When you have Fibromyalgia or any other chronic illness it’s really important to eat healthily, but cooking from scratch often seems like a daunting task. Some days it’s too tiring to stand, some days your hands are too stiff to cooperate, some days your pain levels are too high, and some days you are just too exhausted. That leaves a lot of days where you don’t have the energy to make yourself a fresh meal. I’ve shared my favorite chronic illness kitchen tools previously, but I also have a few tips and tricks I use in the kitchen that don’t involve tools.
When you have Fibromyalgia or any other chronic illness it's really important to eat healthily, but cooking from scratch often seems like a daunting task. Click To Tweet1. Cooking with Fibromyalgia: Simplify ingredients
One of my new favorite tricks is to buy a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store. I can peel off the chicken while I’m sitting down, then I throw the carcass into a stockpot with some vegetables, and two hours later I have homemade chicken broth. It’s a little easier than cooking up my own chicken, and having homemade chicken broth is a lot healthier than the stuff from the store. Then I can make delicious and healthy soups like this one:
Another thing that can make a big difference is buying pre-cut vegetables. Sometimes the repetitive motion of cutting is too painful, so I’ve learned that sometimes it’s worth it to pay extra to avoid it (I will never shred another carrot as long as live).
2. Utilize a slow cooker/instant pot as much as possible
Slow cookers are for the people who just want to dump and go. It’s so easy to throw in a couple of ingredients, and then come back a few hours later with a finished meal.
Here are a few of my favorite recipes:
Crockpot Lasagna (this one’s a little more work, but still the easiest lasagna ever)
Instant Pot’s are even better than slow cookers. They are my absolute favorite thing because they don’t take any forethought. If I forgot to defrost the chicken again, it’s okay because I can throw it in frozen, making cooking with Fibromyalgia much easier. I have this one (aff link) and I use it several times a week.
3. Cook in bulk
Take advantage of your good days to cook more than you need. Then throw your extra portions in the freezer to be thawed on your bad days. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m terrible at doing this because it never seems like I have extra energy, but it’s something I’m working on. There are thousands of links on Pinterest dedicated to make ahead meals, for me, it’s just a matter of finding the energy to do it.
4. Take breaks while cooking
Don’t push yourself to do everything at once. For example, if you’re waiting for something like rice to finish cooking don’t rush to do the dishes, take a moment to sit down and rest. If you pace yourself you will have more energy in the end.
5. Cooking with Fibromyalgia: If all else fails…
We all have days where we don’t have anything in the freezer and cooking is impossible. Give yourself a break and enjoy a precooked meal you bought from the grocery store or some takeout. Yes, they are not the healthiest thing but sometimes you have to do what you have to do. Unless you have special dietary restrictions one unhealthy meal is not going to kill you. Enjoy your meal and try again another day.
Hi Shelley,
I can’t tell you how relevant this post is right now!
For the last 20 years, Bridget has suffered from Rheumatoid Arthritis, she fails to respond to treatment and that has resulted in extensive joint damage to her hands. Although bad, it wasn’t the end of the world because I was still able to do all the cooking.
Fast forward to late last year, I suddenly developed widespread pain, extreme tiredness and the inability to think in a straight line. Many GP visits and specialist appointments later I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia.
As a travel blogger who writes about travelling with a wheelchair, I thought it was the end of the world, little did I know the effort to push a wheelchair would be the least of my problems.
The effort it now takes to cut, peel and chop are much more life changing and that’s where your tips come in.
I now buy everything peeled and chopped where I can, I have bought a slow cooker which we use daily and most of all, rather than getting down about the things I can’t do, I cherish the things that I can.
Thank you for this post and I look forward to reading much more of your blog.
Tnx. Ive recently been diagnosed with fibro and dont have the energy to cook after i get up from my rest. Have also been buying Woolies roast chicken for a quick toasted sandwich. I also fry some of the meat with onion and tonatoes. Or cook some potato curry and add some chicjen to it.
I am such a big fan of cooking in bulk too! Mu freezer is always full of soups and other dishes that I can heat up quickly for those days when fatigue and pain is high.
I finally got an extra freezer to keep in my garage and now I cook everything in bulk because I have room for it.
Loved these tips, so practical, simple and useful! I definitely need to eat in and cook more… have a bad habit of ordering delivery cos it’s so easy here. But cooking would be healthier and cheaper so something I’ll need to work on!