Many of us have seen it. A person we know, or sitting nearby, literally swallows their food whole. Within a minute or two, the plate shines clean. Many people don’t intend to rush through dinner, but several habits push us to eat faster: school bells, work deadlines, commute traffic... Meals can easily become fuel stops rather than Zen moments. However, several studies and professionals, including doctors and SLPs, will tell you that speed should be avoided when dealing with

A recipe from the book "Give Me a Solid". Serves 8 to 12. Moist cakes are always easier to swallow. And the famous tiramisu is no exception. This raspberry version is refreshing and allows you to enjoy the taste of a fruit that can be difficult to swallow because of the seeds. What's more, since this cake doesn't contain coffee, you can enjoy it at any time of day without affecting your sleep.

I had been invited to introduce my book and talk about my experience as a dysphagia sufferer to a group of speech-language pathologists (SLPs) over Zoom. Some SLPs were based in Denver, Colorado and others based at the University of Pittsburg, in Pennsylvania. If you have swallowing issues, like I do, you know how difficult it is to talk about dysphagia.

Every year, as the holidays approach, we picture laughter around the table, the smells of favorite dishes, and plates piled high with comfort food. But for people like me, living with dysphagia, or a difficulty swallowing, this season can feel more isolating than joyful.