Wheelchair cooking made easier - low cost solutions for independence in the kitchen.

As a wheelchair user, navigating the kitchen can present unique challenges that require creative problem-solving. 

Simple tasks like chopping vegetables, reaching high shelves, or carrying hot items can be frustratingly difficult. If your setup isn’t right, it can feel like you’re constantly working twice as hard just to make a meal.

The good news? You don’t need a full renovation to make a big difference.

Today, Gem and I are sharing a couple of our favourite low-cost kitchen hacks that have genuinely improved the way we cook and prep food at home.

 

The versatile chopping board: a work station on your lap.

One of the most useful tools in Mike’s kitchen is one of the simplest: a good chopping board.

For paraplegics, this simple piece of equipment lets you bring the workstation to you, instead of constantly straining to reach the benchtop.

 It can offer a range of practical benefits that make food preparation easy as pie. 

Lap-friendly prep: A large board gives you a stable cutting surface that works perfectly on your lap. That means you can prep ingredients comfortably without stretching to the counter.

Raised edges: These stop ingredients and liquids from sliding off onto my lap or the floor. Reducing mess and clean-up time. 

Carrying tray: Because the board is so large, it becomes a solid platform you can use to carry things like drinks, plates, and hot dishes. 

Secure it: Use your LapStacker to secure the board in place and prevent slipping in use. 

It’s one of those items that doesn’t seem like much until you use it daily and realise how much easier it makes everything.

Maximise your fridge: organisation and accessible storage.

Have you ever tried reaching the top shelf of the fridge? Or tried to dig something out from the back while seated? 

It’s awkward, annoying, and sometimes impossible without knocking half the contents of the fridge over.

Gem’s solution is simple and effective; she uses plastic storage containers inside her fridge to keep things grouped and easy to access.

They have convenient handles, so instead of reaching into the fridge like it’s a deep cave, she can just pull the whole box out, grab what she needs, and slide it back in. Plus, they’re easy to clean. 

She has a few of these boxes in her fridge, organised for different food groups. Who doesn't want a box full of cheese! 

Kitchen independence: finding what works for you.

Have some fun in the kitchen, try out new products and techniques; you never know which one might become your new favourite kitchen hack. Your taste buds (and your back) will thank you!

Do you have any hacks that make your kitchen accessible?

We’d love to hear from you. 

Learn to maximise your kitchen's potential.

Keen to learn how to make the most of your kitchen? Check out our recent blog post on success in the kitchen. 

Read here: Success in the kitchen for the wheelchair users, advice you won't find in a cookbook.