Need help with cooking

[Anniegetyourspoon]

Strange sounding title I know. Let me explain.
Last year o was diagnosed with cancer twice. I had a mass removed from my chest which was a huge operation. I got over that quite well then started feeling ill again. This time it was chronic leukocytic leukaemia. My health has deteriorated badly in the past few months. im waiting for results of a CT scan and heart monitor.
Now here’s the thing. I’m normally a good cook but I find myself unable to stand in the kitchen and do what I used to do. I’ve tried Gousto and similar meals.
I am carer for my daughter and we both need to eat. Preferably good nutrition. All I can manage at the moment is breakfast then I have to rest.
Any ideas for good nutritious meals that I can have delivered would be very helpful. I can manage about £50 a week as I’m living on a pension.
Thank you if you’ve read this far!

Also just to mention I’m getting constant UTI’s and kidney infections every few weeks which antibiotics are not helping.

I am so sorry to hear about your health.
Unfortunately £50 is not much if you are looking for ready meals. I believe that Cook, Simmer and Planty are good quality and well balanced.
Maybe you can mix and match those with some cheaper supermarket options?

You should be receiving Attendance Allowance.

Cooking in stages is one potential solution, eg cook a big batch of bolognaise - chop onions and mushrooms, sit down to chop, leave an hour or two and fry mince onions and mushrooms, add a couple cans chopped tomatoes, Italian seasoning mix, frozen minced garlic for ease, beef stock cubes, hot water and leave to simmer for an hour, turn off and put into 2 portion tubs and freeze for meals apart from enough for that day, later on cook pasta and reheat the sauce, serve with salad

OP doesn't say if they are over State Pension Age, which they would need to be to get AA.

Mashed potatoes freeze very well.. could you boil them , then peel them, then mash??

you know any one with a Costco card? Would there be savings there??

Could you get a perching stool for your kitchen so you can rest while cooking or do it in stages as previous posters have said?
Sending hugs x
Would you be able to get meals on wheels?
🙏💐❤️

I’d call MacMillan they are amazing 😻 and they’ll go thru what you are eligible for and then you’ll know how much you have to play with.

OP says she’s living on a pension so would qualify for AA.

Do you have any friends who like to cook? I’d happily go to a friends for the day and do a massive batch cook for their freezer while catching up.

Do you have a community volunteer service in your area. Around here we have people who would help fill your freezer with prepped meals. The CVS connects people. They would also connect the cooks with local supermarkets to utilise any food that would otherwise go to waste.

Have a look at Abel and Cole - they do a few 'meals for 2' and a large chicken curry.

Perhaps try a different company to deliver each week then you can compare what you liked best?

https://stockedfood.com/products/best-sellers-4-packs-8-16-meals?srsltid=AfmBOopmKawAYh6E_r8S541b77AAommgGE6yba9Lp1Bix00KYyNtgm7m

Look at stoked. It's frozen blocks you hear up. It's not cheap but you can bulk it up with rice etc.

I had similar (although probably less severe) after chemo. I am a lone mum with a ds to feed.
I wanted to switch to eating 30 fruit & veg a week to optimise my immune system as well.
I prepped all meals sitting at the kitchen table.

I explained the issue to our local butcher who delivered:

• home made sausages,
• home made minted lamb burgers,
• chicken breasts in a marinade
• Chinese spare ribs
• herby meat balls
• beef & mushroom pie
• ham

to my door weekly
I had Tesco home delivery for fruit & veg and everything else.

Meals were very simple but nutritious - sausages, French beans, wholemeal bread & butter, or lamb kebabs, wholemeal couscous and sweetcorn. Nothing took more than 5 minutes effort. Fruit, nuts, dark chocolate and Greek yoghurt for dessert & snacks.
If you can't afford good quality butcher's meat every day, do every other day and buy Cornish pasties or breaded cod for in between days.

£50 will be impossibly tight though. Can you talk to MacMillan and check if there are grants available to help? Good food really is essential to optimise your recovery.
If you live rurally, talk to your parish clerk. Parish councils have emergency funds to help in certain circumstances, and they may be able to help deliver stuff too.

Don't be afraid to ask for help.