DYSPHAGIA BLOG
On the Go Dysphagia Snacks: No cook, easy options
This post aims to empower individuals by highlighting easy, on-the-go snack options across the different IDDSI levels, ensuring there is something for everyone. Everyone deserves the flexibility to eat and drink safely, and these everyday snack ideas help make that possible.
AAC Awareness Month: Making Mealtimes Communication-Friendly
Every October, AAC Awareness Month shines a light on the importance of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) in supporting individuals who face communication challenges. For those living with dysphagia, mealtimes can be not only physically difficult but also isolating when communication options are limited. At Simply Modified, we believe that mealtimes should be empowering, not isolating. That’s why we’re excited to share our Mealtime Communication Boards, designed specifically to make communication during meals accessible and enjoyable.
Celebrating National Carers Week: The Unsung Heroes in Dysphagia Care
As we celebrate National Carers Week (October 13–19, 2024), it’s time to recognise and honour the extraordinary individuals who dedicate their lives to caring for others. This year’s theme, “Millions of Reasons to Care,” invites us to reflect on the countless reasons carers make such a profound impact on our society. It is a powerful reminder of how essential carers are in our community, especially when supporting those with complex needs like dysphagia.
Oral care and dysphagia
Oral care practices are at the forefront of dysphagia management, and for good reason! Research continues to show that poor oral care is a predictor of aspiration pneumonia (respiratory illness) in people with dysphagia. However there are lots of strategies you can use to keep your oral health in good shape. And the evidence supports this, as many oral health problems can be avoided with routine preventive care. Here are a handful of care practices and tools that I use with my clients…
Dysphagia recipe… for you!
Are you ready to taste comfort in a bowl? No matter how many new recipes I explore, I always come back to this stew! It’s super flavoursome and packed full of wholefood ingredients that leave your body feeling incredible. The lentils with the pumpkin also create a wonderful consistency, making it very simple to modify for different texture needs. Meaning this is a dish that you can delightfully share with the whole family.
Speech Pathology and Parkinson’s Disease
While the tremors and rigidity are commonly associated with Parkinson's, the speech and swallowing challenges often come as a surprise. Enter speech pathology – a critical field dedicated to understanding and treating communication and swallowing disorders.
Eating seasonally with dysphagia
Eating seasonally isn't just a culinary trend; it's a way to nourish our bodies with the freshest, most flavourful ingredients nature has to offer. For individuals managing dysphagia, the journey of creating delicious, nutritious meals can be challenging. However, by embracing the bounty of each season, we can turn this challenge into an opportunity to explore a world of fresh flavours.
Dysphagia, but make it to go
It’s a common story told by so many of my clients. They skip the morning coffee or afternoon catch-up with friends because there is nothing suitable to eat. I want to remind you that you’re more than your dysphagia diagnosis. Food is an integral part of your life, it just requires simple modifications so that you can continue enjoying the things close to your heart…
NDIS and assistive technology
Part of your NDIS plan may include a budget for Assistive Technology (AT). Although ‘technology’ is in the name, an AT item does not necessarily need to be a high-tech item. AT is any piece of equipment that lets you perform a task you wouldn’t otherwise be able to do, or makes it easier and safer for you to perform a task. The Simply Modified cookbook can fall under the AT umbrella, if it is linked to the goals within your plan. So, think creatively about what your NDIS goals are, and how ‘technology’ can help you achieve them. NDIS goals can be as broad or as specific as you like, as long as they are related to your needs…
Celebrate with gnocchi!
Find yourself seated at the dinner table, surrounded by loved ones enjoying the same meal. Does this picture seem all to unimaginable? I challenge you to try. Allow yourself the pleasure of inclusion while enjoying fresh, nutrient-rich foods with your loved ones. Like pumpkin gnocchi… A dish that is both flavoursome and pillowy soft. Then paired with a white bean and thyme dip, it is a simple combination of flavours that mustn’t be overlooked…
Modified cutlery and utensils
Here you will find a summary of my go to mealtime tools. As always, if you or your loved one experiences dysphagia I recommend consulting your local Speech Pathologist first. And with all things cutlery and home technologies, Occupational Therapists make a handy friend too…
Soup to warm the soul
A wonderful way to increase your nutrient content, soups can also be gentle on your digestive system, quite literally warming your soul from the inside out. A simple bowl of soup is host to rich tastes with a cheerful vibrancy that cannot be overlooked. Soups quite literally steal the show for dysphagia diets and are absolutely delicious to eat, drink or slurp…
The hero of a dysphagia kitchen…
Sauce. Yes, you read that right. Sauce. The perfect accompaniment to any meal. Not only do they help to soften foods, but they also help bind flavours to make them sing. A secret in every dysphagia kitchen is to have a range of sauces prepared in the fridge at any one time…
Leading the way for dysphagia cookbooks
Adjustment, standardisation, restriction, variation. Who would have thought these words would ever come close to the description of a meal, a bite of food or dinner preparation? But, for many living with dysphagia (dis-fay-juh; swallowing impairment), this is their reality. Meals require careful adjustment to ensure that each mouthful is swallowed safely….
What is dysphagia?
Dysphagia (dis-fay-juh) // noun
Swallowing disorder
Humans swallow an average of 500-700 times per day. For someone living with dysphagia, this battle can take a huge toll on one’s attitude towards mealtimes…