Holiday Meals and Dysphagia: Tips on How to Make the Table More Inclusive (with bonus recipe)

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.

Over the years, as my dysphagia progressed, the holidays suddenly became complicated. Food that used to mean togetherness became something I had to study, modify, or avoid. While everyone else reached for turkey and stuffing, I had to think about texture, moisture, and swallow safety. It's not just about missing out on flavor: it's about feeling left out of society.

That's one of the reasons I wrote Give Me a Solid. It's a collection of recipes and personal tips to make meals easier for those who struggle to chew or swallow. But it's also a reminder that inclusion belongs at the table, too. Even simple gestures, like serving a side dish that is soft, adding extra sauce, or modifying a family favorite, can make someone feel seen and loved.

No Pressure

Dysphagia takes many forms and is caused by various medical conditions such as cancer, stroke, Parkinson's, ALS, OPMD, etc. But the most common cause may simply be related to aging. Seniors such as your grandfather or an old aunt might be daunted by crunchy bread or crispy salads. Choking hazards, difficulty chewing, and the embarrassment of struggling to eat in front of others are real concerns for them.

People with dysphagia tend to keep their predicament to themselves. Not everyone is comfortable admitting that they are losing physical abilities. No one wants to feel weak or vulnerable in front of others.

If someone at the table eats slower than normal, or eats very little, you might not want to point it out, out of respect. But you can certainly take note, and offer chewing or swallowing-friendly dishes the next time around. You have no idea how impactful this will have on the person's pride and well-being.

Planning a Dysphagia-Friendly Menu

If you know, or suspect, that a friend or a loved one struggles with chewing or swallowing, you don't need to redesign your entire menu. You just need a little creativity, and a willingness to adapt.

When planning a holiday menu with dysphagia in mind, texture is key. But it doesn't mean that you have to purée everything. If the person with a swallowing disorder can chew food into a purée, then all you need to worry about is to choose the kind of food that easily turns into a purée when properly chewed; not all of them do.

Meat, for example, is the first food that people with dysphagia usually have to give up. Meat fibers are very difficult to break down, even when it is cooked to tenderness. There are, however, ways to break those fibers mechanically, before cooking the meat.

One such way is to tenderize the meat with a mallet (or meat tenderizer). It's a hammer-like kitchen tool with two sides: one flat and the other toothed. With the help of this simple tool, I can still eat poultry, such as chicken or turkey, despite its fibrous texture (see Parmesan-Crusted Tenderized Turkey recipe below).

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Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Holiday Meal

Here are a few tips to make your holiday meal, and any other meal, inclusive.

1. Various Textures: Serve dishes presenting various textures, some that are easy to chew and easy to swallow, and some with crunchy textures, in order to please everyone around the table.

2. Moisture Matters: Gravies are a given at the holiday table, but don't hesitate to add other sauces like a béchamel or a butter-based Hollandaise sauce. Room-temperature butter is also dysphagia-friendly as it makes food easy-to-swallow, as well as enhance flavors.

3. Presentation: A great visual presentation makes a holiday meal even more special. In addition to food garnishes and festive decorations, let everyone around the table know about the soft, tender, or melt-in-your-mouth dishes you have added to the menu this year.

Dysphagia-Friendly Recipe for the Holidays

The following recipe turns turkey, a holiday food staple, into an alternative you can offer in addition to the traditional oven-roasted bird.

PARMESAN-CRUSTED TENDERIZED TURKEY

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 boneless, skinless half turkey breast

1 cup (250 ml) toasted breadcrumbs*

1 cup (250 ml) finely grated Parmesan cheese

1 tsp (5 ml) garlic powder or more, to taste

3/4 cup (175 ml) mayonnaise

1/3 cup (80 ml) milk

*Other breadcrumb options: Japanese-style breadcrumbs (panko) or crushed crackers (soda cracker type)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).

1. In a wide, shallow bowl, combine breadcrumbs, Parmesan, and garlic powder.

2. In another wide, shallow bowl, combine mayonnaise and milk.

3. Place the half turkey breast in a large, airtight plastic bag and seal to remove air. Using the flat side of the mallet, tenderize the meat by tapping the bag until the turkey breast becomes very thin.

4. Open the bag and remove the tenderized meat. Dip it in the mayonnaise-milk mixture, then in the breadcrumb-parmesan mixture.

5. Place the tenderized, coated half turkey breast on a baking sheet or other large ovenproof dish. Since there will be melted Parmesan cheese on the bottom of the dish, lay parchment paper down first if you think you might scratch the dish.

6. Bake the turkey breast for about 20 minutes.

Serving 

Delicious hot or cold.

Making This Holiday Season Inclusive

Holiday meals are special occasions. They are a time to celebrate tradition, life, and love with everyone we care about, regardless of their age or physical condition.

For anyone looking to make holiday meals safe, flavorful, and inclusive, Give Me a Solid is a practical resource filled with tried-and-true recipes. Several of them are based on dishes that are normally meant to be soft, such as flans and soufflés. Others are slightly modified to make them dysphagia-friendly.

With careful planning, texture-modified recipes, and a little creativity, it's possible to enjoy traditional flavors safely and with confidence. And, with this book, you can ensure that no one at your table feels left out.

Why Give Me a Solid Can Help You This Holiday Season

Unlike standard dysphagia cookbooks, Give Me a Solid was written by someone who actually lives with dysphagia. I know what it's like to feel different around the table. And I'm not ready to resort to purées just yet.

My book focuses on texture-modified dishes without sacrificing the appearance of the original: popular appetizers without crunchy ingredients, meat alternatives (known and lesser-known), classy vegetable sides, unconventional sauces, and moist cakes. The idea is to modify "regular" food without dramatically change its normal appearance.

That is the spirit behind Give Me a Solid: small changes that can bring big comfort at the table... for everyone.

Wishing you a safe, inclusive, and delicious holiday season!

Joanne

To purchase or learn more about Give Me a Solid, click here.