Reddit mentions: The best daily living eating & drinking aids

Like many of my brothers in this sub, I'm always thirsty and always want water. In particular, I want it ice cold and in massive quantities. A while ago, I got this refillable 100z "cup":

Pic with pint glass for size comparison

I lived near a gas station with really well filtered water that let me fill it up for free, so I was set. Unfortunately, after moving, all the places near me want like $1 for an ice water refill in that thing. Fuck that. Here's an overview of all the components needed.

Pitcher - I use this Brita pitcher. In the past I used the bigger one here, but it honestly sucks to fill up because it's heavy and unwieldy, whereas the pitcher form factor is really easy to just refill right after you use. It also pours quite a bit slower. Apparently my new place does some filtration of water before it comes out of the sink, so I might switch to this guy for instant filtration. Also make sure to change that damn filter often enough. Having charcoal leech into everything when it breaks down from too much use won't hurt you but it definitely looks bad and takes some time to clean out.

Giant Cup - Valero Corner Stores sell this, though the 64oz and 52oz variants are more common. Plenty of other gas stations sell identical 100oz cups with their branding, but you just have to find one. If you don't mind paying the pretty steep cost (~$20) some people sell them on Amazon, like this one. I really really wish Yeti or some other company made a 100oz cup made for drinking that insulates as well as theirs do, but I haven't found one.

Reusable Straw - The big cup comes with a plastic reusable straw which you can see in the pictures of the one I linked to, but I don't like it. The ridged structure that makes it easily bendable also causes drag on the water and makes it harder to drink. So what I use are these. They are just the right size. They get a bit off smelling after a while (a month or two), and there's a brush included to clean them, but I can never really get them cleaned well, so I honestly just toss them and use another. It's $8 for 5, so you're looking at maybe $15 or so a year in straw costs. I had also looked at some of those reusable metal straws but then I realized how bad it would suck to pick up the cup too quickly and bash my teeth out with the inertia of a full 100oz cup.

Ice - Here's the the tricky one. This is basically why I filled it up at the gas station in the past. I'm really picky about ice and will only use clear "restaurant quality" ice. The kind of ice made in most freezer ice makers is cloudy because of air bubbles in the water, meaning that it also picks up any off smells in the freezer, melts far too quickly, is weirdly soft, etc. If you do it right, you can get pretty clear ice from ice trays, but if you're doing that for a cup that big, it's gonna take a lot of time. Here is a pic of the ice maker I bought to solve this problem (I bought it here). It does a really good job making clear, good tasting ice. I fill it up with a full load of water from the pitcher and usually within 90-120 minutes, it's full of clear square ice. Here is a pic of some extra ice I stash in the freezer from it. I'll edit this with a pic of some fresh super clear ice in a bit, I don't have any on hand right now. Overall, I like the ice machine, though I will say that it costs quite a bit to run (it runs at around 150W, spiking to 190W) and should be wiped down every week or two. It might just be easier to grab some of the 10 or 20lb bags of ice from the gas station or grocery story and use that. It is nice to be able to make it on demand though.

Every morning I get up and fill the ice maker up to the top, sip on the leftover water from last night while I wait for the new ice, and then refill when I'm done. I usually drink two cupfulls of water a day.

But what if I want my water to get me drunk?

The best part about water is that it makes the best mixed drink for sipping at home. Just carbonate it and mix it with a spirit. The Japanese highball is the height of such mixed drinks, but I've found that some experimentation yielded a variety of great options. I usually do around 5:1 water to spirit, but usually I eyeball the spirit pour and just full up the glass.

How to make it at home? Sodastream of course! Here is a picture of my Sodastream bottle, a very fancy eau-de-vie, and the resulting beverage. Here are my top picks for spirits to mix with your delicious spicy water:

• Plantation Stiggins Pineapple Rum - This is distilled with pineapple to give it some good pineapple flavor, but it's not too sugary. It's 20g/L of sugar, meaning that a drink made with 3oz of it has under 2g of sugar, making it a great option for ketohomies who miss fruity cocktails.
  
• Dingle Gin - Any decent gin will do, The Botanist is another great option. Mixing it with the water brings out the gentler botanical and herbal notes and makes for a refreshing drink.
  
• Lustau Solera Gran Reserva Brandy - This can be tricky to find, but if you can, try it. There's a $35 Gran Reserva and a $25 Reserva. The Gran Reserva's a bit better, but both are good. It ends up tasting like delicious sherry soda. Subtle nutty, chocolate, and maple syrup notes, but not sweet at all.
  
• Any bourbon - Japanese whiskey is good but my dirty secret is that I'll take a good bourbon highball any day. Weller OWA 107 is a great option that goes really well with the sparkling water, though it's next to impossible to find. Something with high value like McKenna Bottled in Bond, Wild Turkey 101, or Old Grand Dad 114 will do the trick.
  
• Green Chartreuse - I was amazed this works, but it does. Really REALLY herbal, so if that's your thing, go for it.
  
  There are tons of other great options and plenty of bad ones (funky rum like Rumfire or Wray & Nephew, mezcal, peaty scotch, etc. are things I love that don't work)
  
  Hope this inspires people to drink more fuckin water.

I hold my yarn over my left arm, under my hand, between my middle and index fingers and over my index finger with the open end in my palm. Similar to this. That allows it to flow easier for me and I don't have to hold the pressure on the yarn with my finger and thumb. Other ideas.

You can also try something like this ... Finger Saver. This one is $2 but if you look up crochet rings there are free patterns out there, or wing it. Try using fatter yarns when your hands are particularly painful. As time goes on you can get these for your hooks ... Closed-Cell Foam Tubing for Grip Support. They're pretty standard foam rubber tubing that you can squeeze over them for easier use. I read about them many moons ago on this subreddit actually and put it in my Amazon list for when I need them.

My husband got me a gorgeous set of Addi hooks for Christmas because I apparently crochet in "knife" formation. (Didn't realize that was a thing) I've had to kind of re-do how I hold my hook and everything but it helps a little. Hope some of that is useful!

More specific things that have personally worked for me:

• I used to draw all the time as a kid, so nowadays I try to go paperless by using a program on my laptop, but have always wanted to try drawing on an ipad/tablet or a touchscreen laptop!
  
  
• I use reusable straws when I drink water, juice and smoothies because it makes me feel little without having to use a sippy cup! It's also camouflage for me in public because I can take my water bottle and straws anywhere without making it look like it makes me feel little. I also found this mug on amazon for adults who aren't physically able to eat solids, or hold items properly due to limited mobility. From what I understand it can be a sippy cup or it can be adjusted so that you can put a straw in it. It's a clear mug and is an empty canvas for decoration! I don't have it but I thought it might be nice to include here in case somebody is interested.
  
  
• I made some tote bags out of older clothes that I use when I go to the store or just have to carry items that I wouldn't put in a purse or a backpack. I suggest this because sometimes I like just having adorable bags to use! Before I learned how to sew I used this method to make one from a really old shirt with the cutest pastel yellow sunflower pattern and I would take it to the farmers market or the beach! That's just one way to make totes but I know there are so many other designs or templates online if you want to take a closer look!

Lots of great ideas!

Favorite snacks:

Baby Carrots dipped into hummus

Almonds & Dates, I put both in a bowl and use my fingers.

My favorite is salmon on crackers. Lots of variation, but one style from Coscto is precut squares. All three of my dogs are at my side hoping for tremors! They are so helpful. Hmm.

Oh, Mr Coffee Cafe Barista Espresso Maker; espresso maker is a nice addition. I can scoop up ground coffee and hit the button with minimum fuss. Old style I kept burning my hand when steaming milk.

Don't overlook weighted utensils, if you haven't already bought them. Just the extra weight helps me control my folk.

I'll post a xpost over on /r/Parkinsons for ideas.

You're absolutely awesome. Seriously, I mean that. Most people who are caretakers are totally on board with infantilizing disabled adults. Your frustrations sound more like they're coming from a member of the community just because of how much you totally get it.

Unfortunately, I have awful news instead much help. You're correct, there are very few resources for autistic adults. I regularly find myself frustrated when there's something I need and it looks like it's for babies. Nothing delighted me more than when the store Stimtastic started offering stim toys that were affordable and directed towards adults. Unfortunately that store (while lovely!) doesn't offer adaptive living stuff, just stim toys. If your brother chews stuff then they have great jewelry that looks very discrete.

For clothing that is easy but not too medical or childish I can recommend Dickies brand scrubs. It sounds weird and counter-intuitive that scrubs aren't medical looking but they make a lot of scrubs that look just like street clothes, especially the trousers in khaki and navy. There might be other brands that also look fine but I'm most familiar with Dickies because I might or might not have gone through a period in my life where I wouldn't wear anything else without freaking out.

For cups, travel mugs work really nicely if Mikey can operate the mechanism. If that's not possible I know there are Kennedy cups which are very innocuous looking.

This is a major problem in all disability circles, honestly. Adaptive tech is so hard to get. Even something that seems simple, like adult bibs,tend to be either childish or medical. It's distressing, how undignifying disability can be, not because of the disability itself but because of the total lack of resources. Anyway, cheers. Hope I've been helpful

The hook in the picture is a 6.00mm (Which is apparently a J/10 in America) hook so in this picture https://www.amazon.com/Ableware-766900182-Closed-Cell-Support-Standard/dp/B00U7BU8DQ/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1542450236&sr=8-7&keywords=foam+tubing+for+utensils the foam is the red one. I’m in Australia but I can’t imagine the the foam hole sizes are too different. Plus it’s foam, it’s stretches! My first crochet blanket after being diagnosed with carpal tunnel then Rheumatoid was a 12 ply (bulky) yarn blanket and the hook was perfect. You find you just lightly grip the the hook and that’s enough to control it.

If you haven’t got any, make sure you get some rheumatoid arthritis gloves https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Rheumatoid+arthritis+gloves. I wear Imak but we don’t have much range in Aus.

If you have bad wrists these support the wrists and your hands but leave the fingers free https://www.amazon.com/Prettyia-Elastic-Support-Arthritis-Compression/dp/B07GFMXSG9/ref=sr_1_164_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1541912154&sr=8-164&keywords=hand+and+wrist+compression+gloves.

I hope this helps.

It's hard to know those things until you are faced with such issues. I helped a friend's dad with parkinsons and arthritis. [This thing] (https://www.amazon.com/Allstar-Innovations-Stretching-Straining-Convenient/dp/B072J9RX5Z/ref=sr_1_7_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1506427668&sr=1-7&keywords=sock+aid) helped so much with socks and this thing was super useful on the go. This and this I've just seen but they look useful too. Check the reviews, they might help you know if they're worth it. So sorry you're going through such a hard time. Sending you big hugs.

Highly suggest buying a metal straw. Can get them on amazon. Works perfectly and you can run it through the dishwasher to keep it clean.

This is the kind I use:

Short Safer Rounded End Stainless Steel Straws for Half Pint Mason Jars, Cocktails, Coffee Mugs, Small Glasses or Cups (4 Pack + Cleaning Brush + Bag) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B012YCTB7O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_VlunDbGYKKYMX

Hey and happy new year...

One of my main goals is to lose weight in 2016, at the guidance of my doctor I have decided to undergo weightlost surgery,to achieve this. I haven't scheduled the operation yet however, one of the tips everyone has,given me is,to,get one of these. Itt will help control how much water,i take in after the surgery and will ensure i dont,pop a stitch.


Thanks for the contest

Yeah [my stem’s](TSS Clear Glass Pyrex Drinking Straw Bent 8 Inch Set of 4, 9.5mm with Brush https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LAPRQVU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_ZsvFAb8V9PH46) definitely long enough I think (9") and most certainly hot enough - I've been heating it with this until that fucker is glowing, so it's got to be my snorting speed/power. I've had a few that have gone beautifully, no burn, absurdly large clouds, etc. Worth mentioning that as of the last couple days I've downgraded my heat source to a much smaller blowtorch. I've tried a few with my mouth as well, and it always tastes like ass.

Hi, I saw this comment and bought this product! I love it -thank you. I thought I would also share this:
https://www.amazon.com/Sammons-Preston-Silverware-Versatile-Malleable/dp/B079FFWMN3
since using cutlery can get painful sometimes I can slip these on and they are nicer on my hands than the harder plastic special grip cutlery.

As someone mentioned before, this is great....for those who can afford it. As an occupational therapist I see a need for utensils like this all the time, but I see problems with actually getting it into the hands of people who need it. Most people who would need this device rely on SSDI, which are pretty limited funds. This is also something not likely covered by insurance. The closest device currently available that I recommend is the steady spoon (http://www.amazon.com/Steady-Spoon-Adult-Handle-Weighs/dp/B002BUE5DK). But at $50-70, it's a hefty price tag for most. I can only imagine how much this is going to cost. And what about being able to actually hold it? Most people with tremors also have poor grip strength or pain in their hands. I see nothing to help a person actually keep this in their hand. I think it's a good step, but at this time I wonder how practical it really is.

As far as work holding, Amazon sells something like what you're describing for about $20 here

Alternatively there is a desk-top version of roughly the same thing here

Also, have you considered adding weights to your brushes? I know people with that have tremors bad enough that they have trouble using silverware. They say that weighted utensils like these make a world of difference. I imagine the same principles might apply to painting.

Also, shaky hands or no, that mini looks badass for sure. Great work :)

I love these conversations, so very much.

• Metal Straws
  
  
• Packing my lunch every day in glass containers. Although there is some plastic/rubber with the lid. I find they hold up way better than their plastic counterparts.
  
  
• If you're a woman, reusable pads, and a menstrual cup.
  
  
• Bring your own mug to a coffee shop.
  
  
• Don't use face scrubs or "exfoliating" things with polypropylene or polyethylene in it; they're the little microplastic beads.
  
  
• Use razors that you can just replace the head on, instead of the plastic ones you throw the whole thing away.
  
  
• Buy in bulk, and use your own containers.
  
  ___
  
  All that to be said, it can be really difficult to make some of these steps.
  
  It was (and is) hard for me to make a move to using rags for cleaning instead of paper towels.
  
  Zip lock bags are just so convenient. I struggle the most with this.
  
  ____
  
  Edit: I'm down to discuss any of this or talk more ideas.
  
  Where I struggle, more than just above:
  
  
• Trash bags. They make biodegradable ones.... that shred if you look at them.
  
• Saran wrap
  
• Disposable gloves (I use for hair dye)
  
• Cleaning products. I just haven't found anything that cuts grease on dishes like Dawn.
  
• I eat tons of meat. My diet is easily 40% meat based.
  
  I'm totally open to suggestions for any of that.
  

These are nice: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B012YCTB7O/
(not a referral link or anything like that)

By far the best item on Prime Day - https://www.amazon.com/Priva-Waterproof-Protector-protective-Adjustable/dp/B00BF1FP1M/

Luckily Myke didn't buy Starbucks ones, from cortex show notes

I use pilot v-5 roller ball click top pens (ink flows easily - no need to press), and i put foam around them so the grip is very thick. the click-top/ retractable feature is important, because it means you can put the foam low on the pen, which you can't do with a capped pen.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B001E6A9M8/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B000N8LWB0/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (red one fits around pen nicely, yellow can be cut and taped)

I was going through your site (awesome, btw), and saw your kettle post. You might find that a kettle tipper is easier for you, if you use it a lot like I do. I have this one built for taller kettles but there seems to be a few different models out there.

Of course now I realize you wrote that in 2013 and feel kinda silly...

Something like this might be useful

Bring your own reusable proboscis

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07L1K7TDT/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_-ILZCbJJFCA66

Here you go. Waterproof Silicone Adult bib with a Removable Pocket Washable Cloth Protector （Blue） https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RQ7LWJ5/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_F.QVDbRYCEENE