Being diagnosed with dysphagia is stressful enough, never mind the added stress it creates at mealtime. Because dysphagia is a swallowing disorder, it will greatly impact your ability to eat safely and without issues. It can be so distressing that mealtime sparks fear and anxiety just thinking about the potential choking it can cause. So, what can you do?
For those with dysphagia, there are several tips you can embrace at mealtime to create a calm, safe and even enjoyable environment. Let’s take a look.
Make Some Tweaks to Your Mealtime Set Up
Before you start thinking about your next meal, why not take the opportunity to make some tweaks to the meal-time set-up? Because you need to be able to focus on swallowing, any distractions should be removed. This means the television, radio, smartphone or anything else that may take your focus off the meal.
If you live with others, make sure to talk to them about having quiet, calm and focused mealtimes so there’s not a lot of commotion happening.
Your posture can also help with swallowing, you want to sit up straight and ensure that you’re not hunched over while eating.
Food Thickeners Allow You to Change the Consistency and Texture
Another tool or tip that is invaluable at mealtime is food thickeners. These are products that make drinks and food thicker and thereby safer to swallow. Instead of eliminating favorite items, you can tweak them with a thickening agent and still keep them in rotation. The SimplyThick gel or powder thickening agent can be used with drinks such as wine, tea, coffee, beer and even on items like ice cream to thicken them up. Food thickeners can positively change what you eat and how you eat.
As for how to use these products, be sure to follow the directions on the product but generally speaking, they are quick and easy to use. Some even come in “to-go” packs so you can be more confident about enjoying a drink when not at home.
The point of these products is to thicken up the item so the swallowing process is slower and thereby safer. Thickening it up also means the fluids and food won’t get into the lungs, which can cause serious and potentially dangerous issues.
Want to Eat Out – Have a Plan and Look at the Menu in Advance
Eating at a restaurant with dysphagia can be tricky but it’s not impossible. It’s all about having a plan and knowing what you can have on the menu. It’s suggested you look at the menu in advance so you know what will be safe.
Practice Patience – Slow Down Mealtime
Finally, it’s time to practice patience and slow down mealtimes. For a person with dysphagia, there is nothing worse than feeling rushed to finish their meal. This alone can cause anxiety and lead to choking. The slower you eat, the more you can focus on your meal, and the more enjoyable and safer things will be.
The bottom line is that meals for people diagnosed with dysphagia can still be enjoyable, safe, and stress-free, you just need to follow some specific steps.