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.
Verywell / Joshua Seong
What to Eat and Drink After Tonsillectomy
After atonsillectomy, 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 also can help. It’s a good idea to stock the fridge in preparation for a tonsillectomy. Here are some general things to consider before grocery shopping in preparation:
For the first few days after surgery, it may help to eat or drink cold things that are mostly liquid. For two weeks after surgery, choose soft foods and avoid hard, sharp, spicy, or hot foods.
Clear liquids like apple or white grape juice
Smoothies
Warm black coffee or tea
Warm clear soup or broth
Mashed potatoes
Applesauce
Gelatin
Soft pasta
Bananas
Popsicles
AvoidTomato juiceLemonadeVery hot beverages or soupCarrotsRaw applesTomatoesSpicy foodsCrackers and chipsDairy products if you have nausea and vomiting from anesthesia
Tomato juice
Lemonade
Very hot beverages or soup
Carrots
Raw apples
Tomatoes
Spicy foods
Crackers and chips
Dairy products if you have nausea and vomiting from anesthesia
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.
Dehydration is a common reason for emergency department visits after surgery. However, increasing your fluid intake can reduce your risk of additional visits to the hospital. Call your healthcare provider if you have signs of dehydration, such as dry eyes or skin or dark-colored urine.
Adding Soft Foods
After the first few days post-tonsillectomy and as your pain diminishes, you can add in more soft foods, such as:
How Long to Eat Soft Foods After TonsillectomyAlways check with your healthcare provider, but in general, children should eat soft foods for up to two weeks after surgery.Adults may need to eat soft foods for a week longer. When introducing normal foods, avoid hard, scratchy foods that can hurt the throat.
How Long to Eat Soft Foods After Tonsillectomy
Always check with your healthcare provider, but in general, children should eat soft foods for up to two weeks after surgery.Adults may need to eat soft foods for a week longer. When introducing normal foods, avoid hard, scratchy foods that can hurt the throat.
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.
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Baugh RF, Archer SM, Mitchell RB, et al.Clinical practice guideline: tonsillectomy in children.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg.2011;144(1 Suppl):S1-30. doi:10.1177/0194599810389949Albeladi MA, Salamah MA, Alhussaini R.The Effect of Ice Cream Intake on Pain Relief for Patients After Tonsillectomy. Cureus. 2020 Jul 9;12(7):e9092. doi: 10.7759/cureus.9092Children’s Wisconsin.Diet after tonsil and adenoid surgery.Children’s Mercy.How to care for your child after tonsillectomy surgery.
Baugh RF, Archer SM, Mitchell RB, et al.Clinical practice guideline: tonsillectomy in children.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg.2011;144(1 Suppl):S1-30. doi:10.1177/0194599810389949
Albeladi MA, Salamah MA, Alhussaini R.The Effect of Ice Cream Intake on Pain Relief for Patients After Tonsillectomy. Cureus. 2020 Jul 9;12(7):e9092. doi: 10.7759/cureus.9092
Children’s Wisconsin.Diet after tonsil and adenoid surgery.
Children’s Mercy.How to care for your child after tonsillectomy surgery.
American Academy of Otolaryngology.How to prepare for tonsil and adenoid surgery.
Millington A, Gaunt A, Phillips J.Post-tonsillectomy dietary advice: systematic review.The Journal of Laryngology & Otology. 2016;130(10):889-892. doi:10.1017/s0022215116008914
Mitchell R, Archer S, Ishman S, et al.Clinical practice guideline: Tonsillectomy in children (update).Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. 2019;160(1_suppl):S1-S42. doi:10.1177/0194599818801757
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