Tonsillectomy is a common medical procedure done to remove a person’s tonsils after continuous inflammations and infections. Anyone who has undergone tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy would know that the days that would follow are some of the worst someone can ever experience.
Eating would become a complicated and arduous task with some foods purposely avoided to make sure no complications would arise while in recovery. Throat pain would be constant but doctors would prescribe medication to alleviate the discomfort and help with eating and drinking.
Recovery for tonsillectomy surgery usually takes about two weeks but it would still depend on an individual’s own recovery rate.
If you’re to undergo a tonsil removal procedure, you should know that you’ll be only allowed to eat soft and cold foods. Foods that are hot, hard, sharp, and spicy will be strongly discouraged to avoid further discomfort and the possibility of post-operative bleeding (although it’s quite common).
Here are 10 best foods to eat after tonsillectomy.
1. Ice Cream
The go-to recovery food, ice cream is perfect for post-tonsillectomy patients because it is not only tasty; its soft and cold qualities make it easier to swallow while providing cold relief to the throat.
However, it is important to test yourself with ice cream, or any other dairy product first because there are patients that react negatively to it as a side effect of the narcotics and anesthesia, inducing nausea and vomiting in worst cases.
If the post-tonsillectomy patient is a child, ice cream should be given as a last resort or at a minimum because he or she might not want to eat anything else.
2. Eggs
If you’re looking for a good source of protein, you don’t have to go farther than eggs. They’re soft, squishy, and the best part is that they’re a very flexible ingredient. You can have them any way you like: poached, fried, scrambled, or boiled.
You can also add a bit of cheese if you’re into it but remember to stay away from spices to avoid irritating your throat. Other than that, eggs are some of the best foods to eat after tonsillectomy.
3. Mashed Potato
A good source of energy, mashed potatoes are an appealing choice of food when recovering from tonsillectomy because you can mix it with some pureed vegetables and even margarine or cream milk to add protein.
Vegetables that would go well with mashed potatoes are pumpkin, broccoli, mushy peas, cauliflower, and carrots, among others. All these are amazing foods to eat after tonsillectomy.
4. Steamed or Boiled Vegetables
If you’re not a fan of mixing vegetables with mashed potatoes, you can always take them as they are, albeit softer and easier to consume. Steaming vegetables can help retain much of their nutrients. However, if you want to be able to consume them, you should boil them up in order to soften them.
5. Cereals in Milk or Oatmeal
Cereals may be crunchy-hard food but not when they’re thoroughly soaked in milk. They are also a good source of dietary fibers but before you take to consuming them, make sure that they are soggy enough not affect your throat when you swallow.
Oatmeal provides the same fiber and energy content and may even be tastier to eat when you add a bit of fruit such as bananas, blueberries or even peanut butter for additional protein content.
6. Pancakes
Pancakes are soft and fluffy enough to be some of the best foods to eat after tonsillectomy surgery. You can add soft fruits to it such as cut-up bananas and cooked blueberries alongside the syrup or you can opt for the regular sugary syrup.
7. Soft Fruits
There are a number of fruits that you can still get to enjoy while recovering. In fact, you should indulge yourself with fruits as much as you can because they are rich in vitamins, minerals, and dietary fibers that would certainly help you recover quicker.
However, you should avoid citrus fruits that could aggravate your healing throat as well as hard fruits like apples that could certainly damage what has been healed. Bananas and berries are naturally soft but you can also soften up hard fruits by baking or puree them.
8. Pasta & Noodles
Pasta and noodles could be soft enough for you to tolerate and more than that, they are rich in carbohydrates which are the best source of energy. When you eat pasta, however, refrain from using a sauce made from tomatoes or other acidic substances. Instead, you can choose creamy sauces like Bechamel or Alfredo to add to your pasta or noodles. The best foods to eat after tonsillectomy should also be tasty, after all!
9. Fish
As far as protein sources go, fish is definitely the easiest to consume when recovering from a tonsillectomy. Fish meat is soft, tender, and easy to chew. But more than that, it is also a rich source of essential fatty acids.
However, you should also be cautious with the seasonings you put on your fish and try not to add anything that may irritate your throat.
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