What Your Kid Should Eat After a Tonsillectomy: A Day-by-Day Look

When your child has a tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy, one of your first questions might be: What can they eat? Throat surgery can be painful. And you don’t want to give them anything that could slow their healing or make things worse.

The truth is, these surgeries don’t come with hard-and-fast rules about food.

“There are no official dietary restrictions after tonsil or adenoid surgery,” says pediatric otolaryngologist Mark Fadel, MD. “What matters most is keeping your child hydrated and comfortable.”

Dr. Fadel offers a day-by-day look at what your child should eat and drink after surgery.

What to eat after a tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy

The ideal post-tonsillectomy diet is about helping your child stay as comfortable as possible.

Your main goal? Hydration.

“Staying hydrated is the most important part of recovery,” Dr. Fadel emphasizes. “It helps manage pain, lowers the risk of bleeding and prevents dehydration, which can lead to readmission to the hospital.”

Once your child is drinking comfortably, you can introduce soft, easy-to-swallow foods that provide energy and nutrients.

Some people will tell you that kids shouldn’t have crunchy foods while they’re healing. The theory goes that anything sharp could disturb the healing tissue in their throat.

But Dr. Fadel says that hasn’t been shown to be the case. So, medically speaking, there’s no need to stick to a strict “soft foods only” diet. It’s just a matter of what feels good to your child.

“If it doesn’t hurt, it’s OK to eat,” he says.

Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy recovery foods day-by-day

Recovery from tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy can vary from child to child. Dr. Fadel says most kids will be back to eating and drinking as usual about two weeks after surgery.

Day 0: Surgery day

Top priority: Hydration

Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy are outpatient procedures for most kids. Before they leave the hospital, their care team will make sure they can tolerate fluids. That’s important for hydration and so they can take any liquid pain medications they’re prescribed.

“These procedures can cause considerable throat pain,” Dr. Fadel acknowledges. “If their throat is dry, it can make the pain even worse. So, you want to prevent a dry throat and dehydration, especially in the early days.”

A moist throat is a healing throat. Encourage your child to take frequent sips throughout the day, not big gulps every few hours.

Go-to drinks include:

• Water
• Ice chips
• Electrolyte drinks (like Gatorade® or Pedialyte®)
• Popsicles

Keep fluids flowing, even overnight. Waking your child once a night to give fluids and pain meds can help for the first few nights.

Additionally, some soft and easy-to-swallow foods are recommended after surgery. Anesthesia can cause nausea, so encourage your child to take it slow.

Days 1 to 2: Early healing

Top priority: Keep sipping and slowly introduce soft foods

Your child may still feel groggy or a little nauseated in the first couple of days after having their tonsils or adenoids removed. If they’re feeling up for something more than liquids, it might feel best to stick with bland, easy-on-the-stomach options, like:

• Applesauce
• Yogurt
• Mashed potatoes
• Plain pasta
• Macaroni and cheese
• Smoothies or protein shakes
• Broths or blended soups
• Pudding or gelatin

And, of course, keep up with hydration throughout the day. “Just make sure they’re drinking enough,” Dr. Fadel encourages. “That’s still what matters most.”

Days 3 to 4: The toughest days

Top priority: Stay ahead of pain and keep up with fluids and calories

Following a tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy, your child’s body will build scabs in their throat to heal the tissue that was damaged in surgery. That’s a normal, healthy healing response. But as those scabs form, they can cause more pain — especially when swallowing.

“These are often the worst days of recovery,” Dr. Fadel reports.

Cold foods may help more during this time, but room temperature foods are OK, too. Keep offering soft, comforting options and, of course, keep encouraging them to drink.

Days 5 to 10: Things are looking up

Main goal: Maintain hydration and nutrition

Your child may slowly start feeling better during this time.

Continue offering a variety of foods, and allow them to eat what they can tolerate. This can also be a good time to consider adding more protein-rich options, like nutritional shakes, Greek yogurt and blended meals to keep up their strength.

Keep encouraging fluids to lower the risk of dehydration and bleeding.

Days 10 to 14: Light at the end of the tunnel

Main goal: Gradually return to normal eating

If your child is feeling better and eating without pain, you can start to reintroduce regular foods (if you haven’t already). But keep an eye out: If something hurts, it’s OK to wait.

Most kids can return to school or other normal activities around this time, too. Good signs they’re back to themselves include eating a more regular diet and getting through the day without pain medications.

Bottom line: Let comfort be your guide

Nothing is strictly off limits after tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy. But staying hydrated and encouraging your child to eat what feels good can help keep them comfortable and encourage healing.

As they recover, keep an eye out for signs of complications. Call their healthcare provider if they have:

• Blood in their spit
• No urine output for eight-plus hours (a sign of dehydration)
• Frequent vomiting
• Sudden speech changes or liquid coming from the nose weeks later (a rare complication after adenoid surgery)

Most kids recover without any issues. With a little care — and a lot of popsicles — your child should be back to themselves soon.