How To Use Our Most Popular Dining Aids

If you have limited mobility, navigating the kitchen can be a challenge — you may encounter barriers in this fundamental part of daily life, like trouble opening jars and preparing ingredients. However, there’s a huge range of innovative and practical dining aids available that can help overcome these obstacles and empower you to enjoy your meals with ease and independence.

Here, we share some of our most popular dining and food preparation aids, plus how to use them.

Angled cutlery

Using angled cutlery can be helpful for people with disabilities or mobility issues — it requires less effort and strain on the wrists and arms. Here are some general steps on how to use angled cutlery:

1. Hold the utensil with the angled part facing up towards the ceiling.
    
2. Move the utensil towards the food smoothly and steadily.
    
3. Depending on the type of utensil, use a stabbing or scooping motion to pick up the food.
    
4. With the utensil in your hand, guide the food to your mouth. Depending on the bite size and the type of food, you may need to repeat steps 2-4 several times until the food is fully consumed.

Everyone's needs differ, so finding your best approach might take trial and error. If you have trouble holding your utensils steady, try using a non-slip grip or securing it to the table with a plate guard or other stabilising device. 

In our collection of dining aids, we offer Kings Cutlery from Homecraft and a huge range of interchangeable handles to make dining even easier. For example, we stock a lightweight, double-ended handle with an additional strap for those who only need minimal assistance eating or heavyweight handles for those with tremors or unsteady hands.

Kettle tippers

A kettle tipper helps people with arthritis, unsteady hands, or mobility issues pour hot water from a kettle without lifting or holding it. Here's a quick guide on using a kettle tipper:

1. Put the kettle on the tipper and ensure it's stable and secure.
    
2. Place the tipper on a level surface, like a countertop or table. Ensure the tipper is positioned within easy reach.
    
3. Fill it with water, careful not to overfill it.
    
4. Turn it on the kettle and wait for it to boil.
    
5. To pour the water, use the handle or lever on the tipper to tilt it forward. The kettle should tilt with the tipper, allowing the hot water to pour.
    
6. Direct the kettle's spout towards the cup or container you want to fill, and pour the water slowly and steadily.
    
7. When you're finished pouring, use the handle or lever to tilt the tipper back to its original position. The kettle should return to an upright position.

Remember, always use caution when working with hot liquids and make sure that the kettle is securely attached to the tipper and that the tipper is stable before pouring! We recommend the Uccello Kettle Tipper, a safe and stylish kettle and tipper built into one device. The extra-wide spout makes filling the kettle easy, and the ergonomic design offers an effortless tip-to-pour experience.

Jar and bottle openers

The good news is that there are various products available to make opening bottles and jars simpler than ever. For example, the Undo-It Jar & Bottle Opener pictured above is exceptionally easy to use. Made from powder-coated metal with a non-slip lining, the opener can be screwed underneath a shelf or cupboard. Simply slide the jar up the V until the lead wedges, then twist the jar or bottle to remove the lid.

For bottles filled with liquid, spilling can also be a concern. The Spillnot Jar & Bottle Opener has three sunken cones in various sizes, all lined with non-slip material to help with one-handed opening. When a jar or bottle is pressed into the appropriate cone, it is immediately gripped, leaving both hands free to twist off the top. 

This tool is also fitted with four non-slip feet at the bottom, so you can open your bottles without sending the Spillnot Jar & Bottle Opener flying across the kitchen bench. 

Electric tin openers

An electric tin opener can make a world of difference in the kitchen — standard tin openers are difficult to use at the best of times! 

Our electric tin openers allow for simple, one-touch automatic operation. All you need to do is plug it into a power point and follow these instructions: 

1. While the lever is open, rest the can on the drive wheel and close the lever down.
    
2. The self-starting blade will pierce the can and cut it open.
    
3. Once the lid is open, the motor will automatically stop, and the lever can be lifted to remove the can. 

A magnet can also be attached to the lid for safe disposal (excluding aluminium cans), and the handle and blade are removable for washing. The tool also includes a knife sharpener and bottle opener, making it an all-in-one solution for food preparation. 

Bread boards

Whether you’re recovering from an injury and don’t have full use of your hands or simply have trouble gripping things for long periods of time, spreading butter and condiments on bread can be a chore. Our bread and spread boards make this a simple, one-handed task — for example, the Homecraft Spread Board features a moulded plastic L-shaped lip to hold the bread while you spread. 

For a two-in-one solution, we also offer the Homecraft Bread Board with the same L-shaped lip but with the addition of six stainless steel spikes to hold food in place while you slice. This could be used for fruits, vegetables, and cheeses. 

Made from durable hardwood timber, this convenient option also looks fantastic in any kitchen design.

Shop simple and affordable dining aids online at Active Mobility

Cooking is a crucial part of day-to-day activities, which means staying confident and independent in the kitchen is equally important. Our incredible range of dining aids is designed to make food preparation simpler than ever, often requiring just one hand and minimal effort to whip up a delicious meal. 

Shop dining aids online at Active Mobility — we offer nationwide shipping and flexible payments through Afterpay.