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!

Cook For One and Enjoy Your Meals

Trying to find an appetizing recipe which is geared around cooking for one is becoming less difficult. There is actually an increase in resources such as internet recipes and cookbooks which cater to the idea of cooking meals for one. Cooking for one is as an opportunity to experiment with new and enticing cuisines that you might have been afraid to try before. You might have guessed that cooking for one actually saves you money compared to cooking for two. This little bit of savings can come in handy when buying ingredients for new recipes.

One great tip if you are going to cook new recipes you end up really enjoying is to freeze them for later use. You can save yourself a lot of money and time by just making up a full batch that typically feeds four. This will give you great leftovers to enjoy at a later time. This is perfect for those times when you are too exhausted or overwhelmed to cook but still want something great to eat for dinner. It is a wonderful feeling to just walk in and heat up something which you know will be great every time you eat it.

With many more resources cropping up for those who have been left in the position of consistently cooking for one, there is no reason not to enjoy great food. Sometimes the pure sense of peace alone with delicious food in front of you can be an amazing reward at the end of the day. Sitting back and relishing in a glass of fine wine, soft music and the culinary delights you have made for yourself can be a wonderful treat if you are alone or even if you are surrounded by 100 friends.

If you believe the old adage that you are what you eat, then you will surely want to stay away from bland or lifeless meals. If you indulge in enticing and exotic meals, you won’t be able to help but feel exotic and enticing. You can let your zest for life and all of its possibilities shine through with the attention you pay to the creative meals you have taken care in creating. Throw caution to the wind and indulge your senses without regard to portion control.

During this time of financial upheaval it is easy to understand why someone might not want to run out and spend a fortune on new cookbooks. Keep in mind the free library down the road which is sure to have plenty of recipes and tips on hand. You may even find specialty cook books that excite the senses in ways you have never thought to try before. Once at the library, you can see if they have information on possible classes that cater to those who plan on cooking for one.