Back at the Table, on Your Terms
Clear, practical guidance for rebuilding eating and confidence after cancer treatment.
This work is shaped by lived experience of head and neck cancer and its long-term impact on eating and confidence.
Eating after treatment can feel impossible. I know - I’ve been there, afraid of every bite, every meal, every social table. But I got myself back to eating… and walking across Spain, carrying my pack, tasting local food, and living life fully again.
That journey is what inspired the Back At The Table (BATT) Framework™ and my book GULP. I show people how to reclaim meals, rebuild confidence at the table, and enjoy food at home, with friends, or while travelling - step by step, at your own pace.
Built from Lived Experience
With over a decade designing educational events for industry bodies, I now consult with global brands, bringing lived experience into the rooms where dysphagia care is shaped.
I grew tired of watching people miss out on the joy of eating while generic care plans overlooked what truly matters.
In 2024, I formalised that experience into the Back at the Table (BATT) Framework™ - a structured approach to rebuilding eating, confidence, and participation at the table.
Who This is For
For Individuals Rebuilding Eating
Individuals navigating dysphagia who want to continue exploring, eating well, and living on their own terms.
For Clinicians
Speech pathologists, dietitians, and healthcare teams seeking deeper insight into lived experience. Structured tools and training support care that is practical, empathetic, and applicable.
Practical Tools & Resources
BATT Framework™
A structured pathway from tube to table, delivered through workshops and printed resources.
GULP
Lived experience paired with practical guidance for patients, caregivers, and clinicians.
Guides & Toolkits
Targeted resources to strengthen eating outcomes and confidence.
GAG | eating life
A newsletter and podcast exploring life, food, and identity after treatment.
“One of the nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is that we are doing and devote our attention to eating”
Luciano Pavarotti
FAQs
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No.
These resources are grounded in lived experience and are designed to complement clinical care, not replace it. They are intended to be used alongside guidance from your medical team.
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Yes - they were developed during a prolonged period of severe dysphagia, including 15 months of PEG feeding and limited oral intake.
The focus is on structure, preparation, and confidence. If your medical team has not advised against oral trials, these resources can help you think through a safe, supported way forward.
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There is no single timeline. Healing, readiness, and confidence vary widely.
What matters most is having a clear pathway and practicing consistently. For many people, confidence builds as they understand what to do next and why — step by step, at their own pace.
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No. These are not recipe books.
The focus is on mindset, planning, and staged progression. Where relevant, the resources reference texture frameworks (such as IDDSI) and foundational food categories to support decision-making alongside your Speech Pathologist or Dietitian.
From People Who've Been There
“I love reading about your travels and experiences living with your ‘new normal’. You give me inspiration at a time when I’m still learning to eat again after treatment.”
— GAG | eating life subscriber
“Having been through such a difficult journey herself, Yvonne brings a profound understanding of the physical and psychological challenges of eating after treatment. Her work is empathetic, informed, and genuinely useful.”
— J. Rieger, PhD
“Your work shows that there is still a rich, meaningful life after head and neck cancer treatment — even when eating looks different.”
Anonymous
