Sometimes you just have to get CREATIVE

Firstly, my message in this post is to advise that you try to stay positive throughout your journey.  I certainly haven't been and I just hope that you learn a little from my experiences and perhaps have a different attitude than I did.  I just wasn't told everything up front and went into this journey pretty 'blind' with little to no knowlege of the big bumps that are encountered....

mainly not having the ability to CHEW.

I HAD to do something because of CHRONIC, unresolvable gum disease.  

I was losing bone and teeth. 

I opted for permanent hybrid dentures instead of removable dentures. 

I'm so happpy I made this decision

and I would make it exactly the same again.

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Red Beans & Sausage

is a Louisiana 'staple'.

When you are unable to chew at all because your temporary dentures will never fit properly or stay in place because of the titanium implants in your mouth that don't allow for any adhesion on the bottom.....

you learn very quickly how to be creative, for lack of a better word, and compensate in order to be able to intake nutritious foods, 

especially those that are your favorites!

After the initial puree-ing of foods while your gums are healing and still sore, 

you graduate to more solid foods. 

I discovered a 'technique' of sorts, that probably every person, that has been through this or is going through this now, has already also discovered.

Once your gums are healed enough and don't hurt, 

you are able to 'eat' finely chopped up foods and although most of them are simply swallowed whole, you can 'squish' foods with your tongue up against your gums/implants. This 'squishing' replaces actual chewing.

So the foods are 'chewed' to some degree and easier to swallow.  

At the same time, you get a 'sense' of eating and this is a good thing 

for your well being throughout this journey.

Some foods I've found that this technique is good for:

tender chicken

beans

ground meat

pasta

potatoes (like chopped up scalloped potatoes)

tamales

Hope this 'tip' helps someone.

Now on to my Red Beans...

Here is what I mean by being creative....

This is what 2 lbs of Sausage looks like when the skin is removed and the inside is chopped up into tiny bits small enough to be swallowed whole.

and this is my 2 pounds of Rabideaux's Sausage (my fave) all chopped up and ready to jump in the pot with the red beans - LOL!

and here is the wonderful final product....

Yummy for my Tummy!

  Have a great safe & healthy week.

Lisa