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[cooking-on-crutches]

Good morning all.

I found this forum and joined, interested in some cooking tips but more specifically, hoping for some advice if anyone has experience on crutches. I'm in a full-leg cast, non-weight-bearing for a couple months. Dealing with a lot of challenges and cooking is definitely one of them. Any advice or suggestions are appreciated.
-Amy

 

[Andy M.]

Welcome to DC.

You have some challenges ahead.

 

[msmofet]

Welcome to DC.

 

[caseydog]

Welcome. I hate crutches. They hurt my armpits. If you have a full leg cast, I don't have any ideas for a workaround. I was able to bend my knee, so I had options. Sorry I can't be more helpful.

CD

 

[Kathleen]

Welcome to DC. I suggest one-pot (or sheet pan) meals. Basically everything cooks on a sheet pan or in one pot. The crockpot dishes can also be your friend.

Give some ideas of what you might like, and what you can access, and we can give suggestions! Also, it takes some planning, but grocery delivery can be a blessing and really is not all that costly. This is an old thread, but perhaps it may give some ideas: https://www.discusscooking.com/threads/wonderpots-or-one-pot-meals.91398/

 

[cooking-on-crutches]

Welcome to DC. I suggest one-pot (or sheet pan) meals. Basically everything cooks on a sheet pan or in one pot. The crockpot dishes can also be your friend.

Give some ideas of what you might like, and what you can access, and we can give suggestions! Also, it takes some planning, but grocery delivery can be a blessing and really is not all that costly. This is an old thread, but perhaps it may give some ideas: https://www.discusscooking.com/threads/wonderpots-or-one-pot-meals.91398/

Thanks, Kathleen. Going out on crutches with a leg in a cast isn't easy either. I've been hesitant but I'll take another look at delivery.

 

[Katie H]

Been there. Done that.

My first suggestion is to do what you can sitting down. Lots of prep work can be done in a chair at your kitchen table, cutting, dicing, trimming, etc.

Also, do things earlier in the day when you probably feel your best. Doing anything while tired is no fun and can lead to mistakes and mishaps.

Depending on how long you will have your friendship with the crutches, try to prepare multiple (usually) entrees so that some can go into the freezer to allow you to heal without cooking, um, pressure.

I'm facing hand surgery on my dominant hand in about a week and I, at least, have had the advance notice and have been getting ready for the time I will be disabled. Gonna be interesting.

Finally, delegate to others in the household so they can take some of the responsibility off your shoulders.

 

[Katie H]

Thanks, Kathleen. Going out on crutches with a leg in a cast isn't easy either. I've been hesitant but I'll take another look at delivery.

Kathleen reminded me of a time, a number of years ago, when I challenged myself to cook each evening entree in the crock-pot for a month. It was an interesting experience, and I amazed myself at the variety I discovered and how easy it was, too.

 

[HeyItsSara]

Welcome!

 

[taxlady]

Welcome to Discuss Cooking. Are you able to sit on a regular chair? I broke my kneecap and had to wear a brace, so I couldn't bend my knee. I could however put weight on that leg. I assume you are not able to bend your knee.

I used a stool the height of a bar stool to sit on in the kitchen. I did a lot of stuff while sitting on that, since sitting on a regular chair only worked if I sat at the edge with my leg stretched out.

 

[cooking-on-crutches]

Welcome to Discuss Cooking. Are you able to sit on a regular chair? I broke my kneecap and had to wear a brace, so I couldn't bend my knee. I could however put weight on that leg. I assume you are not able to bend your knee.

I used a stool the height of a bar stool to sit on in the kitchen. I did a lot of stuff while sitting on that, since sitting on a regular chair only worked if I sat at the edge with my leg stretched out.

Yes, I can sit on a regular chair and use another kitchen chair to rest my leg cast on. Here's a picture if that's hard to imagine. I cannot move my leg at all in the cast. My knee is bent enough that I can't rest my foot in the ground since I'm not allowed to put any weight on it for at least six weeks, but more straight so it kind of sticks out when I sit.

The kitchen chairs aren't ideal for countertops, grr.

 

[cooking-on-crutches]

Been there. Done that.

My first suggestion is to do what you can sitting down. Lots of prep work can be done in a chair at your kitchen table, cutting, dicing, trimming, etc.

Also, do things earlier in the day when you probably feel your best. Doing anything while tired is no fun and can lead to mistakes and mishaps.

Depending on how long you will have your friendship with the crutches, try to prepare multiple (usually) entrees so that some can go into the freezer to allow you to heal without cooking, um, pressure.

I'm facing hand surgery on my dominant hand in about a week and I, at least, have had the advance notice and have been getting ready for the time I will be disabled. Gonna be interesting.

Finally, delegate to others in the household so they can take some of the responsibility off your shoulders.

Thanks for the well thought out reply and good luck to you ss well for your recovery after surgery. That's rough, especially being your dominant hand.

 

[Linda0818]

Welcome to Discuss Cooking. Are you able to sit on a regular chair? I broke my kneecap and had to wear a brace, so I couldn't bend my knee. I could however put weight on that leg. I assume you are not able to bend your knee.

I used a stool the height of a bar stool to sit on in the kitchen. I did a lot of stuff while sitting on that, since sitting on a regular chair only worked if I sat at the edge with my leg stretched out.

I bought a tall stool for the same use, something I could sit on at the counter during prep work for meals, because of the neuropathy in my feet. It's difficult to stand for very long before my feet start screaming at me. The problem, though, was finding somewhere to put my legs in order to sit comfortably. So I wonder if having a big cast on her leg would pose even more of a challenge. But it would definitely keep her leg elevated, if she could find a comfortable position.

 

[taxlady]

Yes, I can sit on a regular chair and use another kitchen chair to rest my leg cast on. Here's a picture if that's hard to imagine. I cannot move my leg at all in the cast. My knee is bent enough that I can't rest my foot in the ground since I'm not allowed to put any weight on it for at least six weeks, but more straight so it kind of sticks out when I sit.

The kitchen chairs aren't ideal for countertops, grr.

I figured you could sit like that. But it seemed obvious to me that that wouldn't really be helpful for food prep. How uncomfortable would it be to do food prep at that table? I do realize you are a bit sideways to that table to do anything comfortably on that table. Do you have a higher table, that your leg would fit under while supported? Or, do you have a foot stool or something similar that you could put under the table?

Do you have a tall stool? I can't think of anything else that might help you do anything at the stove. I'm imagining sitting with the broken leg bum cheek closer to the edge than the other bum cheek, so your broken leg could dangle.

What do you do for eating your meals at the moment? Maybe that can be adapted in some way. And now I'm curious about other activities. Do you spend most of your time sitting on a couch with your leg up? How do you ride in a car?

 

[KatyCooks]

Welcome cooking-on-crutches (Amy) and wow, that is quite the challenge to cooking you have there! I'm surprised you even want to cook at the moment.

Some great ideas already (specially asking family/friends to help). Not ideal, but for the food prep, maybe just get pre-prepped things - sliced/chopped vegetables for instance and fill your freezer so you have them ready. I always prefer to prep my own, but needs must in your present circumstances?

Casseroles/stews seem like a good idea - throw everything in and then you can relax while it cooks?

 

[dragnlaw]

I posted a recipe here. I think this would be perfect for you. It is for a slow cooker or braising. Throw it all in - let it cook - eat.

 

[pictonguy]

Welcome to DC!

 

[Sir_Loin_of_Beef]

Use a bar stool. Splurge and get a fancy one with comfortable padding and a back.