ADHD Friendly Cooking Tips (Or, How to Not Start Kitchen Fires)
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- Опубликовано: 8 сен 2024
- Have trouble cooking? Me too! Here’s a video Blue Apron generously sponsored, featuring me attempting the ADHD-friendly cooking tips many of you suggested! (Get $40 off your first two weeks of Blue Apron here!: cook.ba/2GWwvN9) I…decided to include some don’ts as well. Enjoy learning from my mistakes.
How to Get Comfortable in the Kitchen ft. Hannah Hart: • How to Get Comfortable...
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ADHD Friendly Cooking Tips (Or, How to Not Start Kitchen Fires) Music:
"The Show Must Be Go,” "Life of Riley," "Carefree"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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Great video! My one note is that when you have your hot soapy water, throw everything in when you're done EXCEPT FOR YOUR KNIFE!! Knives always get washed and dried immediately. Accidentally 'finding' the business end of a chef knife = ER visit.
Yes!!! Thank you, I always hand wash knives right away and completely forgot to include that.
How to ADHD how do you like ceramic chef knives? I love them!
Also, I love my dish-washer!
My mom's husband refuses to think about this and throws knives in the sink. I stopped doing dishes with him around- and then got yelled at for not doing the dishes
Lisa Sinclair exactly. The way I was trained is that chef knives are only allowed to be in 3 places: in your hand, put away, or on top of a cutting board. Never in the sink, on the table, etc.
Another good reason to wash them right away - if you set it aside and forget it for... days... weeks... you haven't left residue on them! I learned the hard way that not rinsing potato residue from a knife in a timely manner is a great way to rust a rustable knife.
Yes. Make a sink of soapy water before you start, and Yes, use a sharp knife. However, do not throw your sharp knives in the soapy water (because you can not see what's under water). Reaching into a sink and grabbing the wrong end of a knife is not a lot of fun. I stack my dirty knives behind the faucet until I do the dishes.
If you do forget his tip don't just randomly throw your hands into thr water. Use a clear glass upside pushed into the water it will push the suds out of the way and let you see. The glass entry motion may take some practice though
My family has a big cup for all dirty utensils for this very reason
Sounds like science experiment to try
Love these videos! As a professional chef with ADHD, I have one tip. Please put a damp paper towel or cloth underneath your cutting boards before you chop or cut anything. It prevents them from sliding around, which prevents you from cutting yourself!
I was about to ask how you possibly threw your phone into a sink full of soapy water, but then I remembered that I've tried to put the salt back in the fridge before.
We can do just about anything while thinking about something completely unrelated.
I managed to put rusks in the fridge and then got mad because I couldn't find them even though I remembered picking up the package at the supermarket... 😰
@Tyler Grimmett me too
I was going to pour soda into a plate
My favorite is putting the cereal back into the fridge and the milk into the cupboard. I seem to do it more if I'm trying really hard not to.
Separate feeding yourself from cooking , is one of the best life advice I've ever received.
Changing my sheets once a week is another one that will change your life.
This
As you said, it is best not to leave the kitchen, but if I need to (e.g. to go to the toilet), I put on a hat so I remember to go back (I have an extensive collection of weird hats bc it was an old hyperfixation)
I always set the kitchen timer on the stove. Even if I forget what I had to do I have to (at least) come back because it is integrated and I have to switch it off.
this is a BRILLIANT idea
That’s a cool idea
I'd forget why I had the hat on... And probably take it off when it started annoying me.
Great tip!
Usually I don't give much credit to sponsors, but this one is spot on. If you feel you can't do something, it's fine to pay for it to make your life easier, because otherwise you may be overwhelmed and abandon whatever you were going to do. Sometimes we reject help we actually need or never reach out for it.
So true!
I've thought about stuff like this, but then I see the prep I do have to do and start stressing out.
I get shamed for even thinking about these services because "there's no reason you can't do this on your own, it's easy" according to my family who can't stand the fact I pretty much live on tv dinners that cost too much in their opinion (subscriptions cost even more).
God I love your sense of humour
great!!!! As a mom, I definitely want to improve. I love my baby gate, but I still leave and forget the stove is on. I have another tip: for foods that freeze well always cook a double batch and freeze half for those days when there is no time to cook. You will totally feel like a rock star. Also, rewrite your favorite recipes to make them adhd friendly (ie grate the ginger first..)
re writing the recepies is a greate idea! thank you!
Another tip: Freeze prepeared ingredients, like cut soup vegetables. Especially soup vegetables. Because preparing them can be overwhelming
I have to rewrite every recipe to make it so my brain can handle it.
My top tip, and this comes from forcing myself into doing this for years now, have a bowl for all your scraps (Onion peel, garlic casing etc). Not only does this help keep your surfaces clean but it also means you can use them to make super awesome homemade stock!
I'm actually a chef with ADD and I find that the easiest way for me is to just prep everything well and try to plan ahead what I make. Even tho I do sometimes still try to do way too many things at the same time.
what helps me: have a time-limited prep day, have labels to slap on container and post a note what you were going to use it for
My tip is steam things. Hard to burn/start fires, has a timer "built in", stays warm for quite a long time for when you forget that you were cooking, and requires very little prep/clean up. You can also buy frozen steam-able stuff, not add water to toast bread, make desserts, and multitask since you really don't have to stand above it and watch/stir/flip/rotate/etc. AND THEY'RE PRETTY AFFORDABLE. Seriously, steamers are like the best
SuperBRAIN Okay.
What kind of steamer do you mean, because I can boil the water off a pan and ruin it steaming broccoli (and overcook the broccoli), but a friend taught me to put a penny in the water because it will make noise when the water gets too low to at least save the pan.
Splendid Pursuits this type www.amazon.com/Tatung-TAC-10G-Cooker-White-Aluminum/dp/B003U9T9CI I just googled this, so I haven’t tried this specific one, but like, this general type. You can get ones that are cheaper than this too. Or fancier. But yeah.
Just remember to put water in the bottom pot. Ooops.
Great video. I should know... I have an associate's degree in culinary arts. Another tip... When the timer goes off... If you can't stop what you are doing right that second... Either don't turn it off... Or reset it for a small amount of time.... Don't count on remembering after you wash your hands or that the cookies need another two minutes 🦔 Bacon and broiling ate still my nemisis. The not walking out of the kitchen and using timers is crucial! Fantastic Job! And lovely clean kitchen!! Puppy!!!!
Try...putting your bacon on a sheet pan & oven roasting it. Great way to cook a whole pound (or more).
I have used the grease for other tasks.
My MIL was helping me cook, and she turned the timer off because she thought I heard it. No. That was some badly overcooked pasta. She didn't even ask why I wasn't draining the pasta! Oy.
@@karengerber8390 I always think bacon in the oven but I check it and it's not quite done and then I'll reset timers but sometimes I turn off the timers. I can completely agree that baking bacon is the best option..... But I even screw that up. 🤣
I rarely find a channel that hits so close to home and makes me laugh. You are awesome!
I’m feeling this so much
I could have used this I formation years ago when I actually DID burn my parents kitchen down!! 😂. The worst part was standing in front of the house with a towel around me and a head full of shampoo suds with the neighbors and firemen there because I forgot I was cooking and went into the shower instead when I got distracted. 🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️
My tip is to use a post-it on the recipe to keep track of where I’m up to. Saves me repeating/accidentally skipping steps or ingredients
Slowly(SLOWLY) increase the amount of things you know how to cook sans-recipe. If all you know how to cook is macaroni and cheese, spaghetti, and something that takes forever to prep and cook, you're more likely to just go out to eat instead(which is bad on the budget).
Also, awesome video! Great job.
Not to mention this helps because then you don’t need to check and re-check and double-check recipes over and over and over and get anxious about whether or not you’ve misread or forgotten something, so it cuts out the stress, and a lot of the time spent unnecessarily stressing
I usually stick to quick and easy meals. I even check the duration of the recipe to see how long it takes. It also helps when I cook at 7:00am in the morning.
I found timer with a small white board - it has 3 timers on it, so it's easier to cook multiple parts of a meal.
Great tips! What I like to do when I have enough time but am running low on energy is preparing as much as possible early on the day, say after lunch. That allows me to rest for quite a while and start the actual cooking when I'm not exhausted, making me less likely to make mistakes
I love cooking it's one of those few things I can actually focus on.
Me too ^u^ I've spent hours at a time in the kitchen putting together big complex meals, it's really nice to feel like I'm good at something...
Same and im always so exhausted after 3 or 4 hours straight of cooking
Plus my family always gets annoyed at my experiments XD
You are my favorite RUclipsr because you help me with my adhd
Hey Jessica! I just wanted to say thank you for everything you do for the community, all the research and writing and editing and all that jazz. My life has changed 180° over the last year because of you and I am so thankful and grateful to you. I don't think I would be here today if it werent for you guys. Thanks to you, I have become an advocate and have inspired a really awesome project. I am currently working on a book to help neurodiverse high school and university students and hopefully when I finish my masters degree (4ish years?) I'll be able to send it in to be considered for publishing. Thank you again so much for what you do, you are an incredible human being!
Wish I knew your name, so I could watch for your book.
just a small quality of life tip but if you are reading an online recipe, find the option to PRINT the recipe and click it. Even if you don't have a printer, this is helpful because it opens up a new window with a simple page with the recipe, with only the things you need and this will get rid of things like unnecessary recipe backstories, ads, and only require minimal scrolling and there's no waiting for the page to load. Helps me get less frustrated while cooking.
My tip is to use multiple timers! I leave them at commonly used times like 2 minutes, 5 minutes, 10 minutes and leave them next to the stove!
To be honest, I always hit the 10-minute one because by the time it goes off I realized I left the kitchen again. LOL
I have four timers from the dollar store, even if I don't use them all, I know I'll always have a backup.
They have a small stand attached in the back if you don't want to use the magnet, and they're super easy to use, with digital readouts...and they don't make my ears bleed like the timer inside my stove.
I did found this out last night on my own . I went to the groceries to get my fridge full . I was very hungry when I got there , so I decided to buy a chocolate , I ate it before actually getting the groceries and I did buy stuff that I needed only . It helped a lot .Today I made a decent meal and I was very proud of myself .
Approximately every 30 seconds of watching one of your videos, I loudly exclaim “YES SHE GETS IT!” for my roommates or my girlfriend to hear. I can’t tell you how excited discovering your channel has made me, how I feel like commenting on and sharing every single video, and how it’s made me wish I’d discovered this channel when it began or that I knew just knew about this stuff earlier. I’m beginning to see so much more potential in myself now, and I want to thank you for helping me see that. I’m starting my first job out of college, and it’s been hard. My relationship has been especially hard. But I know and trust that I can turn things around when I watch your videos. Thank you
Also I love the comments on your videos! It’s so much fun to be apart of this community and hear from people who understand.
0:18 is why I love y’all so much 😂😂💙🤣 but honestly you the real MVP for addressing how ADHD affects us in ALL aspects of life, even with things like cooking which can seem so basic to people with neurotypical brains 🧠 thank you 🙏
the reason you are genuinely one of the most fantastic resources on this subject is the acceptance of all the details and nuances of ADHD! starting into this video, I wanted to chuckle and say "cooking for me is more of a hyperfocus" ... and then you said it! so many people who talk about this subject don't grasp the ludicrous number of ways this presents itself. this brain loves your channel! thank you for keeping these coming! and DO keep more "How To ADHD" shtuff coming for sale!
Dear How to ADHD, Thank you for all of your free resources on ADHD, all of which were easily understandable and for those with ADHD or with friends with ADHD. A couple months ago, my teacher said we could all have thirty minutes to teach a class sometime in the future, (I'm in the seventh grade, by the way.) so I signed my name on the sign up sheet with some random obscure thing I didn't know or care much about. About a month later, the idea hit me I should do my class on ADHD. I wasn't really comfortable talking about it, being finally "normal" around people, and getting good grades, and I thought it was embarrassing to speak about stuff like that. The idea itself, standing in front of my class, (of 8 students, no where near large,) and talking about one of my menta disorders made me shiver. But, I told a very good friend of mine, about my idea, and she knowing I had been trying to be more open about this topic with people, told me to go for it. So, I dealt with my anxiety and embarrsment about the idea, and decided, "what the heck. Let's do this." (yes, I talk to myself.) so, fast forward a couple of months, and it's a week from when I do my class, and I am desperately trying to find resources that make sense and are accurate. (my class of eight other people and I are 6, 7, and 8th grades, and in the small town I live in, you just don't hear about these things, and people are a little sheltered.) I needed information that was made to teach others, in a easy, and concise way, without having to re-iterate what I said, over and over. I really thought all hope was lost, until, I happened to stumble upon your TED talk, and I remembered your fantastic channel from when I first discovered it, and was up till 1 am watching videos about how to go to sleep when you have ADHD. So, using a combination of information, (hey! That rhymed! Yaaaaaay!) from you and your resources, I wrote up a cute little bunch of factoids and info and things to say, which I put together with some ad-libbing because I'm to lazy to write a entire 30 minute talk. Anyways, my teacher was very impressed, and my class mates, who I have known from the tender age of seven, we're all interested, and asked many questions at the end. Anything, this entire experience has really helped me open up about my amazing, crazy, and sometimes annoying brain, and break my stigma, and the ones of those around me. I wouldn't have been able to do this without your easily accessible information and easily understandable information, or without your constant optimism and you constantly cheering me on.
Thank you, A young ADHD brain, who is finding out how to master her superpower.
P. S. Sorry if this isnt completely correct, I'm not the best at spelling or grammar.
I've got to thank my mom a lot for how comfortable I am in the kitchen. Every holiday and any day during the week that we were especially busy, I had to help in the kitchen. She helped me learn how to focus and stay on track while cooking. I found that having recipes where there are a lot of steps you can do at once is easier for me because I can bounce around and work on something until I'm distracted by another thing. The kitchen has become a relaxing place for me and I disappear and bake when I'm overly stressed.
thank you you helped me get threw my ADHD diagnoses process i was getting in trouble in school and then my parents took away my electronics and said i can watch videos like yours so i did i watch most of your videos on ADHD and made me know im not a failure or bad person because im not neurotypical and i thank you for that.
Honestly, these tips are good for non ADHD'ers as well! I always rinsed the stuff I'm done with inbetween, but filling the sink with soap and water and just throwing it in there will make me a lot less stressed :D
REEEAAAALLLY AWESOME VIDEOOO JESS! I have struggled so bad with this. Burning burning burning things. No so bad lately but still found this video hilarious because of how much I relate! Loved seeing both pups together, SO CUTE!
Right?? They’re still getting used to each other (puppy + almost 15-year-old dog = wayyyy different energy levels) so they never get along this well...until they smell food, then suddenly they’re loving little angels!
How to ADHD my cats are the exact same way. Especially when bacon is involved
hi my name is jack and I have ADHD I get in trobble in school and stuff but your vidos help me a lot so thanks so much and keep up the good work
A lot of this stuff can also be applied to baking, including the order of operations! I use it often, and I bake a lot :)
Wow dude I’m literally cooking a grilled cheese rn such a useful time to post thanks
Just put everything on the big table and instantly see what you have brought. Sort it and make sure to give them a distinct place on the table to have shorter orientation times, in case you're completely overloaded, hungry and done. If you don't have to think about the places where goes what, that's like outsourcing working memory
It's also a bit autistic, but it works
Great video and I LOVE Blue Apron for so many reasons, BUT fair warning - I was often too tired or too overwhelmed by a messy kitchen to cook. It is great that you can skip or cancel because when you get in a funk, that's what you can do. The key for me is to start when I'm in a good place with my kitchen and make sure your partner is on board. If I have to do it alone, it's easy to get overwhelmed at just the thought AND it always takes longer than they say. When we first started Blue Apron, my husband and I worked together - it was fun and almost felt like a date night! We are NOT in a groove with our kitchen or cooking at the moment, so my advice to help cut back on take out - (1) be OK with cereal or PB&J for dinner, (2) depend on your old, simple standbys (ours is spaghetti with only 3 ingredients, past, marinara, and Italian sausage), (3) embrace no-cook dinners (baby carrots and hummus), and (4) take some help from the store (ready to cook meatloaf from the meat department is a fave). I also started using Shipt to get my groceries delivered.
OMG, have you been watching me cook? Comforting to know I’m not alone!
Your videos start my mornings off with a laugh…at myself.
Thank you jess for this video :D I do more baking than cooking because I’m scared I can’t do it lol, but the tips at the end are great! Especially the stickers on leftovers, that’ll be useful lol
Think she said he was her husband/boyfriend in one or two videos but I might be mistaking.
Christine Lif Kelland yep! Edward is her husband:3
I find cooking to be a little easier for me cuz it’s hands on and keeps me from fidgeting and drifting off in a series of thoughts. I like to challenge myself and try to do things within time limits. The thing is sometimes I have really bad days where my Adhd won’t let me focus on any task at all. Kinda like I’m floating. I once tried to cook while in that state and I almost cut into my finger, ended up with oil burns on my arm and neck and I broke two cups.. be safe while cooking. Don’t cook if you aren’t feeling like yourself.
6:00 even people without ADHD should do this! Fabulous idea!
Love this! I really struggle with consistency. Sometimes its my hyper focus. Other times I either walk away and forget the pot is boiling, forget to set the timer, set the timer but forget to put the food in the oven.... once I even put the dish back in the cupboard with the uncooked food in it.
I have a couple things I make really well and are quick and easy enough that I don't lose focus. They're the ones I call company worthy. I have a notebook I keep them in because inevitably I forget what they are.
And I never, not ever, make a new dish for a guest. Made that rule when I didn't read the recipe ahead realized the meat took 3 hours to slow roast. Nobody likes to eat dinner at 9 pm when they thought they were eating at 6!
Thanks for the helpful vid! Congrats on the Blue Apron sponsorship too. I think you handled a sponsored video really well by being forthcoming about it and making sure the vid was still aiming to help viewers as best you can. Keep up the great work!
Thanks, that means a lot!! I’m picky about my sponsorships and hope to always make sure the content as well as the product is helpful for ADHD Brains :)
My stove comes with the burners pre-labelled! Also, would recommend adding "print recipe" and "make checklist on a sheet of paper". Otherwise you might find yourself needing a new ingredient before you prepped it.... Or maybe even before you bought it!
I find it really helpful to have a roll of tape and a sharpie next to the fridge or on it so I can date and label everything that goes in there. I have a rainbow of tapes just because.
Of course I had seen ads for Blue Apron before, but yours is the only one that convinced me to actually try it.
I made my first meal last night and with their instructions I was actually able to multitask different parts of the meal and DIDN’T BURN ANYTHING!
I missed contributing to this, but guess how this guy found out what ADD was...2 burned down kitchens in a year at age 12. Started cooking and squirreled both times. Since then, got kitchen educated and turned the home kitchen into a restaurant-friendly version ;) The only thing I would add (no pun intended) is TIMERS with ALARMS. I have tons of them with magnets all over the kitchen, and big rule - dont leave the kitchen without setting them...otherwise more kitchens burn down ;)
This is fantastic. While I have enough focus to stay in the kitchen, I spend half my life looking back at the recipe and wondering what steps I've completed. Whenever I find a recipe I like, I put it in my Evernote, and divide the steps up into actual one-step steps.
Evernote has a checkbox that you can add to your documents, so now - thanks to this video - I have them beside each ingredient and each step, so I don't have to keep checking back. Thanks for the tip!
I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was 8 or 9. I don't do recipes or meal planning because then I would spend my entire monthly budget on a week's worth of meals. My dad taught me how to cook as a kid, and it's been one of my favorite hobbies to hyper focus on. It's also how I show people I love them, by cooking for them.
Another thing I have found awesome for labelling leftovers is white erase tape. It works over and over even after going through the dishwasher! We keep a few magnetic dry erase markers on the fridge and use the tape on Rubbermaid containers. Just put a description of what's in the box (no more "is this melted salad or refried beans?") and the date it went into the 'fridge. Leftovers may still get ignored from time to time, but at least they have a shot this way.
1. Read a new recipe through all the way a few times before starting. This way you will need and know if somthing needs time to come to room temperature first, or marinate, or chill, etc.
2.Getting all of the ingredients out first is essential (The meal boxes like Blue Apron do this for you) AND all the tools- pots, spoons, cheese grater, etc.
3. Use the little prep bowls as she says. You can measure out individual ingredients and have them ready to add to your dish at the right time without fumbling for a measuring spoon or touching all of your cabinets with icky chicken germs on your hands while you search for the oregano.
4. Use timers for everything. My kitchen timer can time two things at once. I have also used my phone and my Fitbit. I have used all four at once before.
One thing that really helped me with cooking was learning what the main ingredients I use do and how much I typically need for that result.
Like how eggs act as a binder for bread. That way you can be creative with your meals and you don't have to constantly refer to recipes and forget what they say.
I know bread requires flour, fat, liquid, eggs, and baking powder (usually). They typically have consistent ratios so I don't even measure them out anymore. As long as I'm close, it turns out fine.
On top of that it makes it more interesting because it becomes a new chemistry experiment every time that I can play with. If I don't have milk I can try using yogurt or cream cheese instead and now its different and novel.
Its way less time consuming, way less having to follow instructions, and its funner.
We bought an Echo Dot (Alexa) for our kitchen, and it works wonders for me! I can set reminders and timers (so I don't forget about turning off the stove, sanitizing veggies, etc), play music, and it also gives me new recipes, among other things. I definitely recommend one of those things!!!!
Haha brilliant! Thanks. I cook a lot of one-pan dishes and my kids start eye rolling every time they see it. Works fine for me when I am alone, but not really recommended when you have friends over for dinner or if you want your non-ADHD kids to enjoy the meal.
Great examples! I put a timer on a string around my neck if timing is critical. One time I set cookies for 7 minutes and the timer went off and I was in the garden pulling weeds! Now I sit in a chair in front of the oven if it is time critical and yes now I'm mostly instant pot or crock pot. Thanks for your videos!
1. Mis en place
2. Season a little at a time. It's always easier to add more than to rebalance flavors.
3. Learn to troubleshoot. Too salty? Add something sweet and/or sour like sugar and/or lemon juice.
4. Meditate before cooking to help you stay mindful through the process!
5. Stay hydrated! The kitchen could get very hot and thirst makes your brain fuzzy.
These tips helped me successfully replicate my Mom's spaghetti recipe for my younger brother's birthday. It's our all-time favorite dish. :)
Love the sticker idea!
My own tip. You can buy a plastic book stand at an office supply place to put the recipe on. It holds it up for you so easier to read and can put it right next to (never on!) the stove without worrying about it being pushed aside and becoming a fire hazard.
Wow I feel so called out by the tips to not cut something in your hand AND not avoid using too many bowls. The day after my birthday this year (2nd day of a new job) I cut my finger and had to ask my new roommate I barely knew to drive me to the ER for stitches... Not that this is like a symptom for ADHD, but I was diagnosed today and have fallen into a 3+ hour pit of watching your wonderful, helpful, informative videos. So thank you for helping me through this day... Really.
Subscription boxes changed my life! I don’t even choose my meals, just go with whatever they had chosen. And 0 waste ❤
I was always in the kitchen wanting to help out as a child, so fall into the category of being able to pull something together out of basic ingredients. For those who can't access a service like Blue Apron, suggest to start out with your wanted basics in cupboard and fridge. Cupboard basics for me are pasta, rice, cous cous, ketchup, wortestshire / soy sauce, vegie based stock/gravy powder, dried soup mixes, olive oil and some other condiments like vegemite (yes I am Australian and if you don't put much on it is delicious). Other basics are cheese, milk, lots of vegies ( don't like a lot of fruit so it barely is in my abode) and do buy meat occasionally. In the spice rack I've got Smoked Yakima, Murray River pink, chicken salt, pepper, paprika, mixed herbs and dried chilli flakes. Likewise I only use one knife to cut with and get some tunes on or set my device up to dance with it. Get a steamer, good skillet, a big pan that can be covered. Start with cooking steamed vegies, set timer for 10-15, season as you wish as this is my go to when I'm feeling "lazy". And remember the best chefs are striving in everything they do with as much effort we put into our cooking. Hope this helps. Kkx
One of my go-to-meals is rise, frozen butter veggies + rice cooker. 1. put rice into the pot 2. fill with water as needed 3. throw in the veggies and press the button. 30 minutes later ( or three hours), you have a warm meal which makes you full for hours and doesn't need a clean up. Or pizza....
Color coded, dated labels for everything in the fridge? Omg!!!! Thats genius!!!! I love this video so much!!! So many wonderful ideas!! Thank you Jessica, for all your wonderful ideas & everything you do for all us brains & hearts!! You rock!!!
Oh, & I've totally got to label my burners. I thought I was the only one who forgets which ones which. Lol!!
This is not only helpful for ADHD brains, but also for the rest of us - great video!
Okay I try not to swear in comments but what the ever living flipping (fill in the blank) possessed you to do the things you said not to do. I'M FREAKING DYING OVER HERE XD XD XD
ADHD!!! ADHD is what does it!!!
Impulsivity
Those checklists are handy! You could re-use them by using pencil instead of pen to cross off the steps, or copy the sheets before using them. Scan them or take a picture so you still have it digitally, you could even cross them off on your phone in certain drawing apps
I love the tip about the cleaning. I definitely feel more productive when I clean as I go.
Thankfully, cooking is one of only about three things that I can truly focus on.
I'm chaotic in the kitchen but cooking is one of the only tasks I feel fairly confident and calm doing. I find it therapeutic at times, unless it's baking...
I just make a huge mess most times and some how end up using way too many pots, utensils etc than necessary...
I'm alright at cooking - it's the cleaning up part I struggle with.
@@ragnkja Right?! I have the SAME issue. I can hyper focus on cooking, I cannot for the life of me focus on the clean up. Though I like the idea she said about having the soapy soak sink ready (that was fun to type, hah)
Nillie me too
Thank you for writing this! I love a Brain, and she has blossomed with her cooking skills. Planning and cleaning are a challenge, but she can make a full meal now and has gained the confidence to make and try new foods! I am so proud of her! ❤️
❤🧡💛💚💙💜
My husband has ADHD and likes to cook BUT has a really hard time with flexibility... he follows the recipe and has difficulty understanding accounting for the fact that recipes often don't clarify if they are produced using electric versus gas or accounting for elevation (we are high elevation) so he spends a lot of time frustrated "I followed the recipe!!" I will say though that after 7 years he has learned that it's ok to experiment a little - he has become more comfortable playing with recipes. I also follow behind him and turn the burners down from high since his brain equates higher heat with being done faster not what will actually happen which is burning :)
i love cooking so its usually easier than other time consuming things but these tips are really helpful because every once in a while I can't help but forget about what I'm doing or missing a step or two
The biggest hurdle for me is deciding what to cook the day that i need to cook it (especially if i then also still need to do groceries!).
So a habit i've been trying to get into (with some help) is taking my time to look through my recipe books (or the internet) and plan my meals in advance.
This has the added benefit of getting me excited and getting me to try things i wouldn't normally try otherwise because i'm under to much time pressure.
"it's 5pm and i still don't know what to eat tonight, i guess I'm eating pasta/takeout/microwave dinner AGAIN" turns into "oh man beef rendang looks super tasty! let's plan that in for Wednesday when i have plenty of time" which then leads to me looking forward to Wednesday multiple days in advance.
This also allows me to do all the shopping for a week in one go and well in advance.
then once i'm in the kitchen and i know what i'm doing i'm good to go (provided my kitchen doesn't look like a war zone because i procrastenated on doing the dishes).
Step 3 pay them back by making dinner !!!! OMG I loved that one! Great video as always. Here in Mexico its 1:30am and I can't sleep I know I shouldn't use my phone on this kind of situations but what I did was just watching some of your videos again and again and even when I almost never cook, when I do, I find it super hard, so thanks for the video.
Also I know it has nothing to do with this but can you make a video talking about neuropsychological evaluations for ADHD?
I was diagnosed when I was a lot younger, (I was 7, now I'm 17)but I have never take one of those and now my physiologist wants me to take take it and I'm curious
Thanks
Another tips for left overs. You can label them with sticky notes and put "made: (date)" or "toss by: (date)". This helps me remember if they are still good. But if in doubt. Throw it out🤣
Can I tell blue apron foods I do and don't like before they send them? Lord knows I dislike certain textures xD
They have 8 different meals you can choose from every week :)
These tips will help so much when I cook I end up with a huge mess in the kitchen. Also, I randomly place things in places and forget where they are and spend and hour looking for them, meanwhile forgetting the the dough has been mixing for twenty minutes already.
I've been teaching my 8-year old ADHD-er how to cook for a couple years now. Those rules are so true... But he loves the independence and being trusted. He just came in to hug me... While he's making eggs right... And I had to remind him to get back in the kitchen when there's something in the stove... But I accepted his hug first!
Jess please make a How to Adhd and Entrepreneur video. I have an idea but all the paperwork and all the pitfalls for someone with Adhd... Maybe you could interview business people with Adhd and ask them what helped them the most? What advice they’d give? etc
PS Love your work.
I learn more from u, then from professionaös - and this feeling of: "im not alone!" Thanks very much!!! I really appresciate ur efforts u do for us!!!
I love cooking and most of the time I really hyper focus on it. Buuuttt I sometimes mess up and freak out ant start crying😬😭
I don’t mind the actual cooking part as long as I know what I’m going to make for dinner...but have a hard time clearing and cleaning afterwards and quite often end up in tears because I can’t keep my kitchen clean. The idea of filling the sink with water was a good idea and hopefully I’ll actually put the dishes in the washer...or clean them by hand. Anyway, love the videos! If tried a few channels but when you talk it feels like you’re explaining me...! ♥️
Utilize frozen veggies they’re washed chopped and blanched, so add a couple cups of cauliflower rice and an egg or breakfast meat to last Chinese take out and stretch your meals. Breakfast for dinner, eggs, breakfast ham, sausage, waffles, and a side of veggies, so easy, can’t go wrong! Plan round 2 for rotisserie add cheese and salsa, then bake! Reinvent frozen dinners trader jo palek paneer mixed with a bag of spinach, or Channa masala mixed with some rotisserie chicken, don’t complicate things.
You make getting through my adhd day a humorous joy.
After I upgraded to a new, fancier iPad, I put Command Strips on the back of my old one and attached it to one of the cabinets in my kitchen. Now I can watch things or have recipes up without taking up counter or floor space! Except I really could use a second one so I can multitask both having Netflix and recipes up at the same time...
As you said, for me it's the hyperfocus time, I love to cook, even time management is still a problem. As to follow a long recepie too😂 but this is where my always super ideas can help out!
My kitchen used to be clean too, because I never cooked. I survived by looking at pictures of food and imagine that I could taste the food. Then I was full. Then I got married to a guy who likes to cook. Now my kitchen isn't so clean and I can reheat in the microwave. I could never actually cook but this looks awesome. I will recommend to my hubby. 👍❤️
I love this so much!! Thank you!! I always wondered why cooking was so difficult for me, I never realized it was my ADHD!
Hahaha... I just came across this video (I'm a new follower!) My daughter and I were cooking yesterday (she loves it... I like to make sure she succeeds!). My wife put the flour in a new container and put... powdered sugar in the old flour container. Yup, some super sweet waffles were on the menu!!!! My wife salvaged it, but we decided we should start Anaia and Dad's cooking misadventures videos! It was pretty funny! I'm glad we have this video to help me plan in the future! Thanks for your real life help with ADHD. I'm REALLY appreciating it!
I have a dry erase board in the kitchen that's 1 week next to my monthly dry erase calendar so I can plan 1 week of meals around what's plans I have for that week. If my family has a busy day on Saturday then I either make a meal before hand to reheat or plan for salads or sandwiches that day. I have a Pinterest board where i pin meals, before I pin them I check the directions to make sure they aren't too ambitious and are at my skill level for cooking. I clicklist to limit the temptation of buying unnecessary stuff at the store and if I can't remember if we are out of toilet paper I can check to see before sending in my order
This video is super cool and educational. Fortunately, I'm one of the lucky people who hyper focuses on cooking a lot of the time. It is led to me being able to impress a lot of friends that way, but it also leads to me ending up doing cooking instead of doing other things that I should be doing. Especially when I start it and don't realize how long it's going to take
Yesssss!!! I love cooking but hate the prep time. Its always so boriiiing. What I do is put some groovie music and get all my nice colorful tools
This makes me feel better about the scar on my palm and the fact, that I recently discovered cookies in my freezer from before I moved to my current apartment - 4 years ago. And now I remembered, they're still in there :D
AHHHH this video is GOLD. Jessica, you are awesome. Thank you for being you!
Yeah I definitely have this problem. Mostly I cant follow a recipe, even if I read over it ten times I still mess it up. Lately I have the worst habit of walking away while the pan is heating up. And using a small chopping board to try and cut corners - or my fingers.
My solution is to cook simple meals - steamed veg and meat of some sort. If I want to get experimental I have to wait till I have enough energy and motivation to see it through!
Good tip on filling up the sink with soapy water.
My main strategy so far is instant ramen!
It’s low commitment and very customizable because you can add meats and vegetables and spices to taste and experiment with things.
I like adding flavorless protein powder for better nutrition and a thicker broth.
After cooking, immediately washing the pot and setting it to dry before retreating to my room and eating has helped a lot considering I usually get extreme stress from attempting to do the dishes ever.
Having my own unique pot I use and asking the rest of my family not to use it (or if they do, clean it immediately) has helped a lot with bailing out on cooking noodles entirely because the dishes were dirty because no one does them including me. It also gives me hope that maybe if I lived alone I might not drown in dirty dishes, because I’ve proven I can at least take care of one.
Recipes stress me out because my perfectionism kicks in and then when I mess up I feel like everything is ruined so I like to make things I already know how to make like spaghetti and then experiment on it trying to make it better and better or give it a new twist. I'm glad you mentioned music because dancing is an absolute necessity while cooking as far as I'm concerned, otherwise I get bored. And thank you for the suggestion of filling the sink beforehand because I will put off dishes and end up with a pile of dishes from things I made 3 days ago
6:43 lol! My dad sharpened his leatherman and cut an apple at work the next day... stitches in his palm.
This brings me joy. I never quite connected why cooking and dealing with the absolute MESS it is for me was so immensely difficult and overwhelming. Here I am, age 20 and unable to do any more than _barely_ microwave ravioli (oops, I should clean that plate...) but this motivated me. I just need to find a good set of steps and stick to those instead of going at it all at once. I'll go clean now. Thank you!
I'm glad this channel is here. You're lucky being 20 and having this resource! I'm 32 and pretty much in the same boat. But, never too late to try again!
if you eat the ravioli cold out of the can with a plastic fork there are no dishes :)
I prepare the majority of my meals and snacks on the weekends, so that I don't have to worry about cooking during the week. Obviously I eat the more perishable foods at the beginning of the week and the longer-lasting foods at the end of the week. I've been doing this for months, so I've got a pretty good idea about which foods stay better longer.
Kale, not romaine lettuce
Boiled eggs, not egg cups
Cherry tomatoes, not sliced tomatoes
Rolled oats, not steel cut oats
Etc etc etc
This saves me a TON of time during the work week!
I have another tip when washing knives watch where you place your fingers as you dry them as well. I have had experience with such matters. It was several years ago I was washing dishes when I was drunk and I was attempting to dry a knife and then I had slashed my finger in the process of drying. Also, keep an eye on your heat especially when it comes to butter.
I wish I could be one of your patrons but I’m under age so all my money is in cash. and my parents wouldn’t let. When I’m older and can afford it I will definitely be a Patron. I love what you do and you have helped my recognize and treat the symptoms of my ADHD in my daily life. Thank you so much.