50 Go-To Recipes for the Day After Getting Braces

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50 Go-To Recipes for the Day After Getting Braces2/49 Cold-Day Chicken Noodle Soup 17 Reviews Cold-Day Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 40 min Servings 8 servings (3 quarts) Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: When I was sick, my mom would make me this heartwarming chicken noodle soup. It was soothing when I had a cold, but this soup is a bowlful of comfort on any chilly day. —Anthony Graham, Ottawa, lllinois Nutrition Facts: 1-1/2 cups: 195 calories, 6g fat (1g saturated fat), 47mg cholesterol, 639mg sodium, 16g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 3g fiber),

21g protein

21g protein. Diabetic exchanges: 2 lean meat, 1 starch, 1/2 fat. 3/49 Peach Smoothie 10 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 5 min Servings 2 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Whip up this creamy peach smoothie as a refreshing and nutritious snack or a quick chilled breakfast. Because you can use frozen fruit, you don’t have to wait until peaches are in season to enjoy this delicious smoothie. —Martha Polasek, Markham, Texas Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup: 68 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 1mg cholesterol, 4mg sodium, 16g carbohydrate (14g sugars, 1g fiber), 2g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1 starch

protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 starch. 4/49 Cheesy Mashed Potatoes 14 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved SARAH TRAMONTE FOR TASTE OF HOME Total Time 1 hour 20 min Servings 10 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Everyone who has tasted these cheesy mashed potatoes asks how to make them. Since this comforting casserole bakes at the same temperature as my chicken bundles, I get it started in the oven and pop in the entree a little later.—Brad Moritz, Limerick, Pennsylvania Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup: 328 calories, 14g fat (9g saturated fat), 66mg cholesterol, 633mg sodium, 42g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 4g

fiber), 10g protein

fiber), 10g protein. 5/49 Bananas Foster Oatmeal 5 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 30 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This oatmeal tastes like bananas Foster, my favorite dessert. If you can’t find rum extract, double the vanilla. —Carol Touchton, Seffner, Florida Nutrition Facts: 1-1/3 cups: 561 calories, 28g fat (16g saturated fat), 68mg cholesterol, 529mg sodium, 72g carbohydrate (39g sugars, 6g fiber), 9g protein. 6/49 Strawberry Gelato 9 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Strawberry Gelato Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 35 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From

If your berries are tart, add a touch more sugar or honey

the Recipe Creator: You’ll love this smooth and creamy gelato with bright strawberry flavor and just a hint of sea salt and honey. Fresh raspberries or blackberries can be substituted for the strawberries if you prefer. If your berries are tart, add a touch more sugar or honey. —Shelly Bevington, Hermiston, Oregon Nutrition Facts: 1/2 cup: 160 calories, 6g fat (4g saturated fat), 18mg cholesterol, 124mg sodium, 26g carbohydrate (25g sugars, 1g fiber), 2g protein. 7/49 Buffet Scrambled Eggs 4 Reviews Buffet Scrambled Eggs Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 20 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe

From the Recipe Creator: These are my favorite scrambled eggs

From the Recipe Creator: These are my favorite scrambled eggs. The white sauce, flavored with chicken bouillon, keeps the eggs creamy and moist. It’s a tasty twist on a morning mainstay. Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup: 304 calories, 24g fat (11g saturated fat), 464mg cholesterol, 692mg sodium, 7g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 0 fiber), 15g protein. 8/49 Rosy Applesauce 1 Review Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 50 min Servings 6 cups Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I always end up with lots of rhubarb each summer, but many of the recipes use a lot of sugar. This one

lets the fruit sweeten up the rhubarb instead

lets the fruit sweeten up the rhubarb instead. I refrigerate the sauce overnight to help the flavors blend. —Amy Nelson, Weston, Wisconsin Nutrition Facts: 1/2 cup: 93 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 2mg sodium, 23g carbohydrate (19g sugars, 3g fiber), 1g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 fruit, 1/2 starch. 9/49 Buttermilk Pancakes 67 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved TASTE OF HOME Total Time 40 min Servings 2-1/2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: You just can’t beat a basic buttermilk pancake for a down-home country breakfast. Paired with sausage and fresh fruit, these pancakes are just like

the ones you get at Cracker Barrel

the ones you get at Cracker Barrel. —Betty Abrey, Imperial, Saskatchewan Nutrition Facts: 3 pancakes: 270 calories, 3g fat (1g saturated fat), 89mg cholesterol, 913mg sodium, 48g carbohydrate (11g sugars, 1g fiber), 11g protein. 10/49 11/49 Mushroom Stuffing 9 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Mushroom Stuffing Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 10 min Servings 13 cups Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I first tried this stuffing a few years ago, and it quickly became our family’s favorite. Just flavor a hearty cornbread mix with mushrooms and bacon and taste the spectacular results. —Kathy Traetow,

Waverly, Iowa Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 235 calories, 9g fat (3g saturated fat), 75mg cholesterol, 764mg sodium, 30g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 3g fiber), 7g protein. 12/49 Frozen Yogurt 5 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Frozen Greek Vanilla Yogurt Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 2-1/2 cups Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: It’s so simple and easy to make your own frozen Greek yogurt, you might even want to get the kids in on the fun. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen Nutrition Facts: 1/2 cup: 225 calories, 3g fat (2g saturated fat), 8mg cholesterol, 57mg

sodium, 36g carbohydrate (36g sugars, 0 fiber), 14g protein

sodium, 36g carbohydrate (36g sugars, 0 fiber), 14g protein. 13/49 Slow-Cooker Butternut Squash Soup 2 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Slow-Cooker Butternut Squash Soup Recipe photo by Sarah Tramonte for Taste of Home Total Time 6 hours 30 min Servings 12 servings (3 quarts) Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Much of the work for this soup can be done in advance, and it keeps all day in the slow cooker. The recipe can easily be doubled if you’re feeding a crowd. Once you’ve tried it, try mixing it up—add sage or savory with the thyme, or replace the thyme

with nutmeg

with nutmeg. For a vegan version, replace the chicken broth with vegetable broth. —Jennifer Machado, Alta, California Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 124 calories, 2g fat (0 saturated fat), 2mg cholesterol, 616mg sodium, 27g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 6g fiber), 3g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch. 14/49 Scrambled Eggs with Cream Cheese 5 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Scrambled Eggs with Cream Cheese Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 15 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My mother-in-law introduced me to this scrambled eggs with cream cheese recipe, and now it’s my kids’ favorite breakfast. They

really love it

really love it. —Jacque Hunt, Heyburn, Idaho Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup: 362 calories, 28g fat (14g saturated fat), 483mg cholesterol, 954mg sodium, 3g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 0 fiber), 23g protein. 15/49 Favorite Banana Split Smoothies 1 Review Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 10 min Servings 4 servings. Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I try to get as many fruits and veggies into our menus as possible. A smoothie is a great way to load up on nutrients. This banana one is a favorite! —Tiffany Van Zee, Pella, Iowa 16/49 Ginger Applesauce Test Kitchen Approved Taste

of Home Total Time 4 hours 25 min Servings about 5 cups (8 servings)

of Home Total Time 4 hours 25 min Servings about 5 cups (8 servings) Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: When it’s apple-picking time, it’s also time for all the delightful treats you can make with them, including applesauce. This is my favorite way to prepare it. It’s simple to do and it makes the whole house smell like fall. —Renee Pajestka, Brunswick, Ohio Nutrition Facts: 2/3 cup: 128 calories, 1g fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 2mg sodium, 33g carbohydrate (27g sugars, 4g fiber), 0 protein. 17/49 Sausage Stuffing 26 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Sausage Stuffing Recipe photo

It came from Grandma, who passed it down to my mother

by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour Servings 6 cups Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Every family seems to have their own favorite dressing recipe that becomes a tradition, and this is ours. It came from Grandma, who passed it down to my mother. Now our children have carried it into their kitchens. This is truly a good old-fashioned recipe. —Norma Howland, Joliet, Illinois Nutrition Facts: 1/2 cup: 352 calories, 12g fat (4g saturated fat), 52mg cholesterol, 826mg sodium, 48g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 2g fiber), 12g protein. 18/49 White Cheddar Mac and Cheese 15 Reviews Test Kitchen

Approved White Cheddar Mac & Cheese Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My mac and cheese is simple and has lots of flavor from the cheeses and ground chipotle chile. I use conchiglie pasta because its shape allows more melted cheese to pool inside. Yum! —Colleen Delawder, Herndon, Virginia Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 650 calories, 35g fat (22g saturated fat), 101mg cholesterol, 607mg sodium, 55g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 2g fiber), 27g protein. 19/49 Pumpkin Mousse 20 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved JULIA HARTBECK FOR TASTE OF HOME

💡 Frequently Asked Questions

⭐ Expert Tips

• Include seasonal or trendy variations to keep your meals exciting.

• Highlight prep shortcuts or time-saving techniques for busy cooks.

• Consider dietary restrictions and include substitution suggestions.

✅ Key Takeaways

• These dinner ideas are perfect for impressing guests or enjoying special occasions.

• Choose recipes that match your skill level and available kitchen tools.

• Presentation and taste both contribute to a memorable dining experience.

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