That “food detective” thing hits way too close to home. I swear, I never thought I’d analyze mashed potatoes like I was on CSI. I get super picky about the soup thing, too—if it’s too thin, it just feels wrong, but if it’s too thick, suddenly I’m chewing my lunch instead of sipping it. It’s such a weird line.
About the baby food pouches... I caved one night when my teeth were throbbing and I couldn’t deal with anything else. Honestly? The fruit ones taste fine, kinda like applesauce, but the veggie or chicken blends are a hard pass for me. It’s not even the embarrassment, it’s just the taste. I did feel a little weird buying them though—like, do people think they’re for my imaginary toddler?
Your Greek yogurt smoothie idea sounds way better than shelling out for those protein shakes. Have you tried adding oats to make it more filling? I tried that once and it actually kept me full for a while.
if it’s too thin, it just feels wrong, but if it’s too thick, suddenly I’m chewing my lunch instead of sipping it.
That’s exactly how I feel with soups lately. There’s no winning—either it’s watery and depressing or so thick I’m worried it’ll get stuck in my teeth. The baby food pouches... I’ve done the same in a pinch, and yeah, the fruit ones are tolerable, but the veggie blends made me gag. I keep worrying the cashier is judging me, which is probably just my anxiety talking.
Haven’t tried oats in smoothies yet. I get nervous about new textures, but maybe I’ll give it a shot if you say it works.
I keep worrying the cashier is judging me, which is probably just my anxiety talking.
That hits home for me. I always feel awkward buying those pouches, like I need to explain myself. As for oats in smoothies, I was pretty hesitant too—I can’t handle anything with a weird texture. But if you blend it long enough, it’s surprisingly smooth and not gritty at all. Still, I get nervous trying new things, especially when money’s tight and I don’t want to waste ingredients on a failed experiment. It does make regular meals a bit easier on my stomach though, so maybe worth a try if you’re up for it.
Honestly, I relate to that anxiety way more than I’d like to admit. Even after years of dealing with dental stuff, I still get self-conscious at the checkout when I’m buying soft foods or those weird “meal replacement” pouches. It’s like you expect the cashier to ask if you’re okay or something. But most of the time, they’re just doing their job and probably not thinking twice about it.
About the oats—yeah, texture is a big deal for me too. After my last extraction, I tried blending oats into smoothies because someone here suggested it. Took me a couple tries to get it right (I actually made it way too thick at first and it was awful), but once I found the right ratio, it was super smooth and filling. Definitely helped when chewing was out of the question and I was tired of soup. If you’re worried about wasting ingredients, maybe just try a tiny batch first? That’s what I did—less pressure if it doesn’t work out.
And honestly, trying new foods or ways to eat can feel overwhelming when your mouth is sore and you’re already stressed. It’s totally normal to feel nervous about it. For me, little wins—like figuring out how to eat pizza again without pain—made a huge difference in my mood. It can take time, but you’ll find what works for you.
Hang in there—it really does get easier with practice (and a good blender).
Getting back to eating pizza is a huge milestone—I totally get why that feels like a win. I still remember the first time I managed to eat a slice after my braces went on... wasn’t pretty, but it felt like progress. The anxiety at the store is real, too. I’ve caught myself overthinking what people might notice, but honestly, most folks are too busy to care. You’re right, experimenting with food textures gets easier over time. Small victories really do add up.
