuts, seeds, skins, peels, bones, or any foods that cannot be blended to the right consistency.
  • Ask your health care provider about taking a liquid multivitamin to make sure that you get all the vitamins and minerals you need.

Cooking

  • Before blending, remove any skins, seeds, or peels from food.
  • Cook meats and vegetables until tender.
  • Cut foods into small pieces and mix with a small amount of liquid in a food processor or blender. Continue to add liquid until the food becomes thin enough to sip through a straw.
  • Add liquids such as juice, milk, cream, broth, gravy, or vegetable juice to help add flavor to foods.
  • Heat foods after they have been blended, not before. This reduces the amount of foam created from blending.
  • If you need to increase calories in food:
    • Add protein powder or powdered milk to foods.
    • Cook with fats, such as margarine (without trans fat), sour cream, cream cheese, cream, or nut butters.
    • Prepare foods with sweeteners, such as honey, ice cream, blackstrap molasses, or sugar.

Meal planning

  • Eat at least three meals and three snacks daily. It is important to make sure that you get enough calories and protein to prevent weight loss and help your body heal, especially after surgery.
  • Eat a variety of foods from each food group every day, including fruits and vegetables, protein, whole grains, dairy, and healthy fats.
  • If your teeth and mouth are sensitive to extreme temperatures, heat or cool your foods to lukewarm temperatures.

What foods are recommended?

The items listed may not be a complete list. Talk with your dietitian about what dietary choices are best for you.

Grains

Hot cereals, such as oatmeal, grits, ground wheat cereals, and polenta. Rice and pasta. Couscous.

Vegetables

All cooked or canned vegetables, without seeds and skins. Vegetable juices. Cooked potatoes, without skins.

Fruits

Any cooked or canned fruits, without seeds and skins. Fresh, peeled soft fruits, such as bananas and peaches, that can be blended until smooth. All fruit juices, without seeds and skins.

Meat and other protein foods

Soft-boiled eggs, scrambled eggs, powdered eggs, pasteurized egg mixtures, and custard. Ground meats, such as hamburger, turkey, sausage, and meatloaf. Tender, well-cooked meat, poultry, and fish, prepared without bones or skin. Soft soy foods, such as tofu. Smooth nut butters. Liquid egg substitutes.

Dairy

Milk. Cheese. Yogurt. Cottage cheese. Pudding.

Beverages

Coffee (regular or decaffeinated), tea, and mineral water. Liquid supplements that have protein and calories.

Fats and oils

Any oils. Melted margarine or butter. Ghee. Sour cream. Cream cheese. Avocado.

Seasoning and other foods

All seasonings and condiments that blend well. Ground spices. Finely ground seeds and nuts. Mustard or any smooth condiment.

Summary

  • Foods in this plan need to be prepared so that they can be sipped from a straw or given through a syringe. Try to have at least three meals and three snacks daily.
  • Avoid nuts, seeds, skins, peels, bones, or any foods that cannot be blended to the right consistency. Make sure you eat a variety of foods from each food group every day.
  • Include a liquid multivitamin in your plan as told by your health care provider or dietitian.
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