Are You A Senior and Cooking For One?

It can be hard to adjust to cooking for one person, especially if you have cooked for a family in the past and are most comfortable preparing large meals for large groups. Or, if you are having to cook for yourself after having someone else do most of the cooking for you it’s also tough to figure out the best ways to prepare nutritious and delicious meals in small quantities. Neither of these things is impossible to overcome and here are some ideas on the best ways for cooking for one person.

Cook and Freeze

If you have a reliable freezer then take advantage of the benefits this offers. Try cooking a meal in a normal quantity and then freeze single size portions to eat later on. You’ll need to buy some small freezer containers to store the food portions, but they are generally quite inexpensive and can be re-used over and over again.

The biggest complaint we hear from people who choose this approach is that by the time they get done eating all of those single size portions they are bored and tired of eating the same meal over and over again. You can combat this problem by preparing two or three meals in a single afternoon and then separate them into single size portions so you can rotate your choices and not get bored along the way. Just be sure you don’t over prepare; it’s usually best to only prepare enough meals so that you can eat them within four weeks or so. This prevents freezer burn and ensures your food will always taste delicious.

Choose One Dish Recipes and Single Serving Ingredients

Look for recipes that can be prepared and served in the same dish. This makes it quick and easy to cook and enjoy your food. Good options for these kinds of meals include stews, soups, casseroles, and the like. You can prepare these items using inexpensive yet healthy ingredients and make meal time both simple and delicious.

Another great way to make cooking for one person easier is to buy individually frozen foods. Examples include chicken breasts, fruits, vegetables, fish fillets, and the like. You can then take out only the quantity you need of each item and leave the rest in the freezer for use later on down the road.

Cook Foods For Multiple Purposes

This is sort of like cooking with leftovers, but with a bit of a difference. With this strategy you you’re your cooking and your meals so that you can re-use ingredients or cooked foods from one recipe as part of another recipe you’ll prepare later on.

Here are some easy ways to do this:

• Bake an extra chicken breast and put it in the refrigerator to use the next day. You can make it into a sandwich, cut it into chunks and put it on a salad, or stir fry pieces for another delicious meal.

• The next time you cook rice prepare a little bit extra for another use. You can refrigerate it and use part for soup, casserole, or the like.

• When you make meatloaf, cook part of the mixture but set an uncooked portion aside. You can form it into meatballs and freeze them for later.

A Potluck Evening – Plan To Dine With Friends

Let’s face it, cooking for one usually means eating alone and that can get pretty lonely after a while. Why not plan a potluck evening with your friends where everyone brings a part of the meal to share with the group? You’ll get to enjoy a variety of dishes while only having to prepare one dish yourself, plus you’ll get the benefit of spending time with friends. Even if you don’t have a group of friends nearby to do something like this, think about teaming up with just one or two other people for a smaller version of a potluck gathering.

You can even set up a regular schedule of potluck meals, such as every other week, once a month, or the like. Take turns hosting the meal so you can rotate to different people’s homes and enjoy a change of scenery along with good conversation and good food. You might just be surprised at how much fun (and how delicious) this approach can be!

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