61 Ever opened the fridge and forgotten why? Or found yourself staring blankly at a recipe, wondering if you’ve already added salt? Well, I have… For many people with MS, cooking isn’t just about following a recipe. It’s about managing unpredictable symptoms (for me, it’s my hand tremors!) while trying to prepare food. This article is for those who find kitchen tasks overwhelming due to MS-related issues, and for their loved ones who want to understand these challenges better. It can be difficult to explain why dropping something is more frustrating than it would be for someone without MS. Tip: Keep it Simple. Let’s start with a common but rarely discussed problem: brain fog. You might be halfway through cooking and suddenly forget what you’re making. Or you stare at the spice rack, unable to remember which one you need. It’s not just forgetfulness – it’s a real cognitive symptom that can turn meal prep into something … well, extremely frustrating. Write each step in your note app (or go the traditional way with a physical notebook) and cross them off as you go. It might seem basic, but it helps when your brain decides to take an unscheduled break. I do this in the grocery store with my shopping list as well. Fatigue can also be another annoying factor while cooking. Standing at the stove for extended periods can be exhausting, and sometimes impossible if your balance is off or your legs are in pain. On these days, give yourself permission to take shortcuts. Pre-cut vegetables, rotisserie chickens, or even healthy frozen meals aren’t cop-outs – they’re smart and deliciouuuus. Embrace All The Gadgets and Say Hi to Siri! For those with mobility issues or hand weakness, adaptive kitchen tools can be very helpful! Ergonomic peelers, jar openers, and cutting boards with spikes (or a wet towel underneath the board) to hold food in place can make a world of difference. Voice-activated devices can also be helpful in the kitchen. Use them to set multiple timers, add items to your grocery list, or even read recipes aloud. This can be particularly useful when your hands are occupied or when brain fog makes it hard to remember multiple steps. “Hey Siri, how long do I boil an egg?” might become your new favorite phrase. Batch Cooking is Your Friend On days when your energy levels are higher, cook larger portions and freeze them in individual servings. Future you will thank present you when fatigue hits hard and you have a home-cooked meal ready to go. Soups, stews, and casseroles freeze well and can be a lifesaver on tough days. Pro tip: Label your containers with the dish name and date – sucks to have mystery meals in the freezer! Seated Cooking: Not Just for TV Chefs Who says you need to stand to cook? Invest in a sturdy, comfortable kitchen stool. Suddenly, tasks like chopping vegetables or stirring a pot become much more manageable when you’re not fighting fatigue and balance issues. Plus, you’ll feel like you’re hosting your own cooking show. Just remember to keep frequently used items within reach to avoid unnecessary stretching, ouch! Hello Slow Cookers! If dealing with multiple steps and timing is challenging, let a slow cooker do the heavy lifting. Toss in ingredients in the morning (or whenever), and come back hours later to a fully cooked meal. It’s like having a personal chef, minus the fancy hat. Bonus: Your house will smell amazing all day. Strategic Kitchen Organization Arrange your kitchen with MS in mind. Keep frequently used items at an easy-to-reach height. Use drawer organizers to keep utensils visible and accessible. Consider magnetic strips for knives and metal utensils – they’re easier to grab than digging through a drawer. A well-organized kitchen means less energy wasted on searching and reaching. And throw away that yellow stained wooden spoon! You never use it anyway. Prep in Stages Break meal preparation into smaller tasks spread throughout the day. Wash and chop veggies in the morning, marinate meat at lunch, and assemble everything for cooking in the evening. This approach helps manage fatigue and makes the whole process less overwhelming. Plus, it gives you built-in breaks if symptoms flare up unexpectedly. To Friends and Family Reading This: If your loved one with MS seems to struggle more in the kitchen, it’s not due to lack of effort. MS symptoms can make cooking genuinely challenging. Your understanding and support are important here. For those living with a partner, communication, communication, communication! Discuss how to divide kitchen tasks based on each person’s abilities. Maybe one person handles chopping while the other manages the stovetop. It’s about teamwork, not keeping score. Remember, there’s no shame in asking for help or using adaptive strategies. The goal is to feed yourself, not win a cooking competition. So, spill the beans: What’s your secret for cooking with MS?
61 Ever opened the fridge and forgotten why? Or found yourself staring blankly at a recipe, wondering if you’ve already added salt? Well, I have… For many people with MS, cooking isn’t just about following a recipe. It’s about managing unpredictable symptoms (for me, it’s my hand tremors!) while trying to prepare food. This article is for those who find kitchen tasks overwhelming due to MS-related issues, and for their loved ones who want to understand these challenges better. It can be difficult to explain why dropping something is more frustrating than it would be for someone without MS. Tip: Keep it Simple. Let’s start with a common but rarely discussed problem: brain fog. You might be halfway through cooking and suddenly forget what you’re making. Or you stare at the spice rack, unable to remember which one you need. It’s not just forgetfulness – it’s a real cognitive symptom that can turn meal prep into something … well, extremely frustrating. Write each step in your note app (or go the traditional way with a physical notebook) and cross them off as you go. It might seem basic, but it helps when your brain decides to take an unscheduled break. I do this in the grocery store with my shopping list as well. Fatigue can also be another annoying factor while cooking. Standing at the stove for extended periods can be exhausting, and sometimes impossible if your balance is off or your legs are in pain. On these days, give yourself permission to take shortcuts. Pre-cut vegetables, rotisserie chickens, or even healthy frozen meals aren’t cop-outs – they’re smart and deliciouuuus. Embrace All The Gadgets and Say Hi to Siri! For those with mobility issues or hand weakness, adaptive kitchen tools can be very helpful! Ergonomic peelers, jar openers, and cutting boards with spikes (or a wet towel underneath the board) to hold food in place can make a world of difference. Voice-activated devices can also be helpful in the kitchen. Use them to set multiple timers, add items to your grocery list, or even read recipes aloud. This can be particularly useful when your hands are occupied or when brain fog makes it hard to remember multiple steps. “Hey Siri, how long do I boil an egg?” might become your new favorite phrase. Batch Cooking is Your Friend On days when your energy levels are higher, cook larger portions and freeze them in individual servings. Future you will thank present you when fatigue hits hard and you have a home-cooked meal ready to go. Soups, stews, and casseroles freeze well and can be a lifesaver on tough days. Pro tip: Label your containers with the dish name and date – sucks to have mystery meals in the freezer! Seated Cooking: Not Just for TV Chefs Who says you need to stand to cook? Invest in a sturdy, comfortable kitchen stool. Suddenly, tasks like chopping vegetables or stirring a pot become much more manageable when you’re not fighting fatigue and balance issues. Plus, you’ll feel like you’re hosting your own cooking show. Just remember to keep frequently used items within reach to avoid unnecessary stretching, ouch! Hello Slow Cookers! If dealing with multiple steps and timing is challenging, let a slow cooker do the heavy lifting. Toss in ingredients in the morning (or whenever), and come back hours later to a fully cooked meal. It’s like having a personal chef, minus the fancy hat. Bonus: Your house will smell amazing all day. Strategic Kitchen Organization Arrange your kitchen with MS in mind. Keep frequently used items at an easy-to-reach height. Use drawer organizers to keep utensils visible and accessible. Consider magnetic strips for knives and metal utensils – they’re easier to grab than digging through a drawer. A well-organized kitchen means less energy wasted on searching and reaching. And throw away that yellow stained wooden spoon! You never use it anyway. Prep in Stages Break meal preparation into smaller tasks spread throughout the day. Wash and chop veggies in the morning, marinate meat at lunch, and assemble everything for cooking in the evening. This approach helps manage fatigue and makes the whole process less overwhelming. Plus, it gives you built-in breaks if symptoms flare up unexpectedly. To Friends and Family Reading This: If your loved one with MS seems to struggle more in the kitchen, it’s not due to lack of effort. MS symptoms can make cooking genuinely challenging. Your understanding and support are important here. For those living with a partner, communication, communication, communication! Discuss how to divide kitchen tasks based on each person’s abilities. Maybe one person handles chopping while the other manages the stovetop. It’s about teamwork, not keeping score. Remember, there’s no shame in asking for help or using adaptive strategies. The goal is to feed yourself, not win a cooking competition. So, spill the beans: What’s your secret for cooking with MS?
61 Ever opened the fridge and forgotten why? Or found yourself staring blankly at a recipe, wondering if you’ve already added salt? Well, I have… For many people with MS, cooking isn’t just about following a recipe. It’s about managing unpredictable symptoms (for me, it’s my hand tremors!) while trying to prepare food. This article is for those who find kitchen tasks overwhelming due to MS-related issues, and for their loved ones who want to understand these challenges better. It can be difficult to explain why dropping something is more frustrating than it would be for someone without MS. Tip: Keep it Simple. Let’s start with a common but rarely discussed problem: brain fog. You might be halfway through cooking and suddenly forget what you’re making. Or you stare at the spice rack, unable to remember which one you need. It’s not just forgetfulness – it’s a real cognitive symptom that can turn meal prep into something … well, extremely frustrating. Write each step in your note app (or go the traditional way with a physical notebook) and cross them off as you go. It might seem basic, but it helps when your brain decides to take an unscheduled break. I do this in the grocery store with my shopping list as well. Fatigue can also be another annoying factor while cooking. Standing at the stove for extended periods can be exhausting, and sometimes impossible if your balance is off or your legs are in pain. On these days, give yourself permission to take shortcuts. Pre-cut vegetables, rotisserie chickens, or even healthy frozen meals aren’t cop-outs – they’re smart and deliciouuuus. Embrace All The Gadgets and Say Hi to Siri! For those with mobility issues or hand weakness, adaptive kitchen tools can be very helpful! Ergonomic peelers, jar openers, and cutting boards with spikes (or a wet towel underneath the board) to hold food in place can make a world of difference. Voice-activated devices can also be helpful in the kitchen. Use them to set multiple timers, add items to your grocery list, or even read recipes aloud. This can be particularly useful when your hands are occupied or when brain fog makes it hard to remember multiple steps. “Hey Siri, how long do I boil an egg?” might become your new favorite phrase. Batch Cooking is Your Friend On days when your energy levels are higher, cook larger portions and freeze them in individual servings. Future you will thank present you when fatigue hits hard and you have a home-cooked meal ready to go. Soups, stews, and casseroles freeze well and can be a lifesaver on tough days. Pro tip: Label your containers with the dish name and date – sucks to have mystery meals in the freezer! Seated Cooking: Not Just for TV Chefs Who says you need to stand to cook? Invest in a sturdy, comfortable kitchen stool. Suddenly, tasks like chopping vegetables or stirring a pot become much more manageable when you’re not fighting fatigue and balance issues. Plus, you’ll feel like you’re hosting your own cooking show. Just remember to keep frequently used items within reach to avoid unnecessary stretching, ouch! Hello Slow Cookers! If dealing with multiple steps and timing is challenging, let a slow cooker do the heavy lifting. Toss in ingredients in the morning (or whenever), and come back hours later to a fully cooked meal. It’s like having a personal chef, minus the fancy hat. Bonus: Your house will smell amazing all day. Strategic Kitchen Organization Arrange your kitchen with MS in mind. Keep frequently used items at an easy-to-reach height. Use drawer organizers to keep utensils visible and accessible. Consider magnetic strips for knives and metal utensils – they’re easier to grab than digging through a drawer. A well-organized kitchen means less energy wasted on searching and reaching. And throw away that yellow stained wooden spoon! You never use it anyway. Prep in Stages Break meal preparation into smaller tasks spread throughout the day. Wash and chop veggies in the morning, marinate meat at lunch, and assemble everything for cooking in the evening. This approach helps manage fatigue and makes the whole process less overwhelming. Plus, it gives you built-in breaks if symptoms flare up unexpectedly. To Friends and Family Reading This: If your loved one with MS seems to struggle more in the kitchen, it’s not due to lack of effort. MS symptoms can make cooking genuinely challenging. Your understanding and support are important here. For those living with a partner, communication, communication, communication! Discuss how to divide kitchen tasks based on each person’s abilities. Maybe one person handles chopping while the other manages the stovetop. It’s about teamwork, not keeping score. Remember, there’s no shame in asking for help or using adaptive strategies. The goal is to feed yourself, not win a cooking competition. So, spill the beans: What’s your secret for cooking with MS?