Dishes give those in need less to chew on

Dishes aimed at bringing the pleasure of tasty food to those who have problems chewing and swallowing are gaining popularity.

"Inclusive food" dishes are intended for everyone — even those who can eat without problems — who want to enjoy tasty food.

Some of the dishes are designed to look and taste like regular foods — one dish that on first glance looks like a whole apple is actually an apple-flavored jelly covered in a cheese-based mousse and coated with a berry sauce. The dessert is so soft that it can be swallowed without biting.

Pastry chef Kayo Shimizu, 45, created the dish last autumn after speaking with parents of children who have difficulty chewing and swallowing. She decided to develop a dessert that would have a pleasant texture when eaten.

The chef has offered such "inclusive food" before as part of a project in collaboration with the Tokyo metropolitan government. She plans to open a cafe and offer the dessert as a menu item.

"I want to create food that smells, feels and looks good for people who have difficulty eating," Shimizu said.

Inclusive food is based on the idea that sharing the joy of eating regardless of disability is an important experience. It is prepared so that everyone can start eating at the same time, with extra preparation, such as crushing the food with a blender, not required.

Haruka Tohara, a professor at Tokyo Medical and Dental University, said, "With a wider choice of meals, people with swallowing and chewing problems will enjoy eating more and these people and their families will be motivated to live more positively."

"If more restaurants are cooperative… it will make it easier for these people to go out despite their disabilities, and it will contribute to a more inclusive society," Tohara said.

Some restaurants have started to offer menu items that are edible to everyone, including people who find it difficult to chew and swallow.

Soup Stock Tokyo's Lumine Tachikawa outlet in Tachikawa, Tokyo, has eight items on its soup menu that take into account people who have difficulty chewing.

Sakura Kato, 43, a representative of "mogmog engine", a general incorporated association formed by parents of children who need help when eating, is grateful for the move of inclusive food. Her second daughter Mako, 14, has muscular dystrophy, an intractable disease that causes muscle weakness throughout the body.

Kato said that her daughter loves eating. "Even though she cannot communicate well with words, I can tell when she is enjoying the taste of food as she eats faster than usual," Kato said.

"I hope that everyone in the same room will be able to start eating the same meal after saying itadakimasu (a phrase used to express thanks for the food)," Kato said.

The Japan News