Three Simple Braces-Friendly Spring Recipes

Blooming Smiles are anxiously anticipating the arrival of spring, when plants and flowers will be “blooming” with new life! As spring is quickly approaching, we would like to celebrate by sharing some braces-friendly spring recipes with our patients and their families.

When your Northridge and Woodland Hills orthodontists placed braces on your teeth, we discussed with you about how important it is to steer clear of braces-busting foods like hard, crunchy, and sticky foods and snacks. All these recipes are safe to eat when you are wearing braces, and they are so good even your friends and family not wearing braces will want some too!

Easy Spring Rolls

Nothing says spring like a plate of delicious spring rolls! This recipe, which comes from EatingWell, is perfect for people wearing braces because you can choose your own braces-friendly ingredients for the filling.

Ingredients:

• Package of spring roll wrappers
• Cellophane noodles
• Shredded vegetables, like zucchini or carrots
• Lean meats
• Tofu

Directions:

Soak one spring roll wrapper at a time in a shallow dish containing very hot water until softened. Lift out and allow the excess water to drip off. Lay on a clean, dry cutting board. Place the filling ingredients on the bottom third of the wrapper, leaving a 1-inch border on either end. Fold the wrapper over the filling and start rolling it into a tight cylinder. Stop rolling about halfway to fold in both sides. Continue rolling until the spring roll is a tight cylinder. Put the remaining spring rolls together in the same manner. Cut each finished spring roll in half just before serving and enjoy!

French Spring Soup

You do not have to be French to enjoy this delicious and healthy spring soup! This recipe also comes from our friends at EatingWell, which means it is both yummy and good for you!

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup butter
• 1 pound leeks, chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 quarts water
• 3 large potatoes
• 2 large carrots, chopped
• 1 bunch fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into 10-inch pieces
• 1/3 cup uncooked, long-grain white rice
• 4 teaspoons salt
• ½ pound fresh spinach
• 1 cup heavy cream

Directions:

Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Stir in the leeks and onion and cook until tender. Pour the water in the pot then add the potatoes, carrots, asparagus and rice. Season with salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes until the vegetables and rice are tender. Stir the spinach and heavy cream into the soup and continue cooking for about 5 minutes before serving.

Simple Avocado Egg Salad

If you love egg salad and avocados, you're going to flip for this avocado egg salad! This recipe, which comes from the good people at InspiredTaste is super fast and easy to make.

Ingredients:

• 3 hard boiled eggs – cooled, peeled, and chopped
• 1 small ripe avocado – pitted, peeled, and chopped
• 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon of finely chopped onion
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 ½ teaspoons chopped chives
• Salt and pepper

Directions:

Place chopped eggs, chopped avocado and the onion in bowl. Add the mayonnaise and lemon juice and stir to mix. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Place the avocado egg salad on top of soft bread, top with chopped chives, and serve.

Contact Us Today!

All these recipes are sure to please your taste buds! These dishes will make your local Northridge and Woodland Hills orthodontist happy too, as you will not have to come in to have your braces repaired because you ate something you probably should not have! If you have any questions, or you would like to schedule an appointment, please feel free to contact us at (818) 727-1800 for our Northridge office or (818) 932-9100 for our Woodland Hills office. We look forward to hearing from you soon!