Hello all.
So I live alone and have lost my left side for now..I can walk with a stick but nothing going on in my arm. My problem today which has been building for some time is food. I have carers twice a day who only seem to be able to put things in microwave. I have been buying ready meals which I am sick of and have never used before stroke and I wonder if anyone has any ideas how to make food more interesting when preparing of food for me is extremely challenging and can only eat with a fork or spoon. Any ideas anybody?
Love to all
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There are some videos on youtube of stroke survivors and cooking with one arm. Don’t know whether that is useful for you. Just search stroke and cooking if it is.
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do a search for kitchen and you’ll find a few recipes I’ve posted here.
I would recommend a stand mixer which helps putting together baking items. I make breads sweet and savoury, cakes and so on. I have one side that doesn’t work so there are all sorts of things including mixing that are a major problem.
Mixers can be expensive but maybe try for second hand.
I’m no vegetarian or anything like that but chop aubergine, courgette, a red pepper, and onion into big pieces, add a tin of chopped tomatoes, some herbs and s p i c e s like cumin, pepper, oregano, a stock cube and a pinch of salt. Heat them together for 40 minutes or so until cooked through. With some bread or pasta the result will last for a few meals over several days. It is satisfying, simple and filling. Probably quite healthy too.
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I am the same, but I cook from fresh every day.
I have several gadgets:
A combination spike and buttering board for buttering bread and veg prep
A belli-clamp to open jars/tins
Scissors for food prep - cutting meat and to use as cutlery
Onehanded pepper mills and tin opener
A box grater
There may be other things which I have forgotten. I find that with practice and a lot of stubbornness I can cook more or less as I did pre stroke.
If you have any questions on how to do things please ask.
Janet
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Hi Janet…do you live alone? I used to cook all my food from scratch but it all feels impossible now and I wonder if it’s just my way of looking at this problem negatively and feeling like it’s all so hard that I don’t bother to try.
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I had my stroke in December 2024 ….is it normal to still feel like everything is so incredibly hard? I keep thinking I’m not progressing enough even though I use the stairs quite regularly now and I can hobble around the house doing small one armed chores
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Yes, I live alone. I start by assuming that I can do anything one-handed and then work out how.
At five months in you are still a stroke baby. Keep trying and you will get there.
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@Janis could you buy ready prepared items and use a slow cooker? I know ready prepped veg is a bit dearer but you can batch cook in a slow cooker. Freeze what you don’t use and then defrost & heat in a microwave when you want to eat it. You can buy ready diced chicken breast & beef for example. I batch cook a lot. Chuck.it all in then leave it to cook.
Best wishes
Ann
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Hi Janis,
If you’re looking for meal ideas that are simple and stroke-friendly, you might find this page helpful:
It features easy-to-follow videos made by stroke survivors and chefs, covering everything from cooking with one hand to reducing food waste and making meals you can freeze ahead. There’s something for every energy level, whether it’s air fryer roast potatoes, a slow-cooked stew, or a quick tomato sauce.
There are even options for dietary needs like dysphagia. Really worth a look if you’re after practical ideas that don’t compromise on comfort or taste. 
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Thanks Janet ….yes I suppose early days..still learning to accept myself in this new form…
Thank you again for your advise 
xx
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You are still the early months post stroke, but even 4yrs on I still experience that on a regular basis. But that’s more because I already have my days filled, so when I consider fitting anything more into the day, it like I really can’t be bothered 
Sometimes it helps if you have someone to do things with you, to share with, they spur you on a bit, less lonely and less of a chore.
But at the moment, it’s the brain that’s holding you back, it can only cope with so much input at a time before it becomes over stimulated and fatigued. It does get easier over time 
Lorraine
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I’d highly recommend investing in an air fryer you can cook lots of things in there even chop…meat…cheese on toast boiled egg..you name it it can do it
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