I'm 1-armed, and need ideas of easy things to cook - 3 Fat Chicks on a Diet Weight Loss Community

Makena · 06-06-2007, 04:57 PM

Hey chickies and roosters,
I know we have a great recipe thread, but I'm looking for ideas of easy, quick, yummy things to cook (aren't we all?)
I am 1-armed for a bit, and find it hard to cook things that take a long time to cook or is prep-intensive.
If it were just for me, I'd have shakes instead of cooking, but it's time to start cooking for the family again (I'm banning take-out!)

Any help is much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Repo girl · 06-06-2007, 05:26 PM

One armed? How did you manage that? I totally drawing a blank on recipes. Hmmm, spaghetti is easy if you can open a can of sauce. I like to buy the frozen bags of stew veggies. That would be any easy way to make soup or put them in the crock pot with some meat for an easy meal, too.

Clue0983 · 06-06-2007, 05:41 PM

WHat about chicken on the grill? I am running it through in my mind and you can use the one hand to season, flip, transport to plate near by when finished. You could put some baby carrots and Broccoli-Wokli (washed, chopped and ready) in some tin foil and crumple the foil around it and throw that on there with the chicken.

Crockpot! Throw in some frozen lean beef chunks (you can have them cut it at the store before packaging it) in the morning with baby carrots (already prepared for ya!) and some small red potatos for the fam, add a small amount of water an some no-salt steak seasoning, put it on low-med and it will be ready when you get home from work...

I think I could do these one handed. I running it through my mind. I think it is doable...

Lynx · 06-06-2007, 06:14 PM

I really believe that you can do this one-handed. One of my favorite ways to cook these days is in aluminum foil packages. You can use your oven or the grill. It is great for chicken or fish and just add your favorite vegetables and seasonings and spray with pam. If you are using the oven, just put the packet(s) on a cookie sheet. Suggestions for vegetables are carrots, squash, broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, etc. Hope this helps.

bargoo · 06-06-2007, 08:29 PM

I can relate completely, I broke my shoulder so I am one armed, too. I find it impossible. to chop, mince,dice, peel or slice .I have resorted to Lean Cuisine. Healthy Choice and any other prepared meals that I can think of.
I bought some tomatoes the other day thinking they would be easy to slice with a sharp knife. they aren't.I kind of hacked them into pieces.
Cooking isn't the only problem, buttering your toast, slicing your meat and other things, very hard, then there is shampooing your hair or putting on deodorant, don't even mention ironing,
Good luck.

i

Makena · 06-07-2007, 09:40 PM

Hi,
Thanks for the ideas.
Bargoo - sorry bout your shoulder. It really stinks, doesn't it? Hopefully you are on the mend! I totally know what you mean about the tomatoes!! I tried to slice some for my son's sandwich. He ended up with more like a chunky tomato salsa...lol.

Clue - You are right - I should take advantage of the crockpot. I totally did not think of that - and getting the meat chopped at the grocers. You are a smartie, aren't ya?

Katie - frozen stew veggies are a good idea, too. Glad I have you guys,

I am on the mend from a car accident 4 weeks ago. Some bonehead decided to speed through a red light and hit my truck - with a BIGGER truck than mine.

Upside is though, I'm alive to make decisions of what to cook for dinner

Debbie367 · 06-09-2007, 08:18 AM

Rhonda- Car accidents are so scary! I am glad you are okay and hope you have a speedy recovery.

I make casseroles a lot...You can buy the skinless boneless chicken breasts and put them on top of rice or veggies and then use seasonings and low sodium chicken broth with a sprinkle of LF cheese....Yummy and easy to throw together. I agree the crockpot idea is a really good one and I have a whole cookbook full of recipes if you need them!

Angie · 06-09-2007, 11:15 AM

I'd buy a lot of already cut things (watermelon, pineapple, veggie trays) which are more expensive I know, but still, if it saves you a lot of aggrevation, well worth it. Or things that don't have to be cut -- bananas (hold in hand, bite the top and pull), apples, cherries. The already prepared oven roasts and things like that might be good too. You can bake potatoes in the microwave or on the bbq rather than mashing or peeling; maybe use pitas or wraps instead of bread to avoid buttering.

For meals I'd stick with the crockpot, that was a great suggestion, or the BBQ.

bargoo · 06-09-2007, 01:59 PM

It isn't just the cooking preparation that is a problem, for instance, I have some steak in my freezer, now that is no problem to cook, fry, grill or broil with one hand, the problem comes after it is on your plate, there is no way to slice into bite size pieces with one hand. You would just be amazed how much we need both hands .I am grateful that it was my left shoulder as
I am right handed.Rhonda, I hope you heal very quickly and soon get back to normal.

i

mnauer · 06-10-2007, 07:59 PM

I have a background in occupational therapy. If you could get some one to pound a couple of short stainless steel nails through a wood cutting board you could use them to stabilize things while your cutting. My friend who has cerebral palsy uses scissors to cut his steak with one hand. Toast can be buttered by putting it on a non stick surface like the mesh rubber liner you use to put on cupboard shelves. Hope this helps you out a little.