Cutting food up ahead of time is such a game changer. I used to try and “tough it out” with stuff like apples or sandwiches, but it always turned into a mess. I’m curious—have you found any other foods that surprised you by being easier (or harder) to eat? For me, scrambled eggs are way easier than I expected, but rice still trips me up sometimes.
- Apples are brutal unless I slice them up. Whole apples just make me look ridiculous.
- Sandwiches—agreed, they're a mess if you don't prep them right. I found wraps are way less chaotic.
- Scrambled eggs are definitely easy mode.
- Rice... yeah, still a struggle. I end up chasing it around the plate more than actually eating it.
- Toast surprised me. Thought it’d be tough, but it’s not bad if you cut it into strips.
- Steak is still off the table for now. Not worth the jaw workout.
Honestly, trial and error’s been my method. Some days I feel like a toddler learning to eat again.
Rice... yeah, still a struggle. I end up chasing it around the plate more than actually eating it.
Funny you mention rice—I actually found using a spoon instead of a fork made a huge difference. Might not feel as “grown up,” but it’s way less frustrating. On the apple front, have you tried microwaving slices for like 15 seconds? Makes them softer without getting mushy. Steak, though, yeah... I’m with you. Even with all the tricks, it’s just too much work right now. Trial and error’s definitely the way to go, but sometimes little tweaks help more than expected.
Switching to a spoon for rice is underrated—totally agree it’s just easier, especially when you’re still figuring out the new teeth. I tried sticking with a fork for a while because, I don’t know, habit or pride maybe? But honestly, the frustration wasn’t worth it. There’s no award for making things harder than they need to be.
Microwaving apple slices is something I hadn’t thought of. I’ve been doing the peel-and-slice thing and just chewing really slowly, but sometimes that’s still tough. The microwave hack sounds like it might be the sweet spot between raw and applesauce. I’ll give that a shot.
Steak is definitely on my “not worth it” list right now too. Even with cutting into tiny pieces and chewing forever, it’s just not enjoyable. Chicken’s a bit easier if it’s cooked soft enough, but anything chewy is just a pain (sometimes literally). I’ve found ground meats or slow-cooked stuff way more manageable—chili, meatballs, pulled pork, that sort of thing.
One thing that helped me was focusing less on what I “should” be eating and more on what actually works right now. Texture makes all the difference. I used to feel kind of annoyed about having to adapt so much, but honestly, it’s temporary. The more I practice, the more normal everything starts to feel—even if my meal choices are a little weird for a while.
Also, if you haven’t tried using smaller bites or even those toddler forks/spoons (they’re not just for kids), it can help with control and reduce the risk of accidentally biting your cheek or tongue. Not glamorous, but hey... whatever gets food in without drama.
It’s a lot of trial and error, and yeah, some days are just better than others. But making small changes really does add up over time.
