Tips for the kitchen

Simple changes people living with MS may make in the kitchen

Your kitchen is one of the most important rooms in your home. It can be a meeting place. It’s a place to experiment. And it’s a place to express yourself. Here are a few ideas for making it easier to work in your kitchen when living with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Consider making your kitchen:

Safer

Buy precut foods, including carrots, salads, or meats
Use a food processor to make chopping easier
Secure your cutting board by placing it on a nonslip mat or wet towel
Ask for help from a friend or family member

Easier

Keep tools on nails or a peg board, right above the area in which you use them
Use a magnetic strip to store steel items, like knives and ladles. This is more convenient than keeping them in a drawer
Hang hooks to store your pots and pans in easy reach, or ask someone to help you
Get an extra set of salt and pepper shakers or measuring spoons and keep them on opposite sides of the kitchen
Utilize a long-arm grabbing tool in your kitchen for hard-to-reach items

Cooler

Open a window while the stove is on
Turn on a fan to cool yourself down
Microwave whatever you can

Comfier

Keep a stool by the counter so you can rest as you cook
Choose tools with comfortable grips
Wrap a big rubber band around the handle of your favorite tools to make them easier to handle
Open stubborn jars with rubber gloves or a rubber pot holder
Select pots and pans with two handles for easier carrying

Quicker

Line your pans with aluminum foil or parchment paper to make cleanup easier
A slow cooker, like a Crock-Pot, can save you time while it cooks all day
Use a large-dial timer to keep track of what’s cooking
Double what you’re cooking. The leftovers will save you from cooking the next day
Try to cook on weekends when you may have more time, and try portioning your meals for the week. Learn how meal planning may save time and energy

Making simple changes like these could help improve the time you spend in your kitchen.