Managing Dysphagia

Can dysphagia be managed?

Yes, but first you must talk to your healthcare professional regarding your swallowing difficulties so that he or she can properly diagnose your condition. If you’ve been diagnosed with dysphagia, you will be given a customized plan. This might include exercises to improve swallowing function, as well as a modified diet to make eating and drinking more manageable.


Ways to modify food and beverages

With these types of modifications, swallowing can be much safer and more comfortable, and help assure you get the nutrition and hydration you need to maintain your health.

Thickening your drinks to a
more manageable
consistency

Pureeing your food to make
it easier to swallow

Adding moistening agents,
such as gravy, to your food

Types of food that may require modification

Some foods are more difficult for people with dysphagia to swallow, such as:

  • Foods that require a lot of chewing
  • Foods that have many small particles, like seeds
  • Dry and/or crumbly foods
  • Foods that combine liquids and solids
  • Thin liquids such as water and juice
  • Foods that become liquid in your mouth, such as ice cream

But that shouldn’t stop you from enjoying meals with your friends and family. You might have to avoid some items, but by modifying food effectively by pureeing and/or thickening, you can often continue to enjoy your favorite foods and beverages.

How to puree foods properly

When pureeing foods, the final consistency should be smooth and thick enough to scoop with a fork or spoon (very similar to that of mashed potatoes).

To puree foods properly you’ll need the right equipment − common items which are probably already in your kitchen. A food processor works best or pureeing foods and achieving the desired consistency. However, a heavy-duty blender or hand mixer will also do the trick.

Foods that require pureeing:

Here are some examples of the foods that may require pureeing:

  • Various cooked meats
  • Various cooked vegetables
  • Fresh, frozen or canned fruit
  • Prepared casseroles (e.g. macaroni and cheese, goulash)
  • Meat or egg salads used for sandwich fillings (e.g. chicken, tuna)
  • Soups or stews with soft vegetables and/or meat (e.g. chili, corn chowder)
  • Soft pasta salads
  • Soft cookies, brownies and moist cakes (without nuts, coconuts or baking chips)
ThickenUp Clear Instant Food and Drink Thickening Powder.

Meet ThickenUp Clear logo by Nestlé Health Science.

ThickenUp® Clear is an innovative thickening agent designed to rapidly thicken liquids and food, for patients with dysphagia or swallowing difficulties.

Improves
swallowing safety*

Mixes and
dissolves easily

Tasteless and
Odorless

Lump-free

*Clinically shown to improve swallowing safety by reducing the risk of aspiration
compared to thin liquid in dysphagia patients.

Leonard RJ, et al. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2014;114:590-594.