Corrective Jaw Surgery Diet

Blender Information

Ideally, you will need to have a blender (stationary or handheld) or food processor. Otherwise, commercial baby food may be used to sustain a healthy corrective jaw surgery diet.

Consistency of Food

During the 3-6 weeks of your recovery period, your diet will consist of fluids and thin, blended foods. The addition of minced or finely chopped foods into your diet varies with the type of surgery performed. Check with your surgeon before you increase the texture of your diet. Generally, jaw surgery patients should not use a straw during the recovery period. We highly recommend checking with your oral surgeon before using a straw.

Guidelines for Blending Foods

For this diet, food should be blended with enough liquid to produce a thin, easily swallowed meal. When the jaws are wired together tightly, it may be necessary to strain the blended food. To add flavor and interest to blended foods or commercial baby food, you may add butter or margarine that has been warmed to your ideal temperature.

Blender Method

1. Place Liquid in Blender
2. Add Food
3. Blend on Low until Smooth

You may need to add additional liquid or increase the blender speed to reach your desired consistency.

Sorting Blended Foods

Prepare more than one serving at a time and store in the refrigerator in a closed container for two or three days, or in the freezer in individual portions labeled and dated.

To serve:

• Defrost in the refrigerator or over hot water.
• Heat only the amount you need for one meal.

Blending Fruit

Use 1/2 cup (125mL) of your desired fruit(s)

• Chopped, cooked, or canned fruits blend best with 1-2 tablespoons (15-30 mL) of unsweetened fruit juice, ice cream, or pudding.
• If you are blending fresh peaches or fresh bananas, use lemon juice or orange juice to keep them from turning brown

Note: Certain fruit, such as cherries and pineapple, do not get pureed well

Blending Vegetables

Use 1/2 cup (125mL) of your desired vegetable(s)

• Chopped, cooked, or canned vegetables blend best with 2-3 tablespoons (30- 45mL) of cream sauce or vegetable cooking water

Note: Certain vegetables, such as cabbage and celery, do not blend well

Blending Meat

Use 1/2 cup (125mL) of your desired meat(s)

• Tenderly cooked and cubed meat, fish, or poultry (not fried) blend best with 3-4 tablespoons (45-60 mL) of gravy, cream soup, vegetable cooking water, or vegetable juice

Note: 1 serving of meat, fish, or poultry is 6-8 tablespoons (90-120mL) pureed

Meat Alternatives and Combination Dishes

Cooked or canned legumes (baked beans, kidney beams, chickpeas, etc) and lentils can be blended following the same instructions for blending vegetables

Cottage cheese can be combined with milk or soft fruit to be blended to your desired consistency

Scrambled eggs may be combined with milk to be blended to your desired consistency

• You may even add grated cheese for increased flavor

Spaghetti with meat sauce, macaroni and cheese, chili con carne, etc. may be blended following the instructions for blending meat

Food Choices

A variety of nutrients are needed to help you heal and maintain good health during your corrective jaw surgery recovery. We recommend following the United States Department of Agriculture’s guidelines to assist you in consuming a nutritionally well- balanced diet. During this period of recovery, be sure to enjoy a variety of foods from each food group every day and opt for lower-fat foods more often.

The Food Guide recommendations will include lower and higher number of servings for each food group. This is because factors such as your age, body size, activity level, and gender each play a role in deciding the amount of food in each food group that is best for you.

Milk Products

We recommend you consume 3-4 servings of your desired milk product daily.

1 serving consists of the following:

• 1 cup (250mL) of whole milk
• 1 cup (250mL) of 2% milk
• 1cup(250mL)ofchocolatemilk
• 1 cup (250mL) of your choice of milkshake flavor (avoid any chunks) 1 cup (250mL) of a milk-based cream soup
• 3/4 cups (190mL) of yogurt
• 3/4 cups (190mL) of ice cream
• 3/4 cups (190mL) of milk pudding 3/4cups(190mL)o fblended cottage cheese and milk

Note: If your body cannot tolerate lactose or is allergic to milk, try the following:

• If you are lactose intolerant, use Lactaid Milk
• If you are allergic to milk, use soy milk
• Use a lactose-free nutritional supplement (they may not be milk-free) as
• part of a meal or snack Use a soy-based frozen dessert(such as Tofutti) in place of ice cream in recipes

Meats and Alternatives

We recommend you consume 2-3 servings of your desired meat daily

1 serving consists of the following:

• 2-3 oz (50-75g) of tenderly cooked meats, fish, or poultry
  - blend with cream sauce, cream soup, warm broth, or gravy
• 1 small jar (75g) of baby food meat
  - thin with gravy or soup
• 1-2 eggs scrambled
  - blend with milk or egg drop soup
• 1/2 cup (125mL) of cooked beans
  - blend with liquid
• 1/2 cup (125mL) of peas
  - blend with liquid
• 1/2 cup (125mL) of lentils
  - blend with liquid
• 1/3 cup (75mL) of tofu
  - blend with soup
• 2 tablespoons (30mL) of peanut butter
  - blend into drinks

Grain Products

We recommend you consume 5-12 servings of your desired grain product daily

1 serving consists of the following:

• 1/2 cup (125mL) of hot cereal
  This hot cereal can be cream of wheat, oat bran, or strained oatmeal
  - thin with milk
• 1/2 cup (125mL) of infant cereal
  - mix with juice or milk
• 1/2 cup (125mL) of cooked rice
  - blend with soup or milk
• 1/2 cup (125mL) of cooked noodles
  - blend with soup or milk

Fruits and Vegetables

We recommend you consume 5-10 servings of your desired fruits and vegetables daily

1 serving consists of the following:

• 1/2 cup (125mL) of cooked or canned fruit
  - blend with fruit juice, ice cream, or pudding
• 1/2 cup (125mL) of well-cooked vegetables
  - blend with broth or cream soup
• 1/2 cup (125mL) of fruit or vegetable juice
• 1 small jar (75g) of baby food vegetables
  - thin with warm butter or margarine
• 1 small jar (75g) of baby food fruit
  - thin with fruit juice

Maintain Your Weight

It is important that you maintain your weight during your corrective jaw surgery recovery period. We recommend you weigh yourself once a week. Losing weight indicates that you are not consuming enough calories, and this can delay your healing.

To increase your caloric intake, you can:

• Increase the number of meals and snacks you eat
• Use whole milk or half cream and half milk in recipes that involve puddings and milk shakes
• Add 4 tablespoons of skim milk powder to each cup of milk that is used for soups, milk drinks, and puddings
• Add extra fat (butter, margarine, or oil) and high fat food to your food
• Do not fill up on low-calorie fluids such as coffee, tea, broth, diet soda, or water
• Consume these low-calorie fluids at the end of your meals

The Importance of Fiber

To help prevent constipation, add extra fiber to your diet by:

• Adding in 1-2 tablespoons (15-30mL) of natural bran or wheat germ
  this can be with hot cereals, casseroles, soups, or milk drinks
• Eating high fiber legume dishes
  -this can be with blended baked beans or split pea soup
• Consume blended prunes or prune juice once a day

Note: Fiber should be gradually increased into your diet. You should not make all these changes on the same day. It is recommended that you gradually add extra fiber to your diet over the course of a few days.

Nutritional Supplements

Nutritional Supplements provide liquid nutrition in a convenient form. These products are not essential but can be helpful when they are incorporated through a meal or snack. If you find it difficult to consume the recommended servings from the grain or milk product groups, you could include 1-2 servings of a nutrition supplement in their place. That way you will still be gaining a good source of nutrition from these food groups.

Some Nutritional Supplement products to look for at your drug store or grocery store including the following:

• Boost*
• Carnation Instant Breakfast
• Ensure and Ensure Plus
• Essentials*
• NuBasics* and NuBasics Plus*
• Resource, Resource Plus*, and Resource for Kids*
• Pediasure* (for children)

Note: *These items are lactose-free. A vitamin and mineral supplement is not necessary with a well-balanced diet. However, if you find that you are not able to regularly consume the recommended number of servings from the United States Department of Agriculture, it would be beneficial to take a vitamin and mineral supplement. We recommend asking your pharmacist to help you choose a suitable variety, since you may need this supplement in liquid form.

Meal Planning

You may find it easier to have five or six smaller meals in a day, rather than fewer large meals. Taking food in liquid form is both time consuming and tiring, and liquids tend to be more filling. For portion size recommendations, refer to the food choices section.

Breakfast

• Hot-Cooked Cereal - prepare with milk and serve with cream and sugar
• Scrambled-Eggs - blend with milk or with cottage cheese that is mixed with fruit
• Apple Juice

Mid-Morning Meal

• Milk Beverage (see recipes)
• Instant Breakfast

Lunch

• Cream of Tomato Soup - prepare with milk
• Macaroni and Cheese - blend and thin with milk or cheese sauce
• Green Beans - blend with warmed butter or margarine
• Vanilla Pudding - thin with milk
• Juice and Water – consume for bonus nutrition at the end of your meal

Dinner

• Roast Beef – blend and thin with gravy
• Mashed Potatoes – blend with milk or cream and warmed butter
• Carrots – blend with warmed butter or margarine
• Pears – blend with unsweetened fruit juice or ice cream
• Tea and Water – consume for bonus nutrition at the end of your meal

Abbreviations and Metric Conversions

The following abbreviations have been used throughout these recipes:

• Teaspoon (tsp)
• Tablespoon (tbs)
• Millimeter (mL)
• Cup (c)
• Gram (g)
• Pound (lb)

To convert to metric, use the following measurements:

• 1 tsp = 5 mL
• 1 tbs = 15 mL
• 1/3 cup = 75 mL
• 1/2 cup = 125 mL
• 1 cup = 250 mL
• 1 oz = 25 g
• 1 lb = 450 g

Main Dishes

Hearty Fish Chowder – 2 servings

• 2 tsp margarine or butter
• 2 tsp onion, chopped
• 1 small potato - diced
• 1 small carrot - sliced
• 1 cup water
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1/3 lb. fish fillets - fresh or thawed
• 1 cup milk

1. Melt margarine in saucepan and cook onion until tender
2. Add potato, carrot, water and tsp of salt and pepper
3. Cover and simmer 10-15 minutes until vegetables are tender
4. Cut fish fillets into 1-inch (3 cm) cubes
5. Add fish to saucepan and cook 10 minutes longer
6. Cool slightly and blend in a blender or processor
7. Return to saucepan and add milk
8. Reheat, but do not boil

Per serving: 222 calories and 22g protein

Ground Beef Casserole – 6 servings

• 1lb ground beef
• 2 tbs onion – minced
• 1 cup macaroni – uncooked
• 1 10 oz can tomato soup
• 1 cup water
• 1 tbs ketchup
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• Garlic powder to taste
• For blending: extra broth or tomato juice

1. Brown beef and onion in a saucepan
2. Cook macaroni and add to saucepan with remaining ingredients
3. Put into a casserole and bake at 350F or 180C (covered) for one hour
4. Put about 1 cup in blender or processor and add extra broth or tomato juice to achieve proper consistency.

Per serving: 365 calories, 17g protein

Milk Drinks

Super Shakes – 2 servings

• 1 cup ice cream
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 pkg Carnation Instant Breakfast

1. Combine and blend well.
2. To vary the flavor, try different flavors of ice cream or Instant Breakfast

• You may also add 1/3 to 1/2 cup fruit or 1 tsp instant coffee

Per serving: 290 calories, 11 g protein

Ice Cream Soda Float – 1 serving

• 1 cup root beer, cola, or fruit flavored soda
• 1 cup vanilla ice cream

1. Place a large scoop of vanilla ice cream in a tall glass
2. Add soda until glass is almost full

Per serving: 230 calories, 3 g protein

Violet Froth – 2 servings

• 1 cup pineapple juice
• 1 cup grape juice
• 1 cup plain yogurt
• 1 banana
• 1 cup ice (3 cubes)

1. Blend in blender until smooth and foamy

Per serving: 223 calories, 8 g protein

Orange Buttermilk Shake – 2 servings

• 1 cup buttermilk
• 2 tbs brown sugar
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1 cup vanilla ice cream

1. Combine ingredients in a blender
2. Blend to desired thickness

Per serving: 265 calories, 8g protein

Strawberry-Banana Milkshake – 1 serving

• 1 cup strawberry ice cream
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 ripe banana - sliced

1. Combine all ingredients in blender
2. Blend until smooth

Per serving: 325 calories, 9 g protein

Chocolate-Peanut Butter Shake – 2 servings

• 1 cup chocolate milk
• 4 tbs peanut butter
• 1 cup vanilla ice cream

1. Combine ingredients in blender
2. Blend until smooth

Per serving: 385 calories, 14g protein