Tooth Healthy, Family Friendly Meals

Here at Bluebell Family Dentistry, we put the oral health of our patients at the top of our priority list! Good oral health requires a thorough and frequent oral hygiene routine, but it also requires a healthy, balanced diet filled with all the vitamins and nutrients your body and teeth need. Maintaining a healthy diet can be very difficult for families because of picky eaters, allergies, time, after school activities, and the budget! If you’re looking to prepare dinner for your family, take a look at this guide we put have put together to make sure you’re incorporating at least a few tooth-healthy ingredients with every meal!

Vitamins and Minerals

Our bodies require a wide variety of vitamins and minerals to grow and stay healthy. One of the easiest ways to get all the vitamins you need is to make sure you and your family are eating a wide variety of foods, as each one has something unique to offer your diet. This is especially true of fruits and veggies. While it may be easier to convince your child to eat their fruit, a variety of vegetables is crucial for a balanced diet. Try cutting up different veggies into small pieces and putting them in soups, sauces, or even homemade burger patties!

Protein

Lean protein helps the development of strong muscles, and also helps your body heal from injuries or other issues more quickly. Easy sources of protein include lean meat slike chicken or fish. However, many whole grains and veggies also contain protein! Soy sources are even easier to convince your child to eat, as they can be made to look and taste like meat. Just like the vegetables, variety is the key to health and success here.

Getting Enough Calcium

Calcium is very important for the formation of strong teeth and bones, especially for growing kids! A quick and easy way to incorporate calcium into your child’s diet is serving them milk with their meals. Cheese sauces on their veggies or pastas can also help boost their calcium intake. However, there are plenty of other ways to get your calcium without dairy! For example, some beans, like white beans and soybeans, contain both protein and calcium. For an easy family-friendly meal, try a delicious chilli with white beans!

Tooth-Friendly Desserts

Of course, processed sugar isn’t great for your or your child’s teeth. While it is perfectly ok to treat yourselves every once in a while, you can offer your child more frequent desserts that are a little more on the healthy side. For example, offer them a treat like fresh fruit or their favorite flavor of yogurt! These treats still contain sugar, but it is naturally derived and balanced out by the nutritional benefits.

 

We hope these tips and ideas make your life a little bit easier. Feeding your family can certainly be a lot of work, but the rewards are worth it! If you or your kids are ready for their next dental appointment, call our office to schedule one today!