Does anyone know of a brand that is helpful for when our loved one has trouble swallowing/chewing? Besides ensure and boost.
Also has anyone else really struggled with eating / food problems. Getting your loved one healthy nutrition to make them comfortable and well fed.
I think sometimes WE impose our thought process on the constrictions and restrictions that some elders have. Without a doubt, my mom, post stroke, was grateful to be alive and neither pureed food nor clunky looking adaptive utensils seemed to faze her in the least.
For ice cream or something that melts and would otherwise be off the menu, just serve a few tablespoons at a time so that your LO can eat the ice cream before it melts and becomes liquid.
Start with foods that are already the right consistency like puddings, yogurt, custards, soups and smoothies (protein powder can up the food value here). Well cooked veggies and fruits are easy (think apple sauce and mashed potatoes), but meats are definitely much more challenging, in my opinion they are better with enough broth added to whiz and use more as a sauce or gravy.
We were fortunate that our meals on wheels offered some frozen pureed options, you might check if that is available where you live.
(I'm popping back to add - please don't throw an entire meal altogether into a blender, it may take a little more time but presenting each component separately is much more visually appealing - bonus points if you invest in the food molds shown here: https://blog.thealzheimerssite.greatergood.com/puree-molds/ )
https://www.agingcare.com/search?term=dysphagia+menus and
https://www.agingcare.com/discussions/bland-nursing-home-food-431850.htm is a good discussion by others here who've faced the same challenges.
Barb's advice is spot on though; a swallow study absolutely must be done to ensure that the level of thickening is appropriate. Otherwise, the individual may still experience coughing or choking, and still won't be getting adequate nutrition.
I found some very appetizing prepared foods, also very expensive. Search for "dysphagia, prepared foods" or similar parameters.
Check out Hormel, as Barb suggested. If I remember correctly they had some intriguing ideas. There are others as well, and IF I remember correctly, Gordon Food Service sells canned dysphagia foods in bulk. The downside is that you have to buy something like a dozen or 2 cans (in cases) of the food at a time, and it's not cheap.
It's been a few years though since I've had to puree foods, or looked for commercial sources, so my information may not be current, and I don't have my dysphagia information handy. Foods already prepared and presented, like the Meals on Wheels meals, are more attractive though.
I found a good site with attractively prepared foods, including the kind of presentation expensive restaurants would use. Unfortunately, I lost and can't retrieve the link, but one of the especially appealing menus of soft foods used common kitchen utensils: e.g., a pile of pureed foods was formed using a small bundt pan. Cupcake and mini cupcake pans are another option.
If you have cake decoration utensils, use the tubes to create designs, such as a rose of mashed potatoes on a platter of mashed meat. Think of yourself as a chef!
And good luck; this can be a challenging task.
I found this online.
It's really important to have the persons swallowing abilities assessed.