4 Ways to Make Home Cooking More Accessible
Whether you’re new to cooking, newly disabled, or even just trying to simplify the process of making better meals, there are probably some things you can try to make cooking more accessible for you.
Just so you know, you will see some links in here. They’re actually not affiliate links. Everything listed is something either I, or someone I know, has found useful. I hope you can find something that helps you too!
- If you can buy it pre-chopped, buy it pre-chopped!
Seriously. Once you figure out which of your local stores sell which produce already chopped, shredded, or prepped, it’s life changing. Fresh, frozen, lightly dried, and so on. It all works, I promise! And coming from a family of excellent cooks, I can also assure you that no one can tell that you used frozen, pre-chopped onions rather than freshly sliced.
A pro-tip: When it comes to fresh veggies that are pre-chopped, veggies that are good for roasting tend to last longer in the fridge than salad greens and such. So if forgetting your produce is a concern, I highly recommend choosing things like broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, carrots, and so on. - Make your workspace comfy
Your workplace setup can make or break your experience preparing meals. To the level that I have honestly reconfigured mine half a dozen times to get it to the point of feeling right for me.
Things that could help:
- A barstool to sit on while cooking (I have a folding one I put away when not in use)
- Keep all your utensils and spices within reach of where you cook
- Anti-fatigue mats
- Easy read measuring cups so you can measure accurately without bending over
- This mini measuring cup helps when balancing liquid in spoons is too hard
- Keep your recipe available to read in more than one place so you can always see it no matter what you’re trying to do
- Set your devices, books, or printed recipe sheets on stands so you can read it hands-free
- Make enough space so you can lay out all of your ingredients before you start. I personally like to arrange all supplies to my left at the start and move them to my right when I’m done. This way I keep track of what stage I’m at and don’t misplace items as I go. - If you have someone who can help, ask them for help!
As someone who used to be a very independent cook and hosted dinner parties for ten or more people at a time, I understand how hard this can be. The kitchen is often treated as a place where one person runs the show and everyone else needs to obey orders or get out of the way. Becoming disabled has me learning how to make cooking collaborative and enjoyable for all involved. (I will admit that while I say I’m learning, I still often forget to ask for help because old habits die hard, ya know?)
One particular method I’ve adopted for making this easier is by only using recipes that are written out. This way, you and your collaborators can easily divide the work and conquer it together.
If you have the energy to write out your favorite recipes for yourself, go for it! I most certainly did not for a long time. So I relied on Pinterest and Dinnerly. Meal kits are truly a gift if you have access to them.
4. Now, I mean this with the most possible respect…
Seriously. You’re here because you’re tired all the time from trying so hard all the time. You deserve breaks! There is no one who can actually manage to cook for themselves and/or their loved ones every day forever.
Go ahead and plan days off from cooking. Decide not to cook if you feel too lousy. When you push yourself too hard, you hurt yourself more. Be gentle with yourself and your future self will thank you.
