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Written by Kelly Sommer, a Mayo Clinic registered dietitian
Imagine coming home from a long workday to be welcomed home to a meal that is already prepared or requires less than 30 minutes of hands-free time. Many would consider that to be a dream come true! However, very few people have the luxury of a private chef... or do we?
Many of us have inherited a well-loved slow cooker or have more recently acquired one of the newer “must have” pieces of equipment, a pressure cooker. These seem to promise the world, but can be a forgotten piece of equipment when it comes to making nutritious meals.
Slow cookers and pressure cookers can do the work for you, allowing you to “set it and forget it” or reducing the amount of time needed to prepare food. Preparing meals ahead of time can help plan healthy meals throughout the week.
Consider batch cooking: making several portions at once (consume within 3 – 5 days)
- Grains: brown rice, steal cut oatmeal
- Protein: beans, poultry, beef, fish, lentils
- Vegetables: carrots, broccoli, beets, green beans, corn, potatoes, squash
- Whole meals with multiple food groups: soups, stews
Tips & Tricks:
- For slow cookers, use a liner to make clean up a breeze
- Use the ingredients you have on hand, including frozen and canned ingredients
- Start simple with a few ingredients and work up to more recipes with more ingredients
- Preparing plain ingredients allows flavors to be unique each for each meal by adding various spices, herbs and citrus juices
- Include different food groups (grain, vegetable, protein, dairy, fruit)
Starting to use slow cookers or pressure cookers may take some adjustment but once you get into the groove, they can help support a healthy lifestyle.
How do you utilize kitchen equipment for your benefit?
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I have an electric slicer/grater from Tefal which makes prep so much easier. I also have a slicer attachment for my food mixer for big sessions! I can slice up the veg, then pop into the fridge or freezer in batches ready to just chuck in.
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2 ReactionsI will be having a Four Quarter Amputation. What kitchen utensils are available for me to use with one hand?.
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1 ReactionId start with a chopping board with spikes to hold the food still, and a one handed jar/bottle opener. Then a couple of cheap nonslip mats to hold plates and mugs steady. Check some mobility stores online, and check their options. Sadly a lot are rather dull, but things are slowly improving! I also have a tipsi tray which is designed for one handed carrying, so you don't have to spill your tea every time! I have both hands, but they dont always work!
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4 ReactionsThank You! I am anticipating a learning curve.
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1 ReactionHi @damlady2 , my guess is that you could be very successful with a slow cooker/instantpot, and vegetable chopper that catches the food (OXO and Ninja have some for $20!). Do you have room to leave these items on your kitchen counter so you don't have to pick them up each time? My instantpot (which has 5 different functions) is quite heavy/awkward.
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1 ReactionYes I would have room. Thanks for the. Tip. Sounds like it would work for me.
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1 ReactionI have a very small kitchen. My 5-function multicooker lives on a round cart with wheels and storage shelves below. I roll it up to an outlet to cook, and to the sink where I can lift the liner out to wash it. No heavy lifting at all. I bought it at Target two years ago for around $30.
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1 ReactionThis is great! Thank you for sharing. $30 sounds like an excellent price; now I'm curious why I paid what I did!
Oh and get a knork - it’s a fork with a knife on the side so you don’t get sick of swapping cutlery! A spork is great for puddings too.
Slight related - if you’re in the UK contact adult social services and ask for a home review. You can get things like an extra stair rail fitted for free etc. I got this even though we were both in decent paid work.
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1 ReactionAnd if you like that sort of stuff, I find cross stitch and needlepoint to be the easiest craft to do one handed with a lap or table stand. Never underestimate the endorphins from creating stuff, even just making a meal on you mental health at times like this
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