Menu Plan Monday: The Softer Side

Last week I was trying to solve the problem of feeding my always-hungry kids without spending a small fortune. This week I have a different problem. It isn't necessarily the kind that breaks my budget, but it sure does break my heart.

A few days ago, my daughter got a new appliance attached to her braces. The orthodontist called it a "robotic arm." Actually, it looks more like the entire robot!

All that metal rubbed the inside of her cheeks raw and left her entire mouth sore. To add insult to injury (literally), it doesn't let her back teeth touch. It's rather hard to chew when your upper and lower molars are a quarter of an inch apart from each other.

The orthodontist assured us that her mouth would adjust and she would figure out how to eat. Eventually. That's a good thing because she may have this contraption on for about a year. Yuck!

After spending several days eating little more than chocolate pudding, milkshakes, and jello, she had a glimmer of hope this evening. She was able to eat an almost normal dinner. She was so happy, she was glowing.  Who would have guessed that a BBQ sandwich and some green beans could make a kid twice as happy as the chocolate milkshake she had for lunch.  Go figure.

To help Mackenzie learn to live with the monster in her mouth, I've planned meals I think she'll be able to eat without too much trouble (or pain, I hope). I've also made a list of soft foods she can have if she needs a break from chewing.

Here's this week's menu plan:

Breakfasts around our house tend to be a fend-for-yourself affair. I try to keep a wide enough selection of items on hand that the kids can either fix for themselves or can fix with minimal help. Also, since my husband works a job with odd hours, every meal is not a "family meal". When Dad is at work, I try to keep things simple to save time and my sanity (well, whatever sanity I have left by dinner time.). I've marked our "family meals" with an asterisk (*).

BREAKFAST
Leftover pancakes
Homemade granola
Pumpkin muffins
Cereal
Oatmeal
Eggs
Homemade bread
Toast
Yogurt
Fruit

LUNCH
*Salad, sandwiches
*Beans and rice
*Eat out
Sandwiches
Cheese, lunchmeat, crackers
Boiled eggs
Leftovers
Fruit
Veggies and dip

DINNER
*Black bean soup, cornbread
*Quick Chicken, rice pilaf, salad
Pasta with meat sauce
Pancakes, homemade syrup, applesauce, smoothies
Meat-stuffed shells (a birthday request), salad
Vegetable soup, biscuits
Leftovers

SOFT FOODS
Scrambled eggs
Egg salad
Pureed squash
Potatoes (baked, mashed, boiled, salad)
Smoothies
Applesauce
Baked beans
Canned green beans

Have you ever suffered through braces or another mouth "ouchie"? What foods helped you survive? Share your ideas in the comments!

Be sure to check out more menu ideas over at Menu Plan Monday.