I'm coming in late here, I know. I generally use my fork, in my left hand, to find the meat. I then find an edge or corner, move in a bit to approximate a bite-sized piece, then put the fork into the meat so the back is facing the rest of the meat, the tines facing outward, the handle straight up or tilted away from the rest of the meat. I then move the knife to the back of the fork and cut down, using the fork as a guide. If the piece is too big, which you can tell either by using the knife or fork to "feel" it or by judging the weight once you have it on the fork, just cut it in half by using the same fork/knife trick as above.
For anything I put a topping on, like pancakes, there is no question: cut it first, then add what you want on top. I usually cut the item in half (or as close to half as I can get), then rotate the plate ninety degrees and cut in half again. I now have four quarters that I can concentrate on one at a time. Of course, I usually end up with some very large pieces that I have to cut again. Pancakes and other lighter, flat foods are good since you can usually tell the size of the piece by moving the fork a tiny bit once you stab the piece and pick it up. The balance of the piece, and the overall weight, will usually tell you if the piece is too large and where the excess is. It takes practice to read clues like this, but if you practice at home, where you can shamelessly feel the food if you need to, I think you'll get it. At home, I often use my left hand as a guide, which I know I shouldn't do... but I'm at home, so I figure it does not really matter. I will also sometimes simply tear up the food, especially things like pancakes. When I am out somewhere, I try to stick to things that will not give me too much trouble - fried finger foods, burgers, pasta dishes with little excess sauce (alfredo, for example), that sort of thing. I think a lot of it is just accepting that, when you can't see your food, you will have to find and cut it differently than others. Getting good with using a knife or fork as a sort of food cane, and judging sizes and placements of pieces by how they feel on the fork, is important. However, it is even more important to simply not think about what others might be thinking (yes, I completely understand how hard that can be). Also, you may want to find a good friend, and try out different techniques with him or her; s/he can give you an idea of what is commonly accepted as "normal" or "acceptable", and you can try out different adaptations of techniques and ideas. Together, I am sure you can work out things that look fine but still work for you. As someone else said, if you can find a blind person in your area with whom you can work, that would also be a very good idea. Hope this helps some. On 1/23/12, Suzanne Erb <suze...@comcast.net> wrote: > Jessica, > Cutting up food does take lots of practice, and, I think e've all been > there, so my heart goes out to you. > When I was getting my first dog at the Seeing Eye, at age 18, I was so > concerned about how I looked that I didn't eat either the steak or the fried > chicken. I was afraid that everyone was eating the fried chicken with a > knife and fork. Of course, anyone who knows anything about the Seeing Eye's > food, knows that I forfeited some fine food at the expense of "looks". I > learned quite a bit that summer, not just about guide dog work. Having said > this, I think it takes a lot of maturity and self-confidence to not be > concerned. In public, I tend to order food that I feel comfortable eating > in public, unless I'm eating with people I know well and with whom I feel > comfortable. > Best of luck to you. > Suzanne > On Jan 23, 2012, at 7:07 PM, Becky wrote: > >> U r not alone, we all have the same disability as u. >> I have been blind all my life and I know that learning how to do certain >> things can b tough. >> So sorry to hear that people have given up on teaching u how to cut your >> food. >> Do u know anyone in your area who is also blind? >> If so, Maybe they can work with u and they will probably b more patient >> and understanding because they know what it is like to not have any sight. >> U can write me off the list if u like. >> rebeca...@gmail.com >> Rebeca with one c >> Sent from my iPhone >> >> On Jan 23, 2012, at 12:35 PM, Jessica Brown <jessicabrown...@gmail.com> >> wrote: >> >>> They were friends. I do not have any one who can help me who is >>> trained. I have not had much time to try to cut food but this is >>> because other people give up teaching me not because I give up >>> learning. Trust me I do want to learn if it is the last thing I ever >>> do. >>> >>> On 1/23/12, Charles Rivard <wee1s...@fidnet.com> wrote: >>>> Have you tried using your fingers to see what you're doing, gradually >>>> using >>>> them less and less as you get used to what you're doing? Not with meat, >>>> but >>>> other cuttable material? >>>> >>>> You say that people have tried to teach you. Were these people trained >>>> to >>>> do so?, or were they friends and family members. Also, and I don't mean >>>> this as it may sound, but at age 16, how much practice have you had at >>>> trying to accomplish this? Some people give up if it doesn't work >>>> almost >>>> immediately, and this goes for people trying to teach as well as people >>>> trying to learn. >>>> >>>> --- >>>> Shepherds are the best beasts, but Labs are a close second. >>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>> From: "Jessica Brown" <jessicabrown...@gmail.com> >>>> To: <cookinginthedark@acbradio.org> >>>> Sent: Monday, January 23, 2012 11:06 AM >>>> Subject: Re: [CnD] cutting food >>>> >>>> >>>> Once again. I have tried this before as well and it did not work for >>>> me. I am 16 years old and have been blind all my life. People have >>>> tried to help teach me but no one seems to know how to teach me and it >>>> never goes well. >>>> >>>> On 1/23/12, Nicole Massey <ny...@gypsyheir.com> wrote: >>>>> This was what I was going to suggest as well, with a modification or >>>>> two. >>>>> >>>>> For even chunks, take the fork, after using your knife to find the >>>>> edges >>>>> of >>>>> the meat or other food, and place the fork in the meat near one edge. >>>>> Cut >>>>> with the knife perpendicular to the fork's tines until that entire >>>>> strip >>>>> is >>>>> free. Then move the fork to the next strip and cut the meat into >>>>> strips. >>>>> If >>>>> you want it in chunks instead of strips, turn the plate 90° and then >>>>> use >>>>> your knife and fork to find the first strip. Place the fork near the >>>>> middle >>>>> and cut starting at the ends and working toward the center, cutting >>>>> center >>>>> chunks using your fork as your guide. Move to the other strips and cut >>>>> as >>>>> well. This should help. >>>>> This brings me to a question. Jessica, how long have you been blind? >>>>> Have >>>>> you had any training to help you deal with this blindness? This is a >>>>> standard Vocational Rehabilitation Trainer exercise, so this is why I >>>>> ask. >>>>> >>>>> -----Original Message----- >>>>> From: cookinginthedark-boun...@acbradio.org >>>>> [mailto:cookinginthedark-boun...@acbradio.org] On Behalf Of Kimberly >>>>> Qualls >>>>> Sent: Monday, January 23, 2012 10:05 AM >>>>> To: cookinginthedark@acbradio.org >>>>> Subject: [CnD] cutting food >>>>> >>>>> Jessica, >>>>> >>>>> I use a fork, not only to keep the food still, but also as a >>>>> guide...Stick the fork as far from the edge as the slice you >>>>> want...After you go one way, then take the fork and stick it in the >>>>> slices to cut them into chunks, if you need...Everyone is right, >>>>> though, it takes a LOT of practice, and it can get messy, so you may >>>>> want to practice on your own, first...I hope I explained that well >>>>> enough... >>>>> >>>>> Hope it helps >>>>> >>>>> Kimberly >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> Cookinginthedark mailing list >>>>> Cookinginthedark@acbradio.org >>>>> http://acbradio.org/mailman/listinfo/cookinginthedark >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> Cookinginthedark mailing list >>>>> Cookinginthedark@acbradio.org >>>>> http://acbradio.org/mailman/listinfo/cookinginthedark >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> >>>> >>>> sent from my BrailleNote >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Cookinginthedark mailing list >>>> Cookinginthedark@acbradio.org >>>> http://acbradio.org/mailman/listinfo/cookinginthedark >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Cookinginthedark mailing list >>>> Cookinginthedark@acbradio.org >>>> http://acbradio.org/mailman/listinfo/cookinginthedark >>>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> >>> >>> sent from my BrailleNote >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Cookinginthedark mailing list >>> Cookinginthedark@acbradio.org >>> http://acbradio.org/mailman/listinfo/cookinginthedark >> _______________________________________________ >> Cookinginthedark mailing list >> Cookinginthedark@acbradio.org >> http://acbradio.org/mailman/listinfo/cookinginthedark > > _______________________________________________ > Cookinginthedark mailing list > Cookinginthedark@acbradio.org > http://acbradio.org/mailman/listinfo/cookinginthedark > -- Have a great day, Alex (msg sent from GMail website) mehg...@gmail.com; http://www.facebook.com/mehgcap _______________________________________________ Cookinginthedark mailing list Cookinginthedark@acbradio.org http://acbradio.org/mailman/listinfo/cookinginthedark
