Author: Amy Listermann, MS, CCC-SLP
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High Protein Soft Foods for Dysphagia
Getting enough protein on a dysphagia diet can be just as challenging as maintaining calories. Meals need to be softer, which can reduce overall protein content without even realizing it. I wrote this guide to focus on building high protein, texture-modified meals using a simple layering system. You’ll learn how to add protein to foods…
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High-Calorie Easy to Eat Meals
Maintaining weight on a dysphagia diet can be difficult, especially when meals become smaller or more repetitive. This guide focuses on building high-calorie, texture-modified meals using a simple, repeatable calorie layering system. Instead of relying on individual recipes, you’ll learn how to take foods already in your routine and fortify them for more calories while…
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Soft Mashed Potatoes Recipe for Dysphagia (IDDSI Levels 4–6)
Mashed potatoes are one of the most reliable comfort foods for people who need softer textures. Mashed potatoes can be paired with soft proteins, sauces, or blended vegetables to create a complete meal that stays cohesive and easy to eat. But there can be some serious variety in the results. While known as one of…
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Easy to Eat Costco Foods for Dysphagia (IDDSI-Friendly Staples)
Last updated March 2026 Costco can be a great place to stock up on ingredients for safe swallowing meals, but not every product fits neatly into a dysphagia diet. This guide breaks down practical options across IDDSI levels, along with simple adjustments to make them safer and easier to eat. How to Use this List…
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Soft Scrambled Eggs for Dysphagia
Easy to Chew (IDDSI Level EC7) Regular foods that are naturally soft and easy to chew, without tough, dry, or hard components. Scrambled eggs are often listed as a food that definitely fits soft, easy to chew diets, but the way they are cooked determines whether they stay smooth and cohesive or become dry and…
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What is the Frazier Free Water Protocol (And Who is it for?)
Many people with dysphagia are told to drink thickened liquids to help reduce aspiration risk. The Frazier Free Water Protocol offers a different approach by allowing carefully managed access to thin water under specific conditions. For many, it can improve hydration and quality of life. What Is the Frazier Free Water Protocol? The Frazier Free…
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Thickened Liquids: Safety, Hydration and the Real Trade-offs
When someone is having difficulties with swallowing drinks safely, thickened liquids are one of the most common recommendations. And it makes sense when you understand the level of timing coordination that your body needs to close off the airway. If you spill a cup of water, the liquid spreads very quickly across the surface. If…
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Soft Cheese and Herb Scones
Easy to Chew (IDDSI Level EC7) Regular foods that are naturally soft and easy to chew, without tough, dry, or hard components. Soft Cheese and Herb Scones Built for Texture Control I always grew up with sweet scones like cinnamon chip or orange glazed but when I headed south for school, I was introduced to…
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Herb Infused Oil: Flavor without Fragments
Herbs add brightness and depth to food, but chopped leaves introduce plant fibers that do not always break down evenly. In texture modified cooking, those fragments can affect cohesion, mouthfeel, and swallow predictability. What is Herb Infused Oil? Herb infused oil is oil gently heated with fresh herbs to extract fat-soluble flavor compounds, then strained…
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Eating with Dentures: Why Food Feels Harder and What Helps
Eating with dentures can feel very different than expected. Foods that once felt easy may now seem harder to manage, take more effort, or feel unpredictable in the mouth. This can be frustrating, especially if the dentures are adding to the amount of teeth you have to bite and chew; shouldn’t that make it easier??…