{"id":3963,"date":"2021-12-21T01:43:12","date_gmt":"2021-12-21T01:43:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.oncoalicia.com\/nutrition-during-head-and-neck-cancer-treatment\/difficulty-swallowing\/difficulty-swallowing-solids\/"},"modified":"2025-07-04T08:49:07","modified_gmt":"2025-07-04T08:49:07","slug":"difficulty-swallowing-solids","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/oncoalicia.com\/en\/types-of-cancer\/head-and-neck\/difficulty-swallowing\/difficulty-swallowing-solids\/","title":{"rendered":"Dietary Recommendations for Difficulty Swallowing Solids in Head and Neck Cancer"},"content":{"rendered":"
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It is characterised by the challenging sensation when swallowing solid or semi-solid food. There is generally no difficulty in the intake of liquids. The main recommendation is to adapt the texture of the food to a soft or mashed texture depending on the severity of the dysphagia.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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WHAT DO WE RECOMMEND?<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Maintain good posture. <\/i>
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Sitting or the more sat up the better, always avoiding hyperextension of the neck.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Take your time to eat. <\/i>
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Eat slowly and with plenty of time between each spoonful.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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In case of lack of appetite <\/i>
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Eat small meals frequently.
\nEnrich dishes or pur\u00e9es using virgin olive oil, cream, cheese, egg whites, powdered nuts or milk, adapting the texture to the degree of dysphagia.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Lunch and dinner should include protein-rich foods (at least two meals a day). <\/i>
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Meat, fish, eggs, pulses (soy, lentils, chickpeas and derivates as tofu) or seitan in texture-adapted dishes.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\n Some suggested recipes:<\/b>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Turkey and vegetable pie\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Fish cake\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Rice with tofu fricand\u00f3, rice with tofu fricand\u00f3 (modified texture)\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Avoid hard foods that contain peel or crust. <\/i>
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Foods such as bread, breakfast cereals, biscuits, crisps, fruit with its peel, nuts, fibrous and dried meats, or raw vegetables may be difficult to swallow.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Prioritize soft and liquid pur\u00e9es. <\/i>
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Liquid preparations such as pur\u00e9es or soups are the least difficult to swallow. Soft foods such as puddings, caramel puddings, custards, meat pies or fish cakes are also good choices.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Avoid accumulating food in your mouth.<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Give importance to the presentation and taste of the dishes to make them appealing.<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Avoid eating alone.<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Depending on the degree of dysphagia or difficulty swallowing solids, dishes should be adapted to an easy-to-chew or mashed texture. Consult with your medical team as to which is the most appropriate.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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If food needs to be adapted to a texture that is easy to chew\/swallow<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Preferably eat food with a soft texture. <\/i>
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