If you are living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), then you are aware that everything you do requires excess energy to accomplish daily activities, and making dinner is not excluded.

When preparing dinner you have to make the meal, set the table, clean the table, and do the dishes, which is already a tiresome task for anybody, but is especially true if you suffer from COPD.

Here are a few adjustments that you can make to your dinner preparation and cleanup routines that will reduce the risks of over exerting yourself.

Cooking, Setting, and Cleaning the Dinner Table with COPD

Preparing the Table and Serving Your Delectable Meal: 

• Opt to serve food directly from the original baking dish, this will eliminate additional dishes piling up which will heavily reduce the load of dishes that need to be done after the meal. Using the serving dish will also reduce the number of times you have to stretch yourself and reach into the cabinets.
  
  
• If the dining room is a walk from the kitchen try eating in the kitchen or nook area to avoid constantly needing to go back and forth.
  
  
• All the dishes and silverware needed for the meal place onto a wheeled traveling cart. Simply roll the cart over to the table and unload the items and set them how you wish on the table.
  
  
• Once the table is set and the meal is prepared, load all the entrees onto a wheeled travel cart and roll them to the table to avoid having to lift heavy dishes.

Rounding Up the Dishes After Dinner: 

• Give yourself a little break after dinner to relax and let your food digest before starting the clean up.
  
  
• If possible, ask your family to help you by bringing their dishes from the table, washing them off in the sink, and placing them into the dishwasher.
  
  
• Collect all the remaining items on the table and place them onto the wheeled cart, and move them into the kitchen.
  
  
• Ask family members to help you place leftovers into containers.

Washing Dishes

By Hand:

• Use a stool that will lift you to a proper height above the sink, and sit on it while washing dishes.
  
  
• Air-dry dishes, the use of a dish drainer is highly recommended.
  
  
• Once the dishes are done drying remove them and place them onto a wheeled traveling cart, this way you can transport and put them away around the kitchen in one trip.

Using a Dishwasher:

• Load the dishes from the bottom rack up.
  
  
• When washing off the dishes in a sink close to the dishwasher organize them into groups, whether they go on the top or bottom rack.
  
  
• When unloading the dishwasher place the clean dishes on a wheeled cart, and smoothly roll them back to where they belong.

Additional Helpful Kitchen Tips:

• Avoid entrees that require frequent stirring.
  
  
• When chopping food use a cutting board that fits snugly above your sink.
  
  
• If you ever begin to feel tired, sit down and give yourself a minute to catch your breath.