Ask Dr. Cordoba: Now that I have braces, what can I eat?

You just got braces on, and Dr. Cordoba has informed you that over the next several months you will want to avoid eating anything sticky, crunchy, hard or chewy. What does this leave for you to eat? Lettuce? Nothing?

Thankfully, our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists made an appetizing (and braces-friendly!) spring dish that is sure to delight: soy-simmered chicken wraps. Remember, a healthy diet provides essential nutrients and helps you achieve the best possible result from your orthodontic treatment.

Ingredients:

• 3 boneless chicken breast halves
• 2 large onions, chunked
• Small flour tortillas (pkg. of ten) wheat or white
• (optional: 10-16 oz. of cooked chopped broccoli)
• ¼ cup soy sauce
• ¼ cup water
• 2 Tablespoons honey
• 1/8 teaspoon ginger
• 2 Tablespoons peach or apricot jam
• 1 Tablespoon cornstarch

Directions:
In a slow cooker, or a large pan on the stove, layer the onions and the chicken breast. Allow at least three hours in the slow cooker on medium, or at least one hour on the stove—the longer the better. Spoon out the chicken onto a cutting board, and with a knife and fork, shred the chicken as finely as you’d like. Then, stir all sauce ingredients together over medium heat until the mixture starts bubbling, and let it simmer for five minutes on low heat to thicken. In a serving bowl, stir sauce and onion into chicken; if you’d like, add cooked chopped broccoli. This dish makes about six to eight servings.

Our staff at Cordoba Orthodontics hope you enjoy this great spring dish! Have a great rest of the week!