Meals to eat with 1 hand

[JC03745]

FIL had a stroke and can only use 1 hand. MIL recently had shoulder surgery, so very limited movement to chop or cook. We've been taking a few home cooked meals plated up when DH or I visit- otherwise they eat frozen microwave meals!

My default has been sausages (which I've cut up), mash, peas, carrots and other veg, lasagne or cottage pie, but I need other ideas.

My very mild curry was apparently FAR too hot so ideally non spicy/plainish food ideas. Any other ideas?

Macaroni cheese
Homity pie
Kedgeree (?)
Frittata or similar (though does not reheat that well)

Risotto works well (although I don't know how well that travels). Macaroni cheese is good.

Stew & dumplings?
You could vary the meat so chicken, beef & lamb would add a bit of variety.

Mild chilli
Chunky soup

Is there a cook nearby?

they do lovely frozen meals that can mostly be eaten one handed

Omelette with various toppings, easy to cut with a fork

Spaghetti bolognese
noodle stir fry
risotto
Pizza
soup and bread

When I had an unputdownable baby I ate most meals with one hand. Most things I find fine, but instead of giving him a knife, could he manage a scissors.

It made me feel better, and less like a child, that I could cut my own food up (as scissors can be used easily one handed). It might make him feel more independent.

Risotto freezes pretty well.

Cottage pie.

Pasta with meatballs and tomato sauce.

Quiche

As a treat at home, I sometimes buy several for the m&s party food things - you get a selection of little bites and they are all designed as finger food.

This thread has made me laugh because I am very much known for my dislike of knives, I can't be bothered with them and eat pretty much everything one handed with a fork. Only exceptions are roast dinner and steak. Anything else is forkable - I also wouldn't cut sausages I just spear an end and take a bite.

Chicken in a creamy sauce stirred through pasta.

I would be looking at things like chicken supreme, beef stroganoff, pasta bake, etc.

However, if I am honest, I would see if there is a Meals on Wheels service available in their area and how much it costs. That could work out more suitable. The food tends to be more traditional, and by the time you add up buying, cooking,and deciding on meals, that would suit much much easier.

My dad uses scissors to cut food up (crusts off sandwiches etc) and used a 'spork' a cross between a spoon and a fork (available in camping shops) Most food can be made to be 'cut' with the side of a spoon, they just need to acknowledge they can't used knives at the moment

You can get the following handy pre-sliced and frozen for various slow cooker meals:

• casserole veg (carrots, swede, potato, celery etc)
• farmhouse veg (peas, carrots, broccoli, cauli)
• Mediterranean veg (courgette, onion, tomato etc)
• onions
• mushrooms
• peppers
• garlic
• ginger

You can get a decent repertoire going of these to cover you.

Also - soup spoons. Makes the whole performance easier.

Chicken casserole if everything in it is cut to bitesize.
Beef casserole with small dumplings
Small meatballs with pasta or rice and sauce.
Cod goujons with chips, carrots and broccoli.

Chicken supreme served with microwaved rice.
Lasagna
Pasta Alfredo made with chicken or prawns and pasta whirls or bows.

Chicken in white sauce or gravy topped with mashed potatoes like cottage pie, you could add in various vegetables to this such as peas or broccoli florets or chopped leeks.

Cauliflower cheese with chopped bacon or sausage.

Mixed bean and vegetable casserole.

Buy him a knork like this - I would normally link to the one from Active Hands (who specialise in things to help with hand issues, they have so many useful things) but their shop seems to be down atm.
I've had use of one hand for 14 years now, and with a knork I can manage everything but steak/ pork chops

Have had a look online for companies that sell aids for disabled people?

Any meals really, just cut up? Then the rest help to feed. Xx

Fish pie, fish cakes or just fish with new potatoes. Most pasta dishes. Stews with different types of meat, any cubed meat dishes with rice - eg paella, chicken supreme. Buffet style food which can be eaten with fingers. Soup and bread.

Do they come in a right and left hand version? Depending on where the knife part is?

@Gassylady the edge is on both sides so works in either hand. Its not sharp as such, just comes to an edge like table knives

Some great ideas, thank you.

We did try a spork and other adapted utensils, but unfortunately the stroke also affected FIL's cognition. He can eat cut up food with a spoon/folk, but just couldn't work out what to do with the spork. He can't manage scissors to cut food unfortunately- but a good idea.

I second this. Can order online

Thanks both. There is a 'Cook' nearby and an M&S, which is where they already buy their frozen meals from.

I cook fresh, home-made, because many of the frozen type meals are very high in salt, low in fibre and not many greens/veg etc in them.