Everyday tasks like cooking can become difficult when you’re experiencing vision loss. If you are living with low vision, you may come across some challenges when it comes to preparing and cooking meals, such as handling boiling water, using knives, or identifying objects or food items. However, whether it’s through accessible cooking techniques or meal delivery services, maintaining a healthy and enjoyable diet is within reach for everyone. Here are some tips and strategies for adapting your home and kitchen environment, along with convenient food delivery options.
Tips for preparing your food at home
- Using labels can help you to distinguish between different objects or food items in your kitchen. Large print labels can help you to differentiate between different food items, and tactile labels like bump dots can be used on buttons on appliances.
- Installing task lighting or under-cupboard lighting can help to illuminate workspaces and reduce shadows to enhance visibility.
- There are a number of talking appliances that can help you around the kitchen, including talking microwaves, talking thermometers, and talking scales.
- Apps that provide audio descriptions of objects and text, like Seeing AI, Envision AI, or Be My Eyes, can aid you in identifying objects around the kitchen. You can also use these apps to give you audio descriptions of instructions on food packaging.
- Utilising contrasting colours can be a useful tool in the kitchen as it can help you to distinguish between different objects. For example, using utensils with different coloured handles can help you to distinguish between the different types of utensils.
- Boiling vegetables using a chip pan means that you can skip the draining and minimise the risk of spills or burns.
- Liquid level indicators help with pouring liquid as they make an audible sound when the liquid reaches the top of the cup.
If you’re interested in improving your skills in the kitchen, Occupational Therapists can recommend strategies when it comes to cooking with low vision, as well as teaching you other skills around the home. See here for more information on Occupational Therapy.
Food delivery options
Navigating grocery stores can be challenging for people with low vision, making online food shopping a convenient alternative. With a wide range of grocery shops available online, groceries can be ordered and delivered directly to your doorstep, saving time and reducing the hassle of navigating unfamiliar environments.
Another option could be to use food delivery services like HelloFresh, which provide pre-portioned ingredients and step-by-step recipes, eliminating the need for extensive meal planning and grocery shopping. These services offer a variety of customisable meal options to suit different dietary preferences and requirements.
For those who prefer ready-made meals, options such as The Dinner Ladies or Lite n’ Easy offer nutritious and convenient meal delivery services. These services provide a selection of pre-prepared meals that can be heated and enjoyed with minimal effort, ideal for those with limited time or mobility.
If you are unable to prepare meals independently, Meals on Wheels delivers ready-made meals directly to your home, ensuring access to balanced meals. You can access funded meals as part of your Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP), or Home Care Package with My Aged Care.
For more information
- Find out more about Occupational Therapy.
- Always speak to your GP and eyecare professional about the best treatment options for you.
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