Easy-to-Swallow, Easy-to-Chew Cookbook: Over 150 Tasty and Nutritious Recipes for People Who Have Difficulty Swallowing [Paperback]

Donna L. Weihofen (Author), JoAnne Robbins (Author), Paula A. Sullivan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 19, 2002

Delicious and nourishing recipes that are easy to eat and swallow

The simple act of eating is a challenge for millions of people whose ability to chew and swallow has been compromised by the debilitating effects of age or disease. The Easy-to-Swallow, Easy-to-Chew Cookbook presents a collection of more than 150 nutritious recipes that make eating enjoyable and satisfying for anyone who has difficulty chewing or swallowing. It also shares helpful tips and techniques to make eating easier for the elderly and those with such diseases as Parkinson's, AIDS, or head and neck cancers.

Donna L. Weihofen, RD, MS (Verona, WI), is a nutritionist and the author of The Cancer Survival Cookbook (0-471-34668-3) and Magic Spices (Wiley: 0-471-34683-7).
JoAnne Robbins, PhD (Madison, WI), is founder of the University of Wisconsin's clinical Swallowing Service.
Paula A. Sullivan, MS, CCC-SLP (Madison, WI), is a speech pathologist who specializes in swallowing rehabilitation.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (July 19, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471200743
• ISBN-13: 978-0471200741
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #84,772 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, July 17, 2008

By 

Elisabeth the Great - See all my reviews

This review is from: Easy-to-Swallow, Easy-to-Chew Cookbook: Over 150 Tasty and Nutritious Recipes for People Who Have Difficulty Swallowing (Paperback)

I bought this book (along withe Randy Wilson's "I-Can't-Chew Cookbook") because I suffer from severe TMJ and have been placed on a soft food diet by my doctor. Both books were disappointing; this one slightly less so than the Wilson. There is still too much canned, condensed soup for my taste here--but this may be because Weihofen is writing for the over-70 crowd. Really, though, the emphasis on jello (including a truly frightening dish made with a crushed pretzel crust, sugar-free strawberry jello, sweetened strawberries, loads of cream cheese and Cool Whip) and "creamy noodle bakes" is a bit depressing. I just want to eat, not feel like I checked into a nursing home. (We'll all be there soon enough--no need to hurry the process along!).

That said, this book has more "fresh food" options than the Wilson, along with a mind-numbingly complete introduction to all the problems one can have eating and swallowing. Some of the vegetable and side dish options look good (Apple and Butternut Squash Bake, Glazed Carrots) but aren't particularly original.

My main complaint is with the entree section, where the choices are uninspired. I don't need a cookbook to tell me how to make angel hair pasta with garlic and oil (which, by the way, I can't even chew). Very few of the entree recipes are truly what I would call "easy to chew" (maybe they're more for the dysphagia crowd). Her tactic seems to be to include traditional recipes--beef stroganoff, stews with cubed chicken, etc.--and then encourage us to blend them to kingdom come. Ugh. Meat puree: not my cup of tea.

But if you're truly in trouble and your own cookbooks (and the internet's recipe search function) aren't doing anything for you, you may find something here for you. As for me, I'm returning both of these books and sticking with my own cookbook collection.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars outstanding, July 2, 2008

By 

C. davis - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Easy-to-Swallow, Easy-to-Chew Cookbook: Over 150 Tasty and Nutritious Recipes for People Who Have Difficulty Swallowing (Paperback)

This book is great. My husband has throat cancer, and was having trouble eating, expecially with the treatments. This book is a lifesaver. I have tried four recipes, and they were all delicious, I would use this book, even if my husband didn't have a problem swallowing. Thank you again for writing this book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to Swallow Cookbook, October 26, 2009

By 

Ladyvet "ladyvet" (Bellevue, Washington) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Easy-to-Swallow, Easy-to-Chew Cookbook: Over 150 Tasty and Nutritious Recipes for People Who Have Difficulty Swallowing (Paperback)

Great recipes that I enjoy as well as my husband who had oral cancer and little saliva to swallow.