Saving your braces from breakage means that you have to give up certain foods while you’re wearing them. But there are plenty of soft foods that can tide you over until you get them off. Luckily, we’re here to help you find some tasty dishes that are not only orthodontist approved, but good eatin’ as well. The offering today is a scandinavian special: Swedish meat balls!

INGREDIENTS:
-1 ½ cups soft bread crumbs
-¾ cups milk
-3 tablespoons finely chopped onion
-4 tablespoons butter
-1 pound ground beef
-¼ teaspoon nutmeg
-1 ½ teaspoon salt
-⅛ teaspoon pepper
-1 egg
-¼ cup flour
-1 cup stock or cream

DIRECTIONS:
Soak the bread crumbs in the milk.

Sauté the onion in 2 tablespoons of the butter until soft; add to bread crumbs. Add beef, seasonings, and slightly beaten egg.

Form into balls about 1 inch in diameter; roll in flour; sauté in remaining 2 tablespoons of butter about 10 minutes, or until lightly browned. Add stock or cream; cover; simmer gently 5 minutes.

Remove meat balls to serving dish; thicken the gravy with 1 to 1 ½ tablespoons of flour blended with an equal amount of water; pour over meat balls. Makes about 6 servings.

If you would like more information about foods that do well with braces, call Dr. Chris Shannon and our helpful team at Shannon Orthodontics in Davenport, Florida. Phone: 863-353-6867.