Is washing dishes stopping you from preparing food?

     Many people are reluctant to cook or prepare food because of the dirty dishes that will result. Some people are very busy and don't have time for another task, and other people find that they continuously put off washing the dishes, and the dishes just pile up. Here are a few tips. 

• Use disposable cutlery and containers for packing your food for lunch or work
• prepare one-pot or one-pan meals to limit the amount of dishes you need to wash
• Cook in disposable pans and throw them away when you are done cooking
• Line washable pans with parchment paper to limit the mess and make washing them easier
• When you use pots or pans, immediately soak them in the sink to make cleaning them easier when you do get around to it
• fill a dish basin with soapy water and add your dirty dishes and silverware to it after eating so they can soak and make washing them easier

Tips for healthy eating with executive functioning challenges

• Have the same structure for dinner every week. For example, Sunday is pizza, Monday is chicken, Tuesday is fish, Wednesday is pasta, Thursday is ground beef, Friday is vegetarian, and Saturday is beef.
• Choose simple recipes. For example, chicken, beef, or fish topped with a store-bought seasoning mix or jarred marinade or  and baked. 
• Make partially prepared foods a part of your meal routine. For example, use frozen vegetables or instant/quick-cook grain mixes as sides. 
• Prepare breakfast the night before to be grabbed on your way out in the morning. For example, add the ingredients for overnight oats to a container or spoon yogurt or cottage cheese and fruit into a container. Put a spoon on top of the container in the fridge to have one less thing to remember in the morning. 
• You don't need to eat "breakfast foods" for breakfast or "dinner foods" for dinner. Do what works for you. For example, scrambled eggs and whole wheat toast can be dinner or leftover chicken and rice can be a filling breakfast. 

Executive function and nutrition

    Meal planning can be a challenge for people with executive function issues. Executive function is a set of mental skills that help us to plan, focus, remember, and organize. It involves the ability to control our thoughts and actions in order to achieve our goals. When we have difficulty with executive function, it can be hard to make decisions, stay focused, and follow through on tasks. This can make meal planning a daunting task.

Here are some tips for meal planning for people with executive function issues:

• Simplify your meals. The simpler your meals are, the easier they will be to plan and prepare. Choose recipes that have few ingredients and steps.
• Plan ahead. Try to plan your meals for the week in advance. This will help you to stay on track and avoid making last-minute decisions.
• Use a meal planner. There are many different meal planning tools available, both online and in print. A meal planner can help you to keep track of your recipes, ingredients, and grocery lists.
• Delegate tasks. If you have family members or friends who are willing to help, delegate some of the meal planning tasks to them. This could include grocery shopping, cooking, or cleaning up.
• Don't be afraid to ask for help. If you are struggling with meal planning, don't be afraid to ask for help from a friend, family member, or professional. There are many resources available to help you.

It is important to remember that everyone is different and what works for one person may not work for another. Experiment with different strategies and find what works best for you. With a little effort, you can meal plan successfully even if you have executive function issues.