Food! An Illustration of OT in Action

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I’m choosing to talk about food since cooking is a great example of a therapeutic activity that's proven valuable to all kinds of people with all kinds of needs. Eating and cooking are examples of occupations.

One aspect we look at through the occupational therapy lens is the environment and my own kitchen provides a great example of the need to overcome barriers to improve health and wellbeing. I have a tiny kitchen. It used to make cooking less enjoyable than it should be. Some appliances had to go, and new ones had to move in (hooray for the crockpot). Organization in my kitchen was important for my overall health: I previously had zero motivation to use this difficult space, and I was spending too much money eating food that wasn't always good for me. Using some OT tools I got to the root of the problem of my less-than-healthy and unsatisfying eating routine.

Another consideration in our work: the BODY.  I’ve worked with folks recovering from brain injury (such as stroke or cerebral palsy) who needed to learn to use their bodies in new ways. We also identified specialized equipment, made adaptations to existing kitchen tools, changed the kitchen setup for easier access, and came up with new ways to be safe when cooking. It took practice to turn these strategies into habits.

The body can have limitations and produce challenges, as can the MIND. I’ve had the opportunity to assess and help others get realistic about their current cognitive levels and capacity for rehabilitation, so we can get realistic about the activities that best suit them and what may be unsafe – sometimes this is a job, or maybe it’s driving. So to get back to this food discussion, people with cognitive or memory impairments often have difficulty following recipes. It's a lot of work that you might take for granted: obtaining and locating ingredients and utensils, understanding directions and measurements, recalling safety precautions, and simply organizing a space. 

Lastly I’ll talk about ACCESS, meaning opportunity.  I’ve worked with folks who have never had access to a kitchen or the opportunity to try cooking before.  I formed a cooking group with members of a community wellness center and we found it to be great for socializing, problem solving, and enjoying ourselves while learning something new. Some participants discovered a new and meaningful hobby. We also came up with ideas for low-cost meals and figured out where to buy the cheapest healthy ingredients!

I hope you found this illustration helpful in understanding how engaging in occupation serves myriad aspects of our being.

To learn more about my occupational therapy practice you can email me at connect@otmeg.com.

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