What's For Supper?

When you suffer from Rheumatoid Arthritis or any other related Arthritis disease, you can relate to this:
Your knees are killing you. Your fingers are stiff and anything you try to hold, hurts. Your wrists are so inflamed, every movement makes you want to scream. But... you have to eat and prepare a meal.

Been there, done that! I pushed myself through the pain and became resourceful in finding ways to make cooking easier. Here are some very useful tips complemented with my own findings:

Batch cook.
Prepare two chicken breasts at a time and refrigerate the leftovers to use in salads or sandwiches the next day.
You can also prepare more, put them in good freezer bags and freeze them. All you have to do is take them out and heat them in the micro-wave. It is super-easy and still as delicious as when you prepared it. Keep in mind though not to keep prepared meat in the freezer longer then about 4 months. After that it looses it's flavor.

Consider convenience.
Try frozen, pre-cut vegetables and fruits.
In spite of the common believe, frozen vegetables and fruits are just as healthy and rich in vitamins and nutrition as fresh!

Stock the crock.
Place meat or poultry, pre-sliced vegetables, spices and liquid in a crock pot, turn it on and hours later, enjoy a hot, cooked meal – and only one pot to wash.
You can also use a pressure cooker to reduce the time of preparing a meal.

Nuke it.
Microwaving can heat frozen vegetables or leftovers quickly, without adding fats or depleting nutrients. Using a micro­wave oven on the counter top eliminates stretching or stooping to cook.
Microwaving is a good alternative to heating up food. Experience has taught me though, that it cools of quicker and heating larger portions still take quite some time. Try placing food on the plate, heat and eat.

Grip with ease.
Use kitchen or cooking utensils with padded handles or grips.
If you don't have those, buy some cheap round foam insulation material. It already has a hole in the middle and slides over the utensils. Even over a knife and fork. It makes gripping and holding the utensils so much easier and less painful. I know, because I did it! :-) You can even put a piece in your purse or pocket to take with you and use in restaurants or anywhere else.

Belly up to the bar.
Instead of standing at your counter or stovetop, pull up a high barstool and sit down to chop, mix or stir.
It helps and if you don't have much space to put a stool, try one of those folding barstools. They take up less space and are light weight.
~Arthritis Foundation.

I hope these tips were of some help and if you have some of your own, I am eager to hear them! :-)

Even though it is very painful at times, you just have to push through it. It is better for staying mobile and it increases your pain-level. No, it's not easy, but in the end it will get better.

Not only physically we are challenged. We may go through lots of trials. They may be painful and difficult. Our faith is tried, but we push through it and not only do we come out stronger, things have turned out for the best!

Revelation 2:10
Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.