Author: Amy Listermann, MS, CCC-SLP
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Falafel Bake
Minced & Moist (IDDSI Level 5) Soft foods that are finely chopped and held together with moisture so they don’t crumble or fall apart. Falafel has always been about contrast; a crisp shell giving way to a tender, spiced center. For many people with chewing or swallowing changes, that very contrast can make it off-limits.…
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Squash and Sausage Casserole
Minced & Moist (IDDSI Level 5) Soft foods that are finely chopped and held together with moisture so they don’t crumble or fall apart. When I first started adapting recipes for people with dysphagia, I noticed how often soups were the go-to “safe” choice, but with dysphagia, the truth can a bit more complex. Smooth…
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What are Transitional Foods?
Dissolvable & Transitional Solids: A Practical Guide for Home Cooks Transitional solids, sometimes called dissolvable solids, meltables, or “meltable solids”, are foods that break down quickly with moisture, temperature, or light pressure. They sit in the space between minces and regular foods, offering a middle path for people rebuilding confidence, oral control, or safe chewing…
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Crab Tater Tots with Chipotle Aioli
Minced & Moist (IDDSI Level 5) Soft foods that are finely chopped and held together with moisture so they don’t crumble or fall apart. Crab is one of the easiest seafoods to incorporate into softer meals because it flakes naturally, carries seasoning well, and stays tender even after reheating. Folding it into tater tots is…
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Curried Chicken Pizza Bianca
Pureed (IDDSI Level 4) Completely smooth foods/extremely thick liquids with no lumps that hold their shape on a spoon and don’t require chewing. Some dishes feel inevitable the moment you think of them. Curried chicken and pizza bianca come from different corners of the world, but they share a core idea: warmth, comfort, and balance.…
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Dysphagia-Friendly Fast Food
This guide focuses on adapting common fast food items for modified textures such as puréed, minced and moist, soft & bite-sized, and easy to chew, with swallowing safety in mind. Reviewed by a licensed speech-language pathologist. Fast food is a part of real life. It’s where people meet up between errands or grabbing something on…
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Steakhouse Plate
Easy to Chew (IDDSI Level EC7) Regular foods that are naturally soft and easy to chew, without tough, dry, or hard components. Steak is one of those foods people miss the most when chewing or swallowing gets harder. It’s iconic: the smell, the sear, the satisfaction of a proper bite. But it’s also one of…
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Goetta Hash Bowl with Apples
What is goetta? Goetta (pronounced “get-uh”) started as a German-American breakfast staple, born out of thrift and ingenuity in kitchens in my hometown, Cincinnati. Traditionally made with pork, beef, steel cut oats, and onions, it was meant to stretch meat while turning simple grains into something deeply satisfying. When cooked low and slow, goetta forms…
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Veggie Patty Egg Stacker
Easy to Chew (IDDSI Level EC7) Regular foods that are naturally soft and easy to chew, without tough, dry, or hard components. There’s a reason certain veggie patties have held their place in freezers for decades: they’re soft, mild, and nourishing, but still taste like food, not filler. This egg stacker that features my Ultimate…
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Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake
Pureed (IDDSI Level 4) Completely smooth foods/extremely thick liquids with no lumps that hold their shape on a spoon and don’t require chewing. Making cheesecake has always been a balancing act; indulgent yet simple, rich but delicate. Add pumpkin and chocolate, and it becomes autumn distilled. For those navigating chewing or swallowing challenges, the silky…