With the increasing number of persons suffering from swallowing disorders, patients are welcoming a new nutritional snack bar on the market. (1) Dysphagia is a swallowing disorder most prevalent in patients suffering from dementia, brain injuries and recovering stroke patients, among other illnesses. (1) This disability can lead to malnutrition, dehydration, physical weakness and decreased functional ability. It can also induce pneumonia, infections and increased mortality rates among patients. Severe infections can occur with unclean feeding tubes and/or inserts, giving rise to further complications. This is usually because their immune systems are already depleted. Many recommended foods for such patients are generally pureed such as soup, yogurt, and pudding and the higher the moisture content, the better. However, choking and coughing can continue to occur if the consistency is not appropriate. (4)

Fortunately, there are companies such as Hormel that specialize in providing suitable food options. Hormel supplies a wide range of tasty softened solids and thickened liquids in a variety of flavors. There are also soups and even desserts to satisfy the taste buds and nutritional needs of patients. They released their first product in 1988 and are now ‘known as a leading supplier of condition-specific food and nutrition products for the healthcare and long-term care communities.’ (3)

Nutriphagia

Enter Nutriphagia – a young company initiated by Tia Bagan, a speech pathologist from the United States. Through her years of working in the area of patient rehabilitation, she identified the gap between the needs of the patients and available products on the market. She developed the Eat Bar after recognizing the dangers of tube feeding and the lack of mobility patients experienced as a result. It requires minimal chewing, melts very quickly with saliva and is easy for patients to hold. (1) Even the name ‘Eat Bar’ serves as a direct cue and encourages those with speech, language or cognitive deficiencies, to eat the bar. (1) Being able to hold their own food, eat it, and nourish themselves, enables patients to feel independent and dignified, especially those in their older years. Thus, their psychosocial health is also addressed by Nutriphagia. (2) Reviews on the product are positive as stated on their Facebook page and patients continue to purchase Eat Bars. (1, 5)

Nutritional Value

The nutritional value per serving of the Eat Bar is 200 calories, 7g total fat, 60mg cholesterol, 65mg sodium, 30g carbohydrates, 29g sugars, 3g protein as well as Vitamin D and other trace elements. It is important to note that the ingredients are kosher, all-natural, GMO-free, nut-free and gluten-free. (2) Essentially, the Eat Bar seems to allow for a healthier diet resulting in improved health outcomes for those suffering from dysphagia. Patients claim to benefit both physically and psychologically from using this product. (5)

Availability

The Eat Bar is available on the company website. You can purchase an assortment or individual box of their four flavors: white chocolate, dark chocolate, strawberry, and lemon. You can even get a 5% discount by subscribing to regular automatic deliveries Please note that all patients should consult with their respective doctors before consuming this product. (1)