Food advise

Cuckooclock

I am disabled & now my husband is sick too, I am going to try some Wiltshire farm foods as a alternative to cooking from fresh. I can't stand long enough to cook a meal & my husband sometimes feels very weak & sick. Has anyone had experience of these meals,they appear reasonably priced.

rogerblack

You may also want to consider cooking aids.
For example - if you still enjoy cooking, but simply can't stand - perching stools, pan holders, ... can all be useful.

mum2one

We trailed Wiltshire food a couple of times previously, and also had some last yr when my dad came out of hospital. He found them to be tasty, easy to prepare a wide choice of food.

A neighbour (shes passed now), she always had a delievery from wiltshire, and rated them exellent.

Hope you both go on ok x

kingfisherblue

I don't know about Wiltshire Foods, but have you anybody who could help you to batch cook meals? You could freeze them and reheat as required. Maybe a friend or relative would be happy to spend an afternoon in the kitchen with you - you or your husband could help with tasks that can be carried out when sitting down, and your friend do all the standing up stuff.


Other ideas are 'easy' meals - shop bought quiche with salad and baked potatoes can mainly be prepared sitting down. Slow cooker meals can also be prepared when seated. One pot pasta meals can be prepared when sitting - your husband would just need to lift in and out of the oven (small individual dishes might be easier to manage than one large pot). I have an omelette maker (from Amazon) - you just mix your eggs and milk and pour in, adding any fillings or flavourings. Close the lid, and a few minutes later, you have two small, but tasty omelettes.


Social Services should have an Occupational Therapy department that can supply equipment to make life easier, such as the perching stool mentioned by Rogerblack.


You could try a combination of the above - that way, you would always have the Wiltshire meals on standby, but would also be able to choose a batch cooked or freshly cooked meal.

wiltsguy_2

My father in law has been using wiltshire farm foods for the last 18 months, he highly rates them, he says that the menus are good and varied, easy to use and very nice! Maybe trial first and see what you think

Prinzessilein

OP - do take rogerblack's advice about cooking aids!


I am a keen cook. When my disability became worse and I found 'basic' kitchen tasks were becoming impossible I worried that I was going to have to stop cooking.


Luckily I had someone to help! They arranged (via my social worker) for me to have an assessment with Occupational Therapy. This was not just for the kitchen - but for the whole flat.


After this, they took me to DIAL who arranged for me to spend some time with their advisor. They had a small room set up as a kitchen and they allowed me to try out a variety of gadgets to see which would be suitable and recommended suppliers.


I had originally just focussed on my reduced capability to cook.....the assessments made me realise that there were other aspects of my home life that could be eased too.....Due to my circumstances the recommendations of the Occupational Therapist were all provided at no cost to me - including a bathroom conversion....the items recommended by DIAL I had to purchase for myself (using some of my DLA) but they have meant that I can still do much of my own cooking.


As to Wiltshire Foods....my Mum used them for a few months. She was recovering from a serious illness - she managed really well most days but found the convenience of Wiltshire Foods to be a real help for a while....The staff at Wiltshire Foods were really friendly, and well informed about their products. There was plenty of choice - suited to various dietary needs, and there are options for lighter appetites and heartier appetites too!....and you can order just what you want , there is no need to have meals every week if you don't want them.


OP, I hope you and your husband feel a little better soon. Wiltshire Foods may be an option for a while - but I really hope that with the right -aids' you can get back to enjoying cooking again too!

Cuckooclock

Thank you all so much both of us would love to get back to home made, glad Wiltshire get the thumbs up. We were thinking of them for bad days & hospital days, we have taken up residence. lol Better than supermarket ready meals as I was advised last year by social worker. My husband is on a low residual diet think I can manage that, with a bit of swapping around.

GlasweJen

WFF are great, I've never had any problems with them

Cuckooclock

My first delivery will be on Friday, looking forward to it. Dietitian rang today, she is pleased we ordered them as it will give us both good meals without the struggle.

rogerblack

'supermarket ready meals' have come on a lot from what they once were.
While there are salt-laden fat laden cardboard tasting things out there, there are also in many cases reasonable options.

Cuckooclock

I agree Rogerblack, perhaps ok for occasional meal, but I have very low salt add none when we cook.