Verified by Kiera Powell, R.N. and written by Chad Birt on Wed Jan 01 2025.
Medically Verified
Many seniors experience dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, due to various factors like the natural aging process, neurological disorders, or conditions such as cancer. Without proper intervention, dysphagia can make meal and snack times challenging, potentially preventing your loved one from getting the essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients they need to thrive. Fortunately, thickened food & beverages can make eating and drinking safer and easier.
If you're looking for solutions to help your loved one manage dysphagia, you've come to the right place. We've compiled a list of seven of our top-selling food and drink thickeners, chosen for their effectiveness, ease of use, and positive feedback from caregivers like you.
Thick-It is the world’s first healthcare food-thickening product. It launched in 1987 and has been the go-to thickening agent for many caregivers ever since. Thick-It has a cornstarch base and can be mixed into hot or cold foods and beverages. It’s unflavored, dissolves instantly, and is easy to digest.
Key benefits and features:
Does not change the appearance or taste of food and liquid
Gluten-free
Kosher
Easy to use
Safe for children between the ages of 3-12 (with a doctor’s supervision)
Thick & Easy food and beverage thickener by Hormel comes in a fine powder that’s easy to mix and doesn’t clump. It’s made with modified starch, which doesn’t alter flavor or texture.
Key benefits and features:
Blends easily with hot or cold foods and beverages
Low in calories and carbohydrates
Suitable for almost any diet
Gluten and lactose-free
Kosher
Recommended reading: What are Food and Drink Thickeners?
Thick-It Purées Chicken à la King lets you savor this rich and creamy classic entrée. Enjoy it as a main dish for lunch or dinner. Or, combine it with our Sweet Corn Purée for a savory chicken corn chowder casserole.
Key benefits and features:
Made with real chicken and vegetables for a delicious and nutritious experience.
Conveniently packaged and ready-to-eat. Just open, heat, and serve!
Enjoy the full flavor that comes from quality ingredients.
If your loved one needs to thicken all of their drinks and meals, you’ll need a bigger container. This 36 oz. canister of Thick-It contains significantly more powder than its 10 oz. counterpart (See #1). The formula is exactly the same—there’s just more of it. You can order a single canister or a case of six.
Key benefits and features:
Easy to digest
Can be mixed into hot or cold foods and beverages
Gluten-free
Kosher Pareve
Dissolves instantly
If you’re in a rush and don’t have time to thicken a drink, give your loved one a pre-thickened beverage like this ready-to-use cranberry cocktail from Thick and Easy. One case contains 24 pre-packed cups, perfect for hydration on the go.
Key benefits and features:
Each cup is ready to use and already thickened
Cranberry flavored
Nectar consistency
Provides 100% of the recommended daily requirement for vitamin C
If your loved one requires a diet of pureed foods, Thick-It’s line of ready-to-use meals is an excellent addition to the pantry. This puree features slowly simmered beef, potatoes, carrots, green peas, and celery. There’s no pre-prep required and each can contains five servings.
Key benefits and features:
Fully cooked
Shelf-stable
Makes lunch or dinner easy, flavorful, and hassle-free
Great taste, reliable consistency
Recommended reading: Pureed Food for Adults.
Stay refreshed and hydrated effortlessly with Clear Advantage Thickened Water. This sugar- and calorie-free, xanthan-based water provides pure hydration with no added flavors or artificial sweeteners. Enjoy it chilled, heated, or even frozen into ice cubes – the consistency won't change over time, so you can hydrate on your own schedule.
Key benefits and features:
Ready to drink
Pre-thickened to a nectar consistency
Combines easily with powdered milk, broth, or drink mixes to provide more flavor options for people with swallowing disorders
Determining the best food and drink thickeners, or any other product, for your loved one's specific needs can be challenging. Our friendly Care Specialists are here to help! They can answer your questions, offer personalized product recommendations, and provide support.
Don't hesitate to reach out! Call us at (800) 696-CARE or send an email to support@carewell.com anytime.
If you’ve ever cared for a loved one with dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, mealtime can be challenging. Enter purees. These pre-packaged meals are easy to swallow and are packed with nutrition. Plus, their nectar-like consistency reduces the risk of coughing, choking, and aspiration. Here are Carewell's five best-selling pureed meals from Thick & Easy.
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By serving your loved one meals with a soft, pudding-like consistency, it’s possible to provide them with the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients they need while lowering the risk of choking or digestive issues.
To determine if pureed foods are right for your senior, it’s important to know a little bit about them.
Chad Birt is a freelance medical writer who resides in Astoria, Oregon. When he isn't behind a keyboard, you can find him hiking, camping, or birdwatching with his wife Ella and their two dogs, Diane and Thoreau.
