Hosting a Summer BBQ Without the Side Dish of Pain

Hosting a summer BBQ can be a lot of fun. It can also be a painful experience, especially when we push ourselves to do more than our bodies typically allow. Here are some tips to help you become the hostess with the mostest, despite having psoriatic arthritis.

My tips

• Choose a date and time that works for you! Don’t choose a date that follows a major outing. Make sure you have ample time to rest prior. If you typically function better at lunchtime versus dinnertime, then by all means schedule your get together earlier in the day. If that doesn’t work for your guests or if you really want to plan an evening event, schedule time to rest or nap.
• Recruit volunteers to help with setup and cleanup.
• Food: The easiest solution is to have your meal catered. A more affordable option is to do the cooking yourself. To ensure that everyone will be fed, designate a backup cook just in case you are hit with a flare. Or do what I do and put your spouse in charge of the grilling. Have guests bring side dishes or purchase premade ones from your favorite deli.
• Have ice packs and/or other items you use to fight pain handy. Ignoring pain will just make it worse. There’s nothing wrong with caring for your body during the party.
• Dress comfortably. Do not wear anything that is going to aggravate your chronic illness.
• Picnic indoors if heat exasperates your symptoms.
• Make cleanup easier by using disposable plates, utensils, cups, and tablecloths.

Try them out!

These steps may not guarantee that you won’t experience pain or a flare, but they will reduce the intensity and duration compared to if you tried to do everything yourself. Asking for help doesn’t make you less of a hostess; it makes you a smart one!