Liquid Diet

On Wednesday, RJ will be having dental surgery.  In order to save one of his bottom teeth, he has to have a skin graft taken from the roof of his mouth and placed on his bottom gum.  He will be taking three days off work, and I hope it won’t be too painful for him!  One dentist told him it will only feel like a “bad pizza burn.”  We’re praying that’s the case!

For at least a few days after the surgery, we’re expecting he won’t be able to eat solid foods, so I’ve come up with a few recipes that I will be fixing.  Ingredients and instructions are listed below.  The quantities may not be precise.  I’m horrible at measuring when I cook!  Also, if you are concerned about fat/sugar, don’t bother trying these recipes.  I never cut out either one.  When I want to lose weight, I try to just eat less food.  Not less fat/sugar.  And I never, ever use anything that contains artificial sweeteners, but that’s a whole other blog.

1.)           Cheesy Vegetable Soup

This is one I’ve made several times before.  It’s delicious, healthy, and it will be easy to blend into a perfectly smooth consistency.  I prefer all the vegetables to be organic, as well as the broth, half & half, and butter.

Ingredients:    ½ cup butter, chopped onion, 2 cups chicken stock or vegetable stock, ¼ cup all purpose flour, 2 cups half & half, 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, ground black pepper, 1 cup of each of the following vegetables, chopped:  broccoli, cauliflower, carrots

Instructions:   Melt butter in a large pot & sauté onion for 5 minutes.  Add broth; bring to boil.  Add flour and veggies; simmer until veggies are tender.  Add the rest of the ingredients.  Simmer (do not boil) until cheese is melted.

 

2.)          Blended Mashed Potatoes with Broccoli & Cheese

I found a blog that listed many recipes like this one.  It was written by a girl who’d had dental surgery and had to drink her dinner for several weeks!  She had lots of great ideas, which I was able to tweek to fit our preferences.  Again, most of the ingredients are organic.  It is especially important to buy organic potatoes, because regular store-bought potatoes contain more pesticides than any other food.

Ingredients:    Potatoes, half & half, block of cream cheese, stick of butter, fresh chopped garlic, broccoli, cheddar cheese, whatever other cheese is in the fridge (I will probably use feta and smoked gouda because that’s what I have)

Instructions:   Boil and drain the potatoes.  Melt butter in the pot and sauté garlic for about 5 minutes.  Put the potatoes back in the pot, add half & half, cream cheese, and cheese.  Mix.   In a separate pot, steam broccoli for 6-7 minutes.  Drain and add to the pot of potatoes.  Blend all ingredients with a hand-held mixer.  If it is too thick, you can add milk or vegetable stock.

3.)          Berry/Banana Smoothie

We make these all the time!  It’s a delicious way to get your fruit servings for the day, if you’re not a fruit fan (and I am not).

Ingredients:    Bananas, berries (any kind – blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, etc.), milk, ice cream (we like Blue Bell), and just a touch of ice

Instructions:   It’s pretty easy.  Blend it all together & sip with a straw!

4.)          Chocolate/Peanut Butter Shake

I found this on the same blog as Recipe #2, and I really don’t know how it will taste.  But it sounds worth trying!

Ingredients:    Ice cream, milk, chocolate syrup, 1 Tablespoon of peanut butter

Instructions:   Blend it all together & drink.  I’ll let you know how this one turns out.