Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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

This book is an excellent reference and resource book that I share with my patients who have swallowing difficulties. Several of them have gone ahead and ordered the book themselves! Great recipes with a lot of variety.

Very pleased with this book. Not only does it have tasty, easy to prepare recipes but the information contained in Part One should be compulsory reading for all involved with any friend or loved one who has a problem with swallowing as a result of certain medical conditions.Also the nutritional information given at the bottom of each recipe is particularly helpful when counting calories to maintain/gain weight.

The few pages of tips on how to eat if you've got chewing/swallowing problems *do not* make up for the other 80% of the book, which consists of recipes for yukky dishes I would never eat. Moreover, the "tips" aren't that useful, either -- most of them are just common sense. I don't understand how anybody could give this book 5 stars, or 4, or even 3. Don't waste your money.

A very close friend had surgery that caused difficulties in swallowing. Found this book online and gave it to her as a gift and she loves it.

A must have for anyone suffering from swallowing issues.

The book had some good recipes. I guess I thought it would have more than soup recipes in it.

I would recommend this book to any friend.

This book has great tips for cooking for someone with dysphagia. I highly recommend it.