Cooking for your family as a disabled parent can really be difficult- to put it mildly!Here are somethings I found helpful,at times life saving!
1)Cook foods that freeze well! I cook a huge lasanga, cut it up in serving size pieces that my daughter can just remove from plastic freezer bag and just pop into microwave.Its defintley hard to do huge volume cooking,but think about, its just a few hours to have atleast 10 meals, for those days when your just too sick to cook, you don't have to.If you are absulutley not up to cooking homemade lasanga, you can buy Stouffers brand, they have meat and vegatarian- and are good.
2)I cook a big pot of chicken soup, and freeze some in one serving containers in case my daughter or I want or need chicken soup for colds,flu,or just to eat. Add things like matza balls, they come in easy to make mixes,and aside from chicken all the vegatables you and your family like.
3)Other foods that freeze well - homemade chili, jarred spagetti sauce,with meat added if you like, you can even add the pasta, as long as its in the sauce it will keep its flavor. Potato soups, anything with a sauce usually keeps its taste.
4)Its expensive to eat well today, I shop sales. I get 4lbs of boneless chicken breasts, I trim the little amount of fat, and cut it up in little nugget shapes, or slices.Its takes time, but it is just an hour or so, I freeze these chicken pieces again in single serving freezer bags. When I am ready to cook, I just place them in hot sink water- they defrost quickly, than I just prepare them with a sauce,or in nuggets- it really takes so little time - and this can be a relief!
5)I use Shake&Bake mixes- they have all kinds of flavors, my daughters favorite is the new Chicken nuggets - if you cannot find this kind- there is a website on line where you can order them- its not expensive!These mixes are easy but even easier with boneless chicken breasts!To order on line click on this link:
Shake&Bake on Line
4)Purchasing microwave pizza, dinners ect, are fine also, but this can get expensive.Personally I will occasionally purchase these products, but I also want my daughter to eat peoperly- so homecooking is on this suggestion list.
5)Homemade banana cake- very healthy,inexpensive to make and apple cake both freeze beautifully and are healthy.
6)I was totally shocked to find that RiceaRoni, and Zatarans rice mixes are really good!They can be cooked in microwave.I precook some chicken pieces,add them at the end,and also add peoporoni,ham pieces , ect! You can make an easy meal from that one package of rice mix- does not freeze well,but leftovers can be stored in fridge,and warmed up the next day.
For the most part , taking a few hours a month could really save you when your just not up to cooking a meal. This advice can really be useful for any parent, but I have found it to be especially helpful while dealing with chronic physical illness.
