10 Tips to Make Cooking Easier With Psoriatic Arthritis
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Psoriatic arthritis can make ordinary tasks like cooking especially difficult. What most people consider simple — such as slicing vegetables, lifting a pot, or opening a container — can be hard if you have joint pain, swelling, and fatigue. But that doesn’t mean you have to stop making your favorite meals. Some simple modifications and a bit of advance planning can help.
Prep Is Key
“When you have a disease like this, you have to plan,” says Melinda Winner, a chef and the author of A Complete Illustrated Guide to Cooking With Arthritis, who also has arthritis. She recommends shopping early in the morning when grocery stores aren’t crowded and employees are available to help you lift or reach certain items.
Another game changer? Ordering groceries online. “Many people with psoriatic arthritis and related conditions find it helpful to use grocery delivery services if available in their area,” says Cheryl Crow, owner of the educational company and podcast Arthritis Life and a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).
If you meal-plan, you can buy all the ingredients you need for several meals at the same time but then spread out the actual cooking. Crow notes that many people find it helpful to “batch prep” lots of meals at once: place the prepared ingredients into large zip-top bags and put them in the freezer, so they’re easier to assemble once you want to cook.
Crow adds that she likes to purchase vegetables and fruits prechopped to reduce the slicing demands.
RELATED: 16 Foods to Eat or Avoid for Psoriatic Arthritis
Customize Your Kitchen
A few simple modifications in the kitchen can make a big difference if you have psoriatic arthritis.
Here are some helpful kitchen hacks.
- Get a lazy Susan. Turntables are great for storing spices and canned items so you don’t have to reach for them.
- Put everything on wheels. Winner uses carts to transport items from one end of the kitchen to the other. “If I’m going to move a pot, I put it on a stand with wheels because I can’t lift it,” she says.
- Try different cutting utensils. Instead of cutting with a standard knife, consider using a cutting aid such as an apple corer, a multifunction food chopper, or a specially designed knife such as the right angle knife, which reduces strain and stress to tender finger joints and utilizes large muscle movements, says Crow.
- Remember that corncob holders aren’t just for corn. These small gadgets can keep food stationary, so it doesn’t slide while you’re cutting.
- Put a ribbon on your fridge. Many people with swollen joints have trouble opening their refrigerator door. “What I recommend is tying a large ribbon or scarf around the door handle,” says Winner. “Then I slide my arm in and use the weight of my body to open the refrigerator.”
- Keep a stool nearby. If you’re spending a long time standing in the kitchen, chances are you’re going to tire out. Use a stool for breaks. Another option is to try an anti-fatigue cushioned floor mat.
- Use cookbooks as props. Winner keeps a stack of cookbooks on her kitchen counter and uses them to prop up her arms if they get tired.
- Hang your pots. If your kitchen layout allows, placing your pots and pans on a hanging rack will lessen the number of times you’ll need to stoop down to grab something.
- Upgrade to a handheld mixer. These lightweight devices can be used for mixing a variety of items, such as whisking eggs.
- Use opening aids and devices. To cut down on joint strain and struggle, Crow suggests gadgets such as an under-cabinet jar opener and one-touch electric can opener.
RELATED: Your Psoriatic Arthritis Home Makeover
Cooking Should Be Fun — Don’t Stress
Cooking can and should be an enjoyable, satisfying experience. But if you’re not feeling well, don’t overexert yourself in the kitchen.
“A lot of people with psoriatic arthritis find the prospect of cooking from scratch daunting or even stressful,” says Crow. “I find it helpful to take some of the pressure off myself and remind myself that partially homemade meals can be just as satisfying and nutritious as fully homemade ones. I also give myself permission to order takeout on days where I’m super fatigued.”
Additional reporting by Deborah Shapiro.
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