Thickened drinks: five nourishing drinks with little or no added sugar, each made first as a regular drink and then thickened to the level your speech-language pathologist recommends (Level 1 Slightly thick to Level 4 Extremely thick). What do the levels mean?
No sugar, no caffeine, and gentle on the stomach, so it is an easy way to drink more fluids through the day.
Serves: 4 · Time: 20 minutes
Steps
Simmer 2 tbsp roasted barley (or 1 barley tea bag) in 4 cups water for 5 minutes, then steep 10 minutes and strain.
Drink warm or chilled. Thicken each cup just before serving.
How to thicken: use a commercial gum-based thickener (xanthan gum, such as SimplyThick or Thick-It Clear Advantage) and follow its label for the level you need. Stir well, wait the time on the label, then check. Gum thickeners stay stable; starch thickeners keep thickening as they sit, so check again before serving.
Check the thickness (IDDSI flow test): fill a 10 mL slip-tip syringe, let it run for 10 seconds, and see how much is left. Level 1: 1 to 4 mL left. Level 2: 4 to 8 mL. Level 3: more than 8 mL. Level 4: hardly any flows, and it sits on a spoon. Smoothies and pulpy drinks are thicker to begin with, so test them before adding thickener.
Plain water, unsweetened tea and decaf coffee can all be thickened the same way.
Use the drink thickness recommended by your speech-language pathologist or doctor. Sit upright to drink, take small sips, and stay upright for 30 minutes after. More in our swallowing guide.