Below is a list of meals I made while I was on thick liquids.
This phase felt like it lasted FOREVER!!
Technically at the 10 day mark my surgeon cleared me for purees, but this ended up being a cruel joke because I couldn't open my mouth wide enough to fit in a spoon, not even a baby spoon :/ My splint also didn't help the situation.
What is a THICK LIQUID anyway?
This isn't a super technical definition, but a thick liquid is basically a liquid that is thicker than water, but thinner than a puree. Thick liquids aren't thick enough to be eaten with a spoon, instead you're either slurping them from a cup (my preferred method) or squeezing them out of condiment or other squeeze bottle.
The ideas below can easily be adapted for the puree phase by adding less liquid when blending them.
You can basically blend ANYTHING!
This is my biggest takeaway from this experience (... I'm mostly kidding). But it's totally true. You can literally blend all your normal meals. It's also way less work if you're blending what the rest of the family is eating.
Tips for making thick liquids:
Flavour is key! Choose recipes that pack a punch in terms of flavour.
Meals cooked in a lot of liquid are the easiest and most appetizing to blend (at least in my opinion. Think hearty soups, thick strews, and crock pot meals.
Include ALL food groups. Make sure your meals have a protein source, some vegetables (for fibre!), and a starchy food (e.g. potatoes, rice, pasta, squash). It might sound weird to include a starch food, but including one will help you feel full after eating.
Blend a normal size meal portion (or at least close to normal). For example I aimed for 3-5 oz of meat/fish or 1/2-3/4 cup legumes + vegetables in the sauce + typically a handful of raw spinach (it blends well without being cooked) + 1/2-3/4 cup of starchy food + water to thin. With my 16 oz blender I typically had to divide the meal into 2 rounds (so in liquid format, my meals were often 32 oz).
Thick Liquid Meal Ideas
Vegetarian canned chili + protein powder (10 g protein) + raw spinach + water to thin
You definitely don't have to cook all of your meals from scratch. Chunky canned soups and chili are really satisfying, especially when you boost the protein and fibre.
Slow cooker beef stew with onions carrots and potatoes + water to thin
I used THIS recipes, but any beef stew recipe will do.
If constipation is an issue, definitely add more veggies or a couple of handfuls of raw spinach when blending.
TIP: Freeze leftovers in a super thick or puree consistency. Depending on what stage you are post-op when you defrost them, you can then simply dilute down to the right consistency. It's also more efficient to freeze meals in a thicker consistency.
My sister's famous sausage, chorizo, chickpea, and vegetable stew + water to thin
You can of course use broth to thin your blended foods instead of water. Broth definitely helps with flavour. My rule of thumb is to opt for water to thin when the dishes are already pretty salty (...I'm looking at you sausages and chorizo).
Barbecued salmon + barbecued potatoes + spinach + parsley + broth to thin
The ONLY food I said I would DEFINITELY not eat pureed was fish. Clearly I broke this rule. And to my surprise it was actually pretty delicious. BONUS: No need to be paranoid about fish bones!
TIP: I suggest adding spinach into meals so often because it doesn't change the taste (although it changes the colour!), you don't need to cook it, and it's an easy way to add a serving of vegetables and fibre.
Tomato sauce + ground beef + a ton of vegetables (tomatoes, peppers, spinach, bok choy) + spaghetti noodles + extra tomato sauce to thin
Spaghetti NEVER disappoints. This thick tomato, vegetable, and beef sauce was really delicious and comforting. It might sound weird to blend noodles, but honestly you won't even notice them. I blended 1/2 cup pasta + 1 cup sauce + 1/2 cup tomato sauce to thin. I did this twice since my blender only holds 2 cups (16 oz).
Slow cooker chicken chile verde + corn + tomatoes + raw spinach + rice + water to thin
I was inspired by THIS recipe. I doubled the cumin and oregano and decided not to add the hot chilies. Normally I LOVE spicy, but I've been cautious with spice since surgery. I also added a small can of corn and a small can of drained fire roasted tomatoes.
Above are 2 frozen blends.
Butternut squash and lentil soup
Once defrosted, I blended the butternut squash and lentil soup with 1/2 an avocado (to boost the calories), some chicken broth flavoured protein powder (since lentils actually aren't that high in protein), and water to thin.
Chicken, rice, and vegetable soup + water to thin
There's nothing like homemade chicken soup made by your mom when you're not feeling well! This was definitely a winner.
TIP: Wine glass markers are perfect for writing on mason jars and plastic containers!
Bun-less burger + ALL the toppings + a medium boiled potato + tomato juice to thin
No way was I going to miss out on the last burger of the season! And yes I added all of the toppings... Dijon mustard, ketchup, caramelized onions, sliced tomatoes, lettuce, and yes even 2 pickles! No regrets ;)
Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!
Turkey + gravy, Mashed potatoes + gravy, & Green beans and bacon + turkey drippings
Not quite the real thing, but close enough! I decided to blend this meal in separate parts to be able to taste all the dishes. I forgot to take a picture, but I also blended apple pie + milk for dessert. For round two of leftovers I opted for pumpkin pie + milk for dessert. Delicious! If your surgery overlaps a holiday, my advice is to make the best of it. My in-laws definitely got a kick out of my liquified Thanksgiving :)
Stir-fried chicken & vegetables + rice noodles + peanut sauce + broth to thin
The key to blending stir-fries is to have a really flavourful sauce. I used THIS recipe. Alternatively you could buy a ready-made peanut sauce or other stir-fry sauce. This is a great example of including all food groups in a blended meal.
I hope this post inspires you to get creative with your thick liquids.
Honestly anything goes.
If you're feeling overwhelmed and discouraged, choose options that match your energy level and comfort level in the kitchen. You definitely don't have to be cooking everything from scratch. You can easily bulk up any canned chunky chili with microwave rice and frozen avocado chunks for example, or blend a cooked frozen lasagna with spinach and tomato juice.
This phase is more mentally tough than anything.
Hang in there my fellow jawbreakers!
- Monica, the Jaw Surgery Dietitian
P.S. Are you Canadian? Cool, me too! If you're looking for additional food and nutrition support in your journey and you're a resident of one of the following provinces, feel free to reach out for an online appointment. I'm able to work with patients in Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Contact me here!
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