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Dysphagia-Friendly Cooking: Top Tips for Chefs Looking to Make Meals More Accessible

A chef, particularly one that caters to a wide range of clientele, must be able to make their food as accessible as possible. Sometimes, this will mean knowing how to clean and wipe down your prep area to get rid of an allergen. Other times, it will mean having an entire set of cookware just to serve someone something properly gluten-free. In other cases, it will mean knowing how to adapt your ingredients for those with issues like dysphagia. 

Dysphagia is a condition that makes it incredibly difficult to swallow. Unfortunately, this applies to both solids and, for some, liquids. There are several levels of moistness involved, with some capable of eating soft foods, so long as they’re saucy or moist. Others need liquids with the consistency of soup. 

Catering to such a condition can be a challenge, but with this guide, you’ll be able to adapt your menu, making you the top choice for weddings, corporate, and other family events where people from all walks of life are likely to attend: 

First, Understand What Level of Moistness Is Needed

When someone in attendance needs dysphagia accommodation, the most important thing is that you get in touch ideally directly so that you can understand what foods and consistencies work best for them. This way, you can adjust the food you have to accommodate that guest. In many cases, all you need is to blend the foods in question so that they get the full flavor in a way that they can swallow. 

So long as you have time, you can adjust your menu accordingly or work on creating something special just for that guest if it’s in the cards. 

Finding the Best Thickeners 

While blending foods is important, it’s also important to thicken them, too. There’s a balance. Many (but not all) with dysphagia, for example, will be on what’s commonly referred to as the “pudding diet”. This means that the foods they can eat best are similar in thickness and consistency to pudding. 

This means that broths, thin sauces, and even drinks aren’t a good option. Thankfully there are tasteless thickeners that come in both gel and powder form that you can use to cook with and provide as an option for the guest on the day. Of the thickeners, the tasteless SimplyThick pudding consistency diet is a top go-to for many. It’s used by caterers, chefs, and those with dysphagia and their families to adapt the food to the right consistency. 

Be Open to Rethinking Ingredients

You can do a lot in terms of preparing and making delicious meals. Mashed potatoes, cottage cheese, soups of all kinds, and even molded food are great choices. For example, you can get a sandwich mold to create dysphagia-friendly “sandwiches”. These won’t fool anyone, of course, but it helps add to the sense of normalcy for the guest. In more formal dinner settings, of course, you’ll want to add several sides that are naturally dysphagia-friendly and delicious. This way, everyone can gush about the same food, including your guest with swallowing difficulty.