Kitchen Safety

[Guest guest]

(This is from the Neuropathy Association)

If you spend more time at home due to less mobility and more pain, you'll feel

better if you have " thatched your cottage " before the rain falls (as in an old

Irish saying that tells you to take care of the important things before they

become overwhelming).

The following are a few kitchen safety tips that can help:

Water on a kitchen floor can result in a fall. If you have peripheral

neuropathy, your feet might not be aware of a spill near the kitchen sink. Put

down an attractive non-skid throw rug to prevent falls.

Rugs, however, can also cause you to slip and fall, so it is essential that you

get one with a backing that grips.

Anti-fatigue mats are cushiony blessings in the kitchen or any place where you

have to stand for a long time, as they provide great relief to sore feet. Go to

the nationwide store Harbor Freight, which sells them at a low price (under $10)

or visit http://www.antifa­tiguemat.com

If you find that standing on your feet is painful, wasting time hunt­ing for a

utensil in an overflowing utensil drawer is downright annoying. Take things you

rarely use and put them in a box in your garage marked " Graveyard for Kitchen

Stuff I'll Never Use. "

Or better yet: take whatever you haven't used in the past year and donate it to

Goodwill.

Get a few kitchen organizers at a discount or dollar store. Sort through and

weed out one drawer at a time.

Take those old high-fat cookbooks from the '60s and earlier and give them to

Goodwill because now you are eating healthier. When you feel up to it, whip up

casseroles, freeze them, then save them for days when even thinking about

cooking seems to hurt.

Go through your spice rack and toss anything older than a few years. Standing

and staring at your spices until you find the one you need is easier if there

are fewer in your collection.

(Anyone with other helpful ideas, please post to for sharing)

Gretchen