We all depend on food and drinks to get the nutrients and fluids we need to stay healthy. Eating runs much deeper than staying alive, though. It’s a matter of staying strong, feeling good, and fully enjoying the experience. Of course, when you’re living with swallowing difficulties, it’s not all that simple. Getting the right nutrients from food becomes a challenge all its own, and staying hydrated can be even more difficult. Besides that, dysphagia can take away your ability to truly enjoy your favorite meals and drinks.
Fortunately, you don’t have to give up your health or your enjoyment of foods and beverages when you’re suffering from dysphagia. With the right tips and tricks, you can live well in spite of swallowing difficulties. Several resources are available to help you do just that from thickening products like Simply Thick to professionally developed swallowing techniques. Keep the following practical nutrition advice in mind to help you make the most of every meal.
Texture Matters
For one, the texture of your foods matters when you’re dealing with dysphagia. Hard, dry, crunchy, sticky, and mixed-texture foods can be difficult to manage. They can also be dangerous. In contrast, soft, moist foods are easier and safer to work with. A few prime choices for dysphagia sufferers are cream of wheat, soft-cooked grits, scrambled eggs, puddings, and well-cooked vegetables.
Beyond inherently soft foods, you can change the textures of other items to suit your needs. Chop meats and other solid foods into smaller bites. Add sauces or gravies to moisten them and make them softer. You can blend or puree them as well. Those are only a few of the measures you can take to make foods easier to manage. They’ll allow you to enjoy a variety of foods and get a broader range of the nutrients you need.
Thicken Your Drinks
Another helpful strategy is to use thickening agents for thin liquids. They can be difficult to control in the mouth and greatly increase your risks of aspiration. They move quickly and easily from the mouth to the esophagus, and keeping them where they need to be isn’t easy. Thickening agents make them easier to control and safer to swallow. You can adjust the thickness of your beverages to a consistency that works best for you. They may take a little time to get used to, but they’re a nice solution for helping you stay hydrated.
Eat Slowly and Have Small Meals
Eating large meals can be a challenge when you’re dealing with swallowing difficulties. Many dysphagia sufferers find eating to be overly stressful and tiring. With that being the case, easing smaller meals more frequently throughout the day is recommended. It’ll help you get essential vitamins, minerals, and other components without being overwhelmed by the challenges of eating. At the same time, be sure to eat slowly and chew your foods well. Taking your time will reduce the risks of choking and aspiration.
Getting the Nutrition You Need
When you’re living with dysphagia, eating and drinking can be not only difficult but also dangerous. As such, many people with the condition don’t get the nutrition and hydration they need to stay healthy. They don’t enjoy meals as much as they did before developing the condition, either. With the advice provided here, though, mealtime can be more pleasant, and you’ll be able to make the most of every bite and sip. Keep in mind that doctors and speech-language pathologists can educate you on swallowing techniques that are tailored to your unique challenges to help you manage the condition even more effectively.
