Making meal preparation easier

Samantha Cowan
Accredited Practising Dietitian and Sports Dietitian

There are a number of options you have if you struggle to prepare food for yourself. The first thing is to ask somebody for help. So whether that’s your spouse, a family member, a neighbour, or a friend. If they’re able to help you for food preparation, for shopping for food, that is always a great option. Otherwise be mindful of services that can offer meals to your door. For example, Meals On Wheels from the council is a really good option.

If you are looking to prepare simple foods for yourself at home, some good options include things like supermarket roast chickens, salads or vegetables that are pre-cut or frozen. Simple meals like scrambled eggs on toast, tinned sardines on toast, ham and cheese sandwiches, fruit and yoghurt, cereal and milk. These are all really simple to prepare and nutritious. There is a lot of information out there in the world about how to manage your condition: the internet, books, TV shows.

But the problem with this is how to translate that information to a plan that will work for you. That is where your healthcare team comes in and that is why your healthcare team is so important. They can take that information, the best parts of that information that are appropriate for you, and help you to understand and to implement that information and those changes so that you can best manage your condition in your unique circumstances.

Over the years I’ve seen many people and helped many people improve their nutrition to help manage their conditions. The people that fare the best and achieve the best possible outcomes are those who are involved in the solution process. The keys to success are firstly working with your healthcare team. Making sure that you are being involved in coming up with the solutions. In coming up with the ideas and the strategies to manage your condition. Secondly, taking ownership. Owning those solutions, making those solutions relevant to your lifestyle, making them appropriate to you in that way you will feel empowered and it will be more likely to follow through with those solutions.

Lastly, persistence. If something is not working for you, speaking with your healthcare team together coming up with a new solution or different strategies and persisting with those. Making sure that you are continuing to go in the right direction with managing your health.