Question 03 - Preparing food

This question is asked to understand your ability to safely make simple meals; it does not consider your cooking skills. Your condition(s) may affect your physical or mental ability to make yourself regular, cooked food every day. Answer in relation to yourself only, not including other members of your household.

General

• How much extra time do you need for preparing and cooking food and why? (e.g. pain relief, cannot use hands well)
• Do you have a special diet?
• What can’t you do? (e.g. lift dishes out of the oven) Why?
• Do you need to sit down, use a stool or another aid?
• Does your illness or medication affect your ability to make or prepare a meal?
• Do you tend to buy pre-prepared food or ready meals?
• Are you able to afford the cost of three meals a day every day?

Preparing food

• Are you able to open packaging?
• Are you able to peel, chop and carry food?
• Are you able to use a cooker, hob or microwave for cooking or heating food?
• Do you need to use aids or appliances to perform any of the above?

Cooking meals

• Does the heat in the kitchen affect you?
• Do you need someone to cook for you?
• Do you need help following cooking instructions?
• Do you often lack the motivation to make meals?
• Do you become distracted when cooking?
• Does it take you longer than is recommended on a recipe to make a meal?

Relating to EB

• Are you able to carry or lift heavy dishes/pans?
• Does pain mean you are likely to drop hot pans?
• Do you have to use adapted utensils?
• Do you have to take any special foods or food prepared a certain way?
• Do you have to take any additional supplements?
• Does cooking cause blisters or skin fragility?
• Do you have a gastrointestinal (GI) feed?

If you are unable to do something, it is important to explain why and what you have to do to overcome the challenge or if you avoid it. Think about how differently you do things compared to someone without EB.