Preparing and Eating Food for Arthritis

Good nutrition is essential to your good health. If you prepare your own food, you must be able to perform a variety of kitchen chores. And if you are responsible for preparing your family’s meals, you will want to continue your routine in as normal a way as possible, even though you have arthritis. Here are a few suggestions that may be helpful:

Rearrange your kitchen so that the items you use most frequently and the heaviest items are easiest to reach.
Use both hands when lifting pots, pans, and other heavy objects. Use the palms of your hands instead of your fingers.
Put bowls and pans on a rubber pad or thin sponge, so they don’t slip or move once you place them on a counter.
Purchase a V-shaped wall unit with teeth, to open jars of varying sizes.
Use the palm of your hand to open jar tops while stabilizing the jar with your other hand. At times you may want to ask the person at the check-out counter at your super to loosen the top of a jar for you.
Use an electric can opener instead of a manual one.
A pegboard will enable you to organize kitchen items inexpensively and efficiently within your reach. Use hangers with prongs for the pegboard, so that they stay in place. Brackets for shelves and various holders can keep your various kitchen tools handy and orderly.
Drawer dividers may enable you to pick up one item without moving others. With kitchen implements arranged this way you can i tongs, instead of your fingers, to pick up utensils.
Make use of lazy Susans or revolving food stand or containers as much as possible in cabinets and on counters. They eliminate the need to grasp many small items repeatedly.
Plan your week’s menu ahead of time. Cook double or triple portions at one time to reduce preparation and cleanup time. Refrigerate or freeze extra servings.
Vary your menu with one-dish meals, which you can find in many cook books.
Select appliances carefully to meet your needs. For example, a blender or food processor will reduce stress on your hands.
When cutting, select tools that are well made for most efficient use. Choose large handles that feel comfortable in your hand. Keep the blades sharp, clean them carefully after each use, and store them safely. Work at a comfortable height, with the items being cut on a well-secured board.
For kitchen clean-up chores, plan your dishwashing area so that you can sit to work. Organize your space so that your activity flows from one side to the other. If the bottom of your sink is low, it can be raised with a wooden sink rack built of narrow slats. If holding a sponge is difficult, use a sponge mitt..
Keep a chair or a high stool in your kitchen for chores that you can do sitting.
Use a small wheeled cart to move things back and forth in your house or to the yard instead of carrying objects and making many trips.
Learn to use your joints in a protected position. For example, when using a sponge or washing dishes, keep your fingers extended. When opening a milk carton, use the heels of your hands instead of your thumbs to push back the flanges. Avoid placing too much stress on unstable joints, such as the thumbs. You may also want to avoid putting stress on your thumbs by opening a milk carton with a knife. Divide work between both hands and eliminate finger stress as much as possible.
Eating utensils can have handles built up by sponge or foam rubber.
Mugs with large handles will allow all of your fingers to assist in holding the cup.
Eating soup and other non-solid foods requires rotation of your forearm to keep the utensil level. Swivel spoons are available to help you if you lack that ability.