Someone who has had a stroke recently may have limited use of one or both arms. This can make cooking meals more difficult than before. Many people really enjoy cooking for themselves, as it is one of the major aspects of independent living. Cooking also gives many people a lot of joy, so it is very important for many stroke survivors to be productive in the kitchen again.
There are many easy things that the stroke patient can do to make cooking easy and enjoyable again. There also are wonderful stroke cooking products available that make cooking much simpler with limited use of the arms.
Keep It Simple!
When you are starting to cook on your own after your stroke, start with simple recipes that do not require a lot of exact timing. Soups and stews are a great idea, as are meals in the skillet. Dinners that you can just pop in the oven also work well, such as pot pies or pizzas.
Working with limited use of one or both arms is difficult at first, so it will take you longer to do things. That is why you want to start simple: Having to deal with several pots and pans as you cook, at least early on, could lead to problems and disappointment. But don’t worry – you will get there eventually!
Prep for Cooking
Cutting and slicing is probably the hardest part of cooking after a stroke. We recommend that you tell a friend some of the recipes that you want to cook in the next week. Then, your friend can help you do some of the more intricate prep work. For example, she can chop and cut the vegetables that you are going to need for salads. They can be stored in zip lock bags in bulk for the week. You also can buy pre-chopped vegetables at the grocery store. As you regain more use of your arm or arms, you will be able to do the chopping and cutting for your meals yourself later (try the EZ Peel Vegetable Peeler).
Handy Cooking Products
It is amazing some of the handy stroke supplies out there to make cooking easier! Buying a few of these items will help to cut down on frustration and will ensure that you can cook safely and independently.
For example, this Pot Stablizer will prevent the pot from moving while you are stirring its contents. This Swedish Cutting Board will hold your foods as you prepare them – great for a person with limited use of one hand.
Tell Your Friends and Family
Let your friends and family know you are cooking for yourself. See if they can help you with any prep work that you are finding challenging at the moment.
And rather than your neighbors bringing you entire cooked meal – common in American culture after someone has some type of crisis – ask them to help you prepare for your meals instead. By helping you with the prep work of cooking, you will be able to maintain your independence, and your friends and family can still lend a hand.
You will be able to maintain your independence as you get more adept at cooking after your stroke. For more information, see this wonderful video that shows how many stroke patients are able to cook with one hand.