Jump to RecipePlus, the creamy broccoli cheddar soup I make when my body needs extra care
Living with MS, OA, and the Grace of Getting Older
There was a time when the word doctor filled me with a mix of hope and fear.
Hope—because maybe this visit would bring answers.
Fear—because sometimes answers come with weight, and once you hear them, you can’t “unhear” them.
Living with Multiple Sclerosis means appointments are part of the rhythm of my life. Add osteoarthritis, the everyday aches and annoyances of getting older, and the unpredictable nature of a body that doesn’t always cooperate, and suddenly my calendar tells a story I never planned on writing.
But somewhere along the way, something shifted
My doctors stopped being just specialists with titles and clipboards—and became my biggest allies.
More Than Appointments and Prescriptions
When you live with a chronic illness, you quickly learn that medical care isn’t just about test results and medications. It’s about:
- Being listened to
- Being believed
- Being treated like a whole person, not a list of symptoms
My care team understands that MS doesn’t exist in isolation. It touches my energy, my mobility, my emotions, and even my identity. They recognize that OA adds its own layer of stiffness and pain. And they don’t dismiss the reality that aging brings changes too—some expected, some frustrating, all deserving of care. What I value most is that they never minimize what I’m feeling, even when the answers aren’t simple.
The Power of Being Heard
One of the greatest gifts my doctors have given me is space.
Space to explain what a “bad day” really feels like.
Space to admit fear without feeling dramatic.
Space to ask questions—sometimes the same ones more than once. Space to allow me to rant and cry if I need to.
There’s a quiet kind of healing that happens when someone looks at you and says, “I hear you.”
That matters more than people realize.
Advocates, Not Just Experts
My doctors don’t just treat me—they advocate for me.
They:
- Adjust treatments when something isn’t working
- Encourage rest when my instinct is to push through
- Remind me that adapting is not the same as giving up
- Help me weigh quality of life alongside medical decisions
They don’t expect me to be “strong” all the time. They allow me to be human.
And that has made all the difference.
Navigating Aging with Compassion
Getting older with a chronic illness brings its own emotional landscape.
There’s grief for the body that once was.
There’s frustration when healing takes longer. There’s embarrassment when you fall, stumble or forget your words.
There’s humility in asking for help.
What I appreciate most is that my care team doesn’t treat aging like a failure. They treat it like a natural part of the journey—one that still deserves comfort, dignity, and hope. They remind me that managing symptoms is not about chasing perfection, but about preserving joy and maximizing my quality of life, whatever that looks like for me.
Gratitude I Carry With Me
I know not everyone has a medical team they trust. I don’t take that lightly.
I am deeply grateful for:
- The neurologist who sees me, not just my MRI’s (& I’ve had many)
- The doctors who respect my intuition about my own body
- The practitioners who balance science with compassion
- The ones who walk beside me instead of ahead of me
In a life shaped by MS and other chronic conditions like OA, they have become steady ground.
To Anyone Walking This Road
If you’re navigating chronic illness, aging, or both, I want to tell you this:
You deserve a care team that listens.
You deserve to feel supported, not rushed.
You deserve allies.
And if you’ve found them—hold onto them.
They matter more than you know.
Comfort, Care, and a Pot of Soup on the Stove
There are days when managing MS, OA, and the realities of getting older means slowing everything way down.
On those days, comfort matters.
Sometimes it looks like a good doctor who listens.
Sometimes it looks like permission to rest.
And sometimes—it looks like a pot of creamy broccoli cheddar soup simmering on the stove.
This soup has become one of my go-to comfort recipes. It’s warm, nourishing, and gentle on days when my body needs a little extra kindness. The kind of meal that doesn’t rush you, doesn’t ask much of you, and fills the house with a quiet sense that everything will be okay.
Cooking has always been one of the ways I care for myself and my family—especially when life feels unpredictable. This soup reminds me that healing doesn’t always come from medicine alone. Sometimes it comes from simple routines, familiar flavours, and taking the time to nourish yourself in the ways you can.
(You’ll find the full recipe for my best creamy broccoli cheddar soup below—one I come back to again and again.)
Creamy Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Equipment
- Large Dutch Oven or soup pot
- Blender or Immersion Blender
Ingredients
- 8 Tbsp Butter I use salted, but unsalted works as well
- 1 Cup Onion Finely Chopped
- 3 Lrg Cloves of Garlic Minced (more if you love garlic)
- ½ Cup Flour
- 3 Cups Chicken Broth
- 3 Cups Milk Some say low fat, but I go all in with whole milk
- ½ Cup Heavy Cream
- 8 oz Block of Cream Cheese Softened and cut into blocks
- 3 Cups Broccoli Finely chopped
- 2 ½ Cups Cheddar Cheese Freshly grated
- ½ cup Parmesan Cheese Freshly grated
- Salt & Pepper To taste
Instructions
- In a large soup pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the diced onion and garlic and cook for about 4 to 5 minutes, stirring often, until softened. Add the garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Sprinkle the flour evenly over the softened onions & garlic. Stir constantly for 1 to 2 minutes. The mixture should look thick and slightly golden.
- Slowly whisk in the chicken broth, a little at a time, making sure the mixture stays smooth. Once the broth is incorporated, whisk in the milk. Bring the soup to a gentle simmer, stirring frequently, until it begins to thicken.
- Add the chopped broccoli to the pot. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the broccoli is tender.
- Take at least half of the soup and put it in a blender (or use the immersion hand blender) to make the soup creamier leaving some larger broccoli pieces in the soup. Return blended broccoli to the pot.
- Stir in the heavy cream and cream cheese chunks. Reduce the heat to low and stir until the cream cheese is incorporated. Add the shredded cheddar cheese a handful at a time, stirring gently until fully melted before adding more. Do not let the soup boil once the cheese is added.
- Season with salt & pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve hot with crusty bread, croutons or crackers.
Notes
Cooking in Cowboy Hints for Success
- Stir often, especially during thickening, to prevent scorching (I like to use a whisk rather than a spoon).
- Keep the heat low when adding cheese to avoid grainy texture and try to avoid using pre shredded cheese.
- Chop broccoli into small pieces so every spoonful has a balanced bite of crunchy broccoli.
- If the soup gets too thick, thin it with a splash of milk or broth.
Flavour Variations
- Extra cheesy: Add 1/2 cup Monterey Jack or white cheddar.
- Spicy kick: Stir in a pinch of cayenne or crushed red pepper flakes.
- Protein boost: Stir in shredded rotisserie chicken before serving.
- Want more veggies? Add shredded carrots, cauliflower or zucchini along with the broccoli.
Serving Suggestions
This Creamy Broccoli Cheddar Soup is delicious on its own, but it also pairs beautifully with:- Crusty sourdough or French bread
- Garlic bread or dinner rolls
- Crunchy croutons sprinkled on top before serving
