What to Eat When You’re Recovering From a Tonsillectomy

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Recovering from tonsil surgery can be a tough process. It can feel painful to eat or drink anything. But good food and hydration is a key part of recovery. The first 3 days tend to be the hardest, although a full recovery may take a couple of weeks.

So, let's look at some tips on what to eat after a tonsillectomy - and what you can do to make swallowing less painful.

What foods are good after a tonsillectomy?

When you're recovering from a tonsillectomy, eating and drinking enough is more important than targeting specific foods. Studies show that specific diets don't make a big difference in recovery time. But there are some foods that will likely be more comfortable to swallow right after the surgery. Here are our top picks.

1. Cold drinks

Refrigerated or iced beverages may help soothe and numb the pain in the back of your throat. A plain glass of cold water is easy and refreshing.

2. Popsicles and ice chips

Icy items like popsicles and ice chips are another great way to get in some cold liquids. And they might feel more satisfying than only drinking fluids.

3. Ice cream

One fun study showed that ice cream actually decreased pain after a tonsillectomy.

4. Smoothies

Smoothies are a great way to get the calories, protein, vitamins, and minerals that the body needs to recover. You can get in some good nutrients by adding:

• Fruit

• Veggies

• Dairy products

• Nut butters

• Protein powder

5. Yogurt and pudding

Yogurt and pudding can be great options because they're cold and usually quite filling.

6. Soup

Warm dishes are also good to eat and comfortable. Soup can be a heartier option to soothe hunger pains. Pureed or thin soups will be easier to swallow in the first days. As you feel better, you can go for chunkier soups.

7. Oatmeal or other cooked grains

Oatmeal doesn't take much prep time, and it can be a soothing food. There are lots of ways to add protein to oatmeal and other cooked grains. Mixing in peanut butter or milk can increase the caloric content too.

8. Pasta

This is another great, hearty option. Pasta may be easier to swallow with cream sauces rather than tomato-based sauces.

9. Scrambled eggs

Scrambled eggs can be a great source of protein that's easy to swallow.

Day-by-day diet for adults and children after a tonsillectomy

For about 2 to 3 weeks after surgery, most people will have a sore throat along with pain around the ear and neck. The pain may be the worst up to 4 days after surgery. Then, 1 to 2 weeks after surgery, pain may worsen because the scabs start to fall off. The amount of pain you experience through your recovery will help guide what you feel comfortable eating and when.

When the pain is at its worst, you may be tempted to avoid drinking. But it's very important to stay hydrated. Drinking fluids will help with the pain and your recovery.

If you're caring for a child who had their tonsils removed, you may need to strongly encourage them to drink - even if they don't want to. If necessary, use rewards (like watching a movie or reading a book), and restrict activities to make sure they drink enough.

Here's a quick guide to help with how much your child should drink each hour.

Eating during the first days after surgery

Since hydration is so important, the first foods you should eat or drink after surgery should have more fluid than solids. The food can be warm or cold. The best things to drink are cool, clear liquids you can see through. You can pick up an oral electrolyte drink like Pedialyte, or you can make your own at home.

Here are some more easy-to-swallow and hydrating choices for the first days after surgery:

• Juice: Apple, white grape juice, peach, pear, or apricot nectar are all great choices. But avoid tomato, lemonade, orange, lime, or grapefruit juices.

• Fruit: You can try strained or pureed fruit, such as applesauce or baby food fruit.

• Milk: Milk, chocolate milk, shakes, instant breakfast, and yogurt drinks are all OK.

• Soup: Any strained soup that doesn't have chunks of food is fine.

• Cereal: Cooked cereals such as cream of wheat or oatmeal are great options.

• Desserts: You can choose from ice cream, pudding, Jell-O, custard, sherbet, and yogurt.

Working in soft foods

Once you or your child start to feel better, you can move toward a soft-food diet. Crunchy or fried foods may hurt the back of your throat. So, plan to stick to these foods for up to 2 weeks before going back to your usual diet. Here are some options:

• Fruit: Canned fruit and soft, fresh fruit such as melon and bananas are great options. Avoid citrus fruits and juices such as lemon, orange, lime, and grapefruit.

• Bread, rice, and potatoes: Choose fine-grain breads without seeds or nuts. Other options include plain muffins, biscuits, pancakes, French toast, waffles, and white rice. Potatoes or sweet potatoes are OK, too. Just bake or mash them without the skin.

• Meats and proteins: Soft proteins include eggs, cheese, ground or finely chopped meat, chicken, and fish.

• Vegetables: You can eat a range of vegetables. Just make sure they're soft and well cooked. Steaming is a great way to prepare soft veggies.

• Soups and pastas: There are lots in this category, including casseroles, spaghetti, or macaroni and cheese.

When can you return to a normal diet after a tonsillectomy?

Most people will be back to eating a regular diet by 2 weeks after their surgery. Remember that continuing to drink and eat is more important than what you eat. Staying hydrated and getting good nutrition will help you heal. As you feel better, you can start eating a more varied diet.

What foods should you avoid after a tonsillectomy?

There are no specific foods that have been shown to be harmful after tonsil surgery. But some may be easier to swallow than others. Here are some foods to avoid:

• Foods with sharp edges: People used to think that hard foods, like chips and cold cereal, could increase your risk for bleeding. Even though studies have shown this isn't true, they still might be a little harder to swallow.

• Carbonated drinks: The bubbles in these drinks can make them uncomfortable to swallow. Letting a carbonated drink sit out for a bit can make it a little less fizzy and easier to drink.

• Citrus: Acidic foods might sting a little bit when swallowing. These include citrus fruits and juices, like orange juice.

• Spicy foods: It's best to avoid foods that can cause some discomfort even on a good day. But as the throat heals, you may be more sensitive to spice than normal.

Tips to treat painful swallowing after a tonsillectomy

You'll be more likely to get the nutrition and hydration you need if you take steps to manage your pain. To set yourself or your child up for success, consider timing your pain medications with when you eat. You likely have medications and instructions to help manage your pain.

These tips can help you coordinate your pain medications:

• Fill any prescription medications your healthcare team recommends.

• Make sure you have an adequate supply of any recommended over-the-counter (OTC) medications.

• Track when you take your medications. When you're uncomfortable and trying to recover, it can be hard to remember which medication you took or when you took it.

• It's best to eat and drink when your pain medications have kicked in. This is usually about 30 to 45 minutes after you've taken them.

• One study has shown that taking pain medications with a teaspoon of honey can help with pain. Even better, some evidence suggests that honey may even improve wound healing.

Frequently asked questions

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