A flap of gum has grown over the lower wisdom teeth on each side of my mouth, so I cannot chew. (My previous statement that my gums were swollen was incorrect.) After consulting with oral surgeons and my other doctors, we have decided there is no good solution under my circumstances, or at least no solution better than living with it.
So far, I have been relying heavily on thinned hot cereals, pureed bean soups, banana ice cream shakes, yogurt and fruit smoothies, and a commercial nutritional drink with a lot of calories, protein, and fat. Though I'm generally in favor of real food, the commercial drink is very convenient and very chocolatey.
I have been feeling sorry for myself about needing to get all my nutrition in liquid form from now on. I miss eating solid food a lot.
Then I saw that people with broken jaws face the same problem. This gave me hope that I could find a tasty variety of nutritional drink/smoothie/shake recipes.
Some of what I found sounded terrible. For example: pizza, hamburgers, Chinese food, or Mexican food, plus some extra liquid, put in a blender and then strained. Also, baby food. I have been having problems with nausea and vomiting, and I get queasy just thinking about these. But if I get desperately bored with what I'm doing, I might have to give them a try.
I did learn about some promising additions like nut butters, hemp and flax seeds, and tofu. Those are probably where I'm going next to boost the nutrition of what I'm doing. Vegetable juice, too.
If you have some clever ideas for drinkable, nutritious, and tasty foods, please pass them along.
Joe,
ReplyDeleteSo great to hear from you. Ginger has an antiemetic effect, so perhpas try ginger tea with sugar? Or ginger flavored chicken broth? ( slow cook a few drumsticks or thighs with ginger root slices, season the broth with a bit of salt. Sometimes I add chopped tomatoes or sliced onions for richer flavor.)
Have you ever had rice congee? It is a porradge. Add cooked rice to the above made broth, add any chopped/ground meats or tofu or scrambled eggs, add any desired chopped vegetables ( cubed sweet potatoes, carrots, and squashes are great), slow cook to desired texture, season with salt and a bit of white pepper ( I recall you like spicy Asian noodles in your blog post), very good!! Chinese parents used to make congee for babies before commercial baby foods became available. And congee is a popular dish in Chinese Dim Sum restaurants every day of the week. If you are allowed to eat food cooked outside of your house, I would be happy to make some congee or broth for you to try.
All the best from the Belmonts
hi, Joe,
ReplyDeleteMight be more appetizing to make soup and then puree the solids: African peanut soup, roasted bell pepper soup, apple and brie soup; kale, potato, and sausage soup (might need to strain this through cheesecloth, but you'd get flavor); corn chowder...Bread crumbs (or croutons that soak up lots of liquid) might allow for some thickening if the texture isn't off-putting for you.
And not sure this is nutritious, but vanilla smoothies with bits of brownies, muffins (carrot cake?), or tiny cookie bits might be tasty.
Hi Joe - for starters, Jamba Juice makes a great frozen fruit smoothies in several flavors that are really tasty.(basically frozen fruits and pieces of frozen yogurt and you add juice) I throw tofu in to boost the protein and then blend it all up. Yoplait also makes some, but I think they are heavier on the sugar and lighter on the nutrition. Also, I have several veg soups that are pureed and really tasty, so if you'd like, I can email the recipes to you (do I have your email?) and you can decide if they are appealing. (Fresh pea and mint soup, curried butternut squash soup) Finally, I have a friend whose husband's jaw was wired shut for weeks and I will ask what worked best for him.
ReplyDeleteSarah
gazpacho, and variations on that theme
ReplyDeleteAlso, when I had to be on clear-liquids only for a bit, I discovered jello. It does not actually need to be chewed, but it has some solidness to the mouth feel.
ReplyDeleteavocado blended with any vegetable, really, will give the shake a creaminess and boost the fat/calorie/flavor of it. Chocolate blended with nut butters and yogurt or ice cream. The congee is a great idea - mixable with any savory goodies like blended kale, swiss chard, squash, ginger, scallions, etc. Tomato soup, if you've a good harvest, can be doctored with lots of higher calorie and nutritious goodies like beans and greens and corn, etc.
ReplyDeletemy thoughts are with you,
Joan Raiselis (JE '82)
Use organic yogart. Also when I was faced with a difficult diagnosis myself and doctors were waiting and seeing how my non-hodgekins lymphoma presented, I found the book A Cancer Battle Plan by Ann E. Frahm useful. You don't know me but I went to college with your amazing wife, Jan. I have recently been contacted for the field hockey reuinion and was told about your blog. Overall, my best battle plan was found through Jesus Christ but that is another story...God Bless, I am praying for a miracle.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear that you can't enjoy "chew-able" food, but hope the liquid diet can provide some tasteful options, as well as sufficient nutrition. Could you and Jan use a Vita-Mix blender? We can send you ours!!!
ReplyDeleteThinking of you, Joe, as well as Jan and the entire family. I hope you can find some joy, laughter, comfort, and peace in these days.
Love,
Heather
A Vita-Mix is amazing - will change your entire culinary world with it's blending capabilities. Take her up on the offer Joe!
DeleteJoe, if you get tired of eating healthy you can try this...
ReplyDeletehttps://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151195526943814.452023.845248813&type=3
Abd tou can also supplant strawberries with fresh pineapple, milk with Coco Lopéz and add a splash of Malibu rum.
Tom
Naked juice?...
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking a milkshake including pumpkin and silken tofu might be tasty and fairly high on nutrition...
ReplyDeleteYou might want to try adding some of the syrups you see at coffee shops into your protein shake. I've had luck with both vanilla and chocolate protein shakes and mint flavors, raspberry, etc. If you want a little more creaminess, throw in a banana or even a little bit of pudding mix. At least it would give you a couple flavor options. I see the pumpkin suggestion - you can add spices, like apple pie spice, to the shakes for a little added flavor.
ReplyDeleteJoe, I think of you and pray for you often. Know that you have been an amazing inspiration to so many people.
The Vita-Mix is amazing and any slow-cooked meat/roast is pretty soft and liquid after a few seconds in it, if you are looking for savory flavors. We didn't have recipes. We just tossed in whatever we had and tried it. Experimenting taught us that sometimes the most unlikely things weren't half bad after a pass through the Vita-Mix. We mixed a complete apple pie and ice cream for an apple pie ala-mode dessert.
ReplyDeleteJust remember to make sure the top is in tightly. No, seriously. We had to repaint the kitchen.
Thank you for your words. You are in our thoughts and prayers often.
Wow - Joe you are amazing. Reading your blog and the comments you inspire is nothing short of profound.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe how sharing your journey has enriched me. And now recipes and nutrition ideas!
Ditto on the Vita-Mix. It really is amazing.
I also add nutritional yeast and spirulina for essential B vitamins plus silken tofu for more protein. Grinding golden flax seeds (I use a coffee grinder) is also a daily add to my drink mix.
You have not met me in person but Jan is the tie that binds. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Joe, Jerry Bowen liked pureed clam chowder and any kind of bisque: tomato, lobster, butternut squash. Finely ground nuts would add some body and some nutrition to pureed food. Also overcooked noodles might slide down the hatch without much chewing but still provide some mouth feel. How about watermelon for soft food that can be tongued into submission.
ReplyDeleteI don't suppose a mouth guard would help with eating. It might protect your gums but allow you to chew a little.
Praying for you and your family daily. Becky and Rhys
Hey Joe,
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about the liquid diet, but it sounds like you got some very creative suggestions above. On the noodle theme, tiny soup noodles or whole grains (brown rice, wheat berries) might give you a sense of something solid that doesn't have to be chewed. I'm think of you often and wishing you and your family all the best.
Fondly,
Peter Woodbury
I had a friend who broke her jaw and it was wired shut. She used to grill a steak and make baked potatoes and then blend them up with butter and mild and drink it through a straw. She said it was wonderful.
ReplyDeleteSorry about all this inconvenient and painful stuff, Joe. We are sending you all the love and California sunshine that we can! xoxo Tracy and Laura
Hey, Joe. I'm seconding gazpacho --- especially while the tomatoes are so damn good!!!
ReplyDeleteclaire
Hi Joe, I have had my jaw wired shut in the past, and so I have a few ideas:
ReplyDelete•I make vegan fruit smoothies every morning, with some unusual ingredients: avocado for healthy creamy fat (it fits in well with the sweet,trust me!) coconut kefir, unflavored gelatin for protein. Kale for vitamins. Full-fat coconut milk is also a nice addition if you're trying to get more calories in.
•You can also simmer cashews for 15 minutes until they're soft and put them in either smoothies or soups for added protein and fatty deliciousness! They have a very neutral taste and work in most anything.
•Roasted and mashed pumpkin and squash, maybe mashed with ricotta and garlic and salt and pepper if you're into that...it's getting to be the season.
•Congee is a GREAT idea. If you can eat food cooked by others, Golden Harbor on Neil St. has good stuff, also Empire on Green St. If it's still too chunky just dump it in a bowl and have at it with a stick blender.
I've been following you with admiration all along, Joe - we often send out a namaste to you in Yoga. I hope there are moments of peace and love amongst the struggle.
Best, Jen Gibas
Remember - Ice Cream, it's not just for breakfast anymore...
ReplyDeleteJoe M
Good Morning Joe - or I guess I should say - Good Afternoon, Joe. While I don't have any great ideas for smoothies - chocolate ice cream or a Wendie's Frosty (whatever ingrediets that contains), has been the extent of my smoothie cravings.
ReplyDeleteI really just want you to know, though, how much I'm thinking of you - sending you prayers, well-wishes - and miracles. While hiking this last week in Colorado, I had fond flashback memories of when I first met Jan and you - I think it was in Colorado Springs at the running conference. And, then, other memories of our continued sightings and connections throughout the years.
I admire you, Joe. You have always - and will remain so - been an inspiration.
I love you,
Pat B.
Hi Joe,
ReplyDeleteAdd extra water to Chia seeds because they get pretty goopy.
Much love,
Neil
Benefits
Chia seeds are full of Omega-3 fatty acids, protein, dietary fiber and oil. Chia seeds are also high in anti-oxidants and have been found to be beneficial to diabetics due to their ability to inhibit the speed of carbohydrates being turned into sugars. The seeds are also being used as a diet aid because they help a person feel fuller and, therefore, curb hunger.
Preparations
Chia seeds can be eaten raw... Chia seeds, whether added to drinks or eaten as puddings or gruels, are popular in Mexico.
Read more: What Are Chia Seeds? | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/facts_4962842_what-chia-seeds.html#ixzz27OffON4O
Our favorite fall/winter soup recipe: 1 lb potatoes, 1 lb leeks, water just to cover, simmer until the potatoes are soft and the leeks have fallen apart (about 45 mins/an hour). Use an immersion blender to puree (if you like a smoother consistency) or use a potato masher to keep some lumps. This recipe doubles nicely. I use Yukon gold, my mother uses Idaho russets. My soup doesn't freeze well (too starchy on reheating) but hers reheats perfectly. (Sometimes Mom really does know best!) I also leave the skin on my potatoes; she doesn't.
ReplyDeleteServe in shallow bowls with salt (potatoes can absorb an infinite amount), pepper, and a dollop of plain yogurt or sour cream. Mix in the dairy or leave it a glob and scoop a bit in each bite...
It should make your mouth happier! Hugs, -Carolyn (and Jean, Mike, and Wendy Artin)
I remember having my wisdom teeth out, ugh. A liquid diet can be challenging. I am thinking soup, especially creamy ones such as cream of potato. You can also add vegetables and fruits in the blender with ice and a dash of yogurt. There are also some interesting smoothie mixes with bananas and other ingredients that are ready to make at the grocery store.
ReplyDeleteYou're in our thoughts, Joe. We're all sending lots of love and whatever strength we can muster for you. Blessings.
ReplyDeleteJoe,Jan,Jake and Paul
ReplyDeleteWe love you.
Love Ginger,Ralph,Angela. Alli
Joe, Jan, Paul and Jake,
ReplyDeleteI am thinking of all of you, wishing you peace, light and full awareness of all the love that surrounds you. Janet
Joe, after my retina detachment in August, I missed reading your blog (or much of anything) for too long and now I see that I have missed far too much. You inspire me still and your spirit, courage, and strength will.continue to inspire me for many years, I.am sure. Although I have never met your family and have not seen you in person for over 20 years, I am sending all of you all the warm thoughts and love that one friend can send to another. You are a remarkable soul.
ReplyDeleteI came across a "cook book" for people *having* to live off a liquid diet which includes weekly buying guides/meal plans, all the nuritional data, etc.. Feel free to share if you may still be interested in something like this.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.savoroursolutions.com/
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ReplyDeleteWhenever i feel fatty and If you have a hard time maintaining your weight with regular food, whether it's because you have diarrhea or a poor appetite, I absolutely recommend drinking view it calories, sort of in combination with food.
ReplyDeleteLiquid diet consists of transparent liquid foods such as vegetable broth, bouillon, clear fruit juices, clear fruit ices, popsicles, clear gelatin desserts, and no carbonated drinks. Soda's carbonation expands the gastrointestinal tract. liquids.co.uk
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ReplyDeleteI have been relying heavily on thinned hot cereals, pureed bean soups, banana ice cream shakes, yogurt and fruit smoothies, and a commercial nutritional drink with a lot of calories, protein, and fat. paleo diet cookbook
ReplyDelete