Dysphagia can turn mealtime from a pleasant experience to a stressful one. This serious and surprisingly common swallowing disorder makes it challenging to consume foods without accidental aspiration, which increases the risk of developing pneumonia and other health problems.
While it’s essential to take dysphagia and its risks seriously, it’s also important to remember that swallowing disorders don’t have to ruin mealtimes. A few simple changes are all it takes to make an otherwise unappealing or potentially dangerous diet into an opportunity for enjoyment. Make use of these natural supports and meal hacks on a daily basis to improve the experiences of dysphagia patients in your life.
- Use Natural Thickeners
Thickening agents offer a means of making it safe to consume thin liquids that would otherwise pose an aspiration risk. However, they are not all the same. Some commercial thickeners are made using questionable ingredients, and others contain allergens or products that interact in unfortunate ways with different liquids, depending on their chemical composition.
The best option for natural thickening agents is to find a nectar based food thickener. While starch-based thickeners can thin over time or when exposed to high temperatures, and gum-based thickeners can cause gastrointestinal issues, nectar-based alternatives tend to have fewer issues.
Meal preparers can also incorporate soft foods into some liquids, although there are fewer applications for this technique. Some dysphagia patients report preferring hot cocoa thickened with chocolate pudding, for example. Bananas and applesauce also make excellent natural thickeners, depending on the liquid in question.
- Add Lots of Sauce
Most dysphagia patients can eat soft foods that have been pureed safely without the risk of aspiration. However, pureeing foods can reduce their flavor. Fixing this issue is as simple as making judicious use of sauces.
Adding sauces to dry foods to create purees can expand a patient’s diet. Incorporating them into softened foods that have lost flavor due to blending can make them more pleasant to eat, encouraging patients to enjoy their meals and remain well-nourished.
- Follow Dysphagia Recipes
Some people create their own dysphagia meal plans by pureeing favored foods. However, this can pose a challenge for meal preparers who don’t have specific experience with dysphagia. Caregivers who want to make sure their patients are getting the most enjoyment possible out of their meals may want to stick to dysphagia recipes that are proven to work.
Most dysphagia recipes are similar to regular ones, but some make subtle changes that positively impact taste or texture. A dysphagia diet recipe for pizza might incorporate polenta rather than wheat crust, for example, because the taste and texture are more desirable. While it’s fine to experiment, most home dysphagia chefs can benefit from learning the basics of substituting ingredients in established recipes first.
- Pay Attention During Meals
Many dysphagia patients require active help with feeding. Their caregivers should always pay careful attention during meals and follow safe feeding techniques for people with swallowing disorders. Offer just one bite at a time, waiting until the person has swallowed to move on with the meal, and take things slow. Watch for signs of coughing or choking, and make sure the person stays in an upright position throughout the meal.
Try Not to Get Discouraged
Adopting a dysphagia diet takes some getting used to. Family caregivers should try not to get discouraged if their loved ones struggle to make the change. Be patient and ask for feedback if possible to find out which recipes are working and which ones aren’t. Most importantly, remember that dysphagia is difficult to live with and remain compassionate.
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