<http://schema.org/articleBody>
"&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Fruit is an essential part of a healthy diet.\u00A0 It is recommended that children eat one to two cups of fruit daily.\u00A0 Even though fruit is a great choice for your health, &amp;lt;em&amp;gt;how&amp;lt;/em&amp;gt; you choose to eat it is a challenge when you have braces.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Hard fruit, like an apple, for example, can be very difficult to bite into, because of the brackets that are on the teeth.\u00A0 Unripe pears and peaches pose the same problem.\u00A0 Cut hard fruits into bite-sized pieces, so they can be chewed with the back teeth.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Soft fruits are easily bitten into for braces wearers, but when teeth are tender, especially after a wire change, even the softest fruit can be a nightmare.\u00A0 Choose fruit such as blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries for days when your teeth are tender.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Vegetables provide us with the vitamins and minerals that are essential for growing bodies.\u00A0 Children should consume one to two cups of vegetables daily.\u00A0 Like fruit, vegetables need to be prepared slightly differently for people that wear braces.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Hard, raw vegetables, such as carrots, cauliflower, and broccoli are tough to bite into with braces and may even pop a bracket off the tooth.\u00A0 When preparing raw vegetables, cut them into bite-sized pieces that can be easily chewed with the back teeth.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Most vegetables may be enjoyed cooked -- which is a braces wearer&amp;amp;#39;s dream because cooking automatically softens the food.\u00A0 If you are having a problem eating your favorite vegetable raw, try steaming it until it&amp;amp;#39;s tender, or boil it until it&amp;amp;#39;s soft.\u00A0&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Grains provide us with &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/why-your-body-needs-fiber-2505934&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;1&amp;quot;&amp;gt;fiber&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/iron-requirements-and-dietary-sources-2507035&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;iron&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, and many other nutrients that we require. Choosing &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/great-whole-grains-to-try-2506889&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;3&amp;quot;&amp;gt;whole grain&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; products provide the optimum nutritional value for your buck.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Grains are generally an easy food group for braces wearers because most grain products are very soft and easily chewed. However, there are a few grain products braces wearers should be cautious of.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Eating hard crusted bread, such as a bagel, is difficult for someone with braces because it is very hard to bite into. Soften breads by warming them or break them into bite-sized pieces.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Unground whole grains are also a challenge because they become stuck in between the braces, attachments and the even the teeth, which makes them very hard to remove. Avoid small seeds and grains.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Strong bones and teeth rely on a diet that is rich in &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/calcium-requirements-and-dietary-sources-2507093&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;1&amp;quot;&amp;gt;calcium&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;. Dairy products provide us with calcium, &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/vitamin-d-requirements-and-sources-2507048&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;vitamin D&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/potassium-requirements-and-dietary-sources-2507036&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;3&amp;quot;&amp;gt;potassium&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, even protein. Dairy products are an excellent choice for braces wearers because most dairy products are soft and require very little chewing.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Select from a variety of dairy products, such as low-fat milk, low-fat cheese, and low-fat yogurt. If you are &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/lactose-intolerance-1324038&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;4&amp;quot;&amp;gt;lactose intolerant&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, soy-based dairy products are a great dairy alternative that are also generally soft and easily consumed with braces.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;When eating soft cheese, you may find that it becomes stuck between the braces and wires. Try to prepare bite-sized pieces of cheese, or purchase a cheese string product that is easily peeled apart.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Meat supplies us with &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/high-protein-foods-and-the-amount-of-protein-in-each-2242514&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;1&amp;quot;&amp;gt;protein&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; and iron -- both essential, especially for growing bodies. Meat, however, poses a problem for braces wearers because it&amp;amp;#39;s fibrous, making it hard to chew. Stringy meat will often become stuck in the braces, or between the teeth. Tough cuts can be so difficult to chew, they end up loosening the bands that surround the molars. Eating meat right from the bone, such as chicken wings and ribs, becomes dangerous for your braces because you risk popping off a bracket.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Select lean, tender cuts of meat and cut them into bite-sized pieces before you eat it. Also, remove meat from the bone before eating. Some good choices include fish, chicken, and lean beef or pork. Tofu also is a good vegetarian option, since it&amp;amp;#39;s soft.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Carefully selecting your choices from this vegetarian group will help keep your braces secure, because eating nuts and seeds can be very challenging for braces wearers.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Nuts and seeds are very hard, and they are very small -- two challenging aspects for someone that wears braces. Biting down on a hard nut or seed can easily break a band or bracket off from the tooth. Nuts and seeds are also responsible for bending the archwires, even though they may not actually break anything off. A bent wire can actually move the teeth into a undesired position, setting you back valuable treatment time.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Select nut spreads, such as peanut butter or almond butter, or coarsely grind your favorite nuts and seeds, and use them as a topping for your yogurt.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Candy isn&amp;amp;#39;t an official food group, but let&amp;amp;#39;s face it most people do enjoy the occasional candy from time to time. For someone that wears braces, eating candy can be very destructive to their braces, and possibly to the tooth&amp;amp;#39;s surface as well.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Candy can be broken into two groups: hard and sticky. Morsels of toffee will adhere to the brackets and bands, which can easily break them off. Hard chocolate covered nuts will do similar damage similar to its stick counterpart. Gummy candy will bend archwires and get stuck under your braces attachments.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;\u00A0&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a data-inlink=&amp;quot;pNnFd3qEsDZm5akW-rRHlg&amp;amp;#61;&amp;amp;#61;&amp;quot; href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/can-i-eat-candy-with-braces-1059334&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;1&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Eating candy&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; should be avoided during your &amp;lt;a data-inlink=&amp;quot;wt3Kx256WY8wplPeDl7w_w&amp;amp;#61;&amp;amp;#61;&amp;quot; href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/braces-and-orthodontic-treatment-1059330&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;orthodontic treatment&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;. Teeth are more vulnerable to decay while in braces, therefore eliminating excessive sugar is very important during your treatment.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Eating with braces doesn&amp;amp;#39;t have to be boring. Now that you know what you can and can&amp;amp;#39;t eat with braces, you are able to choose from a wide variety of braces-friendly foods, that are readily available and easily prepared. Try to select a variety of foods -- from all of the food groups listed above. Ensuring that your diet remains healthy during your orthodontic treatment is just as important as your overall treatment&amp;amp;#39;s outcome.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;If you are having a hard time connecting with your &amp;amp;#34;inner chef&amp;amp;#34;, and you find your braces-friendly foods are bland, and just plain boring, try searching for a braces&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/braces-cookbook-recipes-you-and-orthodontist-will-love-1059346&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;1&amp;quot;&amp;gt; friendly cookbook&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; or recipes that will help bring the excitement back to your taste buds.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;United States Department of Agriculture. Inside the Pyramid - What foods are in the grain group?. http://www.mypyramid.gov/pyramid/grains.html. Accessed: February 25, 2010.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;Vincent Iannelli, M.D. Food Groups - Child Nutrition Basics. Updated: March 24, 2008. &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/food-groups-child-nutrition-2633922&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;1&amp;quot;&amp;gt;http://pediatrics.about.com/od/nutrition/a/0308_food_group.htm&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;. Accessed: February 25, 2010.&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<https://www.verywell.com/what-you-can-and-cant-eat-with-braces-1059351>