Feelings at mealtimes

Meals are more than food

Meals are family time, dates, holidays and work lunches. They are part of who we are.

When eating gets hard, it can feel like losing a piece of that.

You are not alone

In a large survey, many people with swallowing trouble felt anxious or panicky at meals. Many avoided eating with others.

Those feelings are common. They deserve care too.

What you might notice

• Dreading meals, or rushing through them.
• Eating alone to avoid coughing in front of others.
• Feeling embarrassed about drooling, coughing or eating slowly.
• Saying no to invitations that involve food.
• Feeling low, or feeling like a burden.

What can help

• Tell someone you trust how meals feel.
• Choose calm, familiar places to eat out, and the seat and pace that suit you.
• Plan time together around more than food, like a walk or a game.
• Tell your SLP or doctor how you feel at meals. It is part of your care.
• A counselor can help with worry around eating.
• Support groups, in person or online, connect you with people who understand.
• Caregivers feel this too. Their feelings count.

Questions to ask your care team

• Do other people feel this way?
• Can you refer me to a counselor?
• Are there support groups near me or online?
• What choices could make eating with others easier for me?

When to get help

Get checked soon if you notice any of these. A doctor or SLP can look at what is going on.

• Coughing or choking when you eat or drink.
• Food or pills that feel stuck.
• Losing weight without trying.
• Pneumonia or chest infections, especially if they come back.