For patients with limited energy, assembling meals and getting adequate nutrition can be a major challenge. As RDNs, part of our role is to help them pace activities and break meal preparation and eating into smaller, manageable steps—supporting their ability to participate in daily life in meaningful ways.

This handout kit is designed to support good nutrition for people living with low energy, whether that’s due to fibromyalgia, long COVID, dysautonomia, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), hypermobility spectrum disorder, autoimmune conditions, post-exertional malaise (PEM), chronic fatigue syndrome, a range of physical disabilities or other illnesses that limit physical capacity, or a chronic pain disorder. The goal is to help individuals nourish themselves adequately even on days when they have just enough energy to get out of bed.

This kit includes:

Meal ideas for each “spoon level” 4 pg
- Meals in 1 minute
- 2-3 minutes
- Premade meal ideas
Nourishing meal mix & match 2 pg
- Regular & vegetarian version
Accessible cooking 1 pg
- Best pots & pans and cooking tips
Pacing guide 6 page
- What is pacing?
- How to get started with food & nutrition—and how RDNs can help
- Strategies to reduce physical, cognitive, logistic and orthostatic demands
- How to adapt a recipes
Simple kitchen swaps 1 pg
Weekly recipe pacing planner 2 pg (want a sneak peak? freebie here) and a freebie on POTS/dysautonomia here)