What to Eat After a Tonsillectomy

Sorbet, popsicles, gelatin, apple sauce, mashed potatoes, and bananas are just a few common recommendations for what to eat after a tonsillectomy (tonsils removed). These and other soft and cooling foods can make you more comfortable during recovery and help you heal faster.

What to Eat and Drink After Tonsillectomy

After a tonsillectomy, the most common complaint is throat pain, which can be severe enough to make it hard to eat or drink. You can take medications your healthcare provider prescribes to help manage this pain.

In addition, eating and drinking certain things and avoiding others can also help. Stocking the fridge before a tonsillectomy is a good idea. Here are some general things to consider before grocery shopping in preparation:

• Limit dairy products: If you're having nausea or vomiting (a side effect of anesthesia and pain medication), dairy can make stomach upset worse. Substitute sorbets, fruit pops, or fruit ice for ice cream. If you're not experiencing nausea or vomiting, one study showed ice cream consumption was associated with less pain after tonsillectomy.
• Avoid citrus: Food and drinks with high citric acid levels, such as citrus fruits, tomato juice, and lemonade, can sting and cause pain.
• Avoid very hot things: Don't try to swallow hot beverages or soups.
• Eat soft foods: Steer clear of foods with hard or sharp edges, which can scratch and irritate a sore throat.
• Eat cold things: Cold foods and fluids reduce swelling and pain.

Staying Hydrated Following Tonsillectomy

After surgery, it is vital to stay well hydrated, especially for the first 72 hours. During this time, the first things you eat or drink should have more fluid than solids. 

Hydration helps keep your skin moist, which is important for wound healing. Hydration also reduces pain.

Cold drinks (like apple juice, ice water, and smoothies) may make you feel better as they cool your injured throat. Warm drinks like tea or coffee, on the other hand, may provide a soothing sensation after surgery.

Surgeons generally advise against hot liquids because they can make your pain worse. In addition, heat can lead to vasodilation (blood vessel widening), which may cause bleeding.

It can be challenging to stay hydrated when you don't want to swallow because of a sore throat. So try sipping on a cold drink or sucking on ice chips throughout the day to help prevent dehydration.

Adding Soft Foods

After the first few days post-tonsillectomy and as your pain diminishes, you can add in more soft foods, such as:

• Fruit: Canned fruit and soft, fresh fruit such as melon and bananas
• Starchy foods: Fine-grain bread (without seeds or nuts), oatmeal, cream-of-wheat, plain muffins, biscuits, pancakes, French toast, waffles, and white rice
• Meats and proteins: Eggs, cottage cheese, tofu, ground or finely chopped meat, chicken, and fish
• Vegetables: Canned vegetables or soft, well-cooked fresh vegetables, such as carrots, peas, squash, and potatoes or sweet potatoes baked or mashed without the skin
• Soups and pasta: Soups, casseroles, spaghetti, or macaroni and cheese

Summary

After a tonsillectomy, it is common to have a sore throat. Therefore, eating soft, cold things can be soothing. If nausea isn't a problem, live it up and enjoy as many of the cold, soft foods you would typically enjoy to help reduce your pain. In addition, foods like ice cream or popsicles will help soothe your sore throat and keep you hydrated.