Eating well with MS can be an effective in managing symptoms

While there isn’t an established multiple sclerosis (MS) diet plan, eating well with MS can be an effective way to manage symptoms and improve quality of life for people living with MS.

An autoimmune disease, MS causes damage to parts of the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord, and disrupts communication between the brain and the rest of the body. This can lead to symptoms such as cognitive difficulties, fatigue, sensory imbalances, impaired fine motor skills, and swallowing problems, known as dysphagia.

But managing MS and eating isn’t just about knowing what foods to eat with MS and what foods to avoid. Meal planning and prep, as well as the act of eating itself, can become challenging due to MS symptoms.

If your MS symptoms are denying you pleasure in food and you’re finding yourself frustrated and unsure in the kitchen, there are strategies you can try for culinary success and safety.

Difficulties eating with MS

As a dietitian and a self-taught avid cook, I enjoy being in the kitchen. But after accumulating an array of broken dishes, minor injuries, and scars from my own battles with spasticity and fatigue as someone living with MS, I realized MS can be a recipe for disaster and turn eating into a chore.

I hope my tips can help boost your confidence in the kitchen and restore your appetite for eating.

Coping with cognitive challenges

Short-term memory deficits, or an inability to focus, can make it harder to plan meals, follow recipes, and manage multiple tasks simultaneously. Certain strategies for kitchen management may help:

• If you struggle with attention to tasks, look for shorter, less complicated recipes.
• Slow cooker recipes, which don’t involve a lot of directions or steps, allow you to set it and forget it, making cooking easier and safer.
•  To-do lists, such as for shopping and meal prep, may be easier to follow if you make them into step-by-step checklists.
• Apps on smart devices can also help you generate recipes and shopping lists.
• A kitchen timer or alarm on your phone is an easy way to remind yourself to move to the next step.

Fatigue and food prep

MS fatigue can turn simple tasks such as chopping vegetables, stirring dishes, reaching for ingredients, or simply moving around the kitchen, into near-impossible chores.

Fatigue can worsen weakness and tremors, and exacerbate memory and focus struggles. Practicing energy conservation in the kitchen can go a long way toward boosting kitchen confidence.

Some of my fatigue-friendly tips:

• Conserve energy by crafting a plan in advance to decide what and when to cook.
• Collect short recipes with minimal ingredients that can be your go-to on days when your energy is low.
• Make a shopping list to cut down on trips to the grocery store, or consider a food delivery service, especially for heavy and hard-to-carry items.
• Take advantage of days or times when you tend to have more energy to do your shopping or other food prep, such as chopping up vegetables for the week.
• Double-batch cooking on good days can help you stock your freezer with meals for reheating when your energy is at its lowest.
• Minimize the time needed in the kitchen with one-pot or slow cooker meals, which are also great for batch cooking.
• Cut down on food prep with pre-cut vegetables and frozen fruit and vegetables.
• Use MS-friendly kitchen tools, such as electric mixers, can openers, food processors, and other labor-saving (and muscle-saving) devices.
• Find a counter-height stool or use a rollator chair to help you stay off your feet and conserve energy.

You should also try to organize your kitchen so you can easily access the items you use most often and limit the need to bend, reach, and move around the kitchen.

Place heavy items on lower shelves and make use of a Lazy Susan to avoid needing to access the back of cupboards or shelves. If you struggle to move items around the kitchen or to your table, rolling carts can be handy to have nearby.

Safeguard against sensory imbalances

Standing near a hot stove or oven while cooking can worsen your symptoms due to heat intolerance. Place a fan in the kitchen to improve cool air circulation or use a cooling vest.

Keep in mind that microwaving, air frying, or using a slow cooker does not heat the kitchen as much as the stove or oven does.

If you struggle with decreased sensation, your chances of getting burned may increase. Silicone cooking gloves can help protect against burns.

Adaptive devices to assist with eating

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