Many people find themselves living alone for any of a number of reasons. It could be that they are a young person just striking out on their own. They could be a college student living in a dorm or apartment. They could even be some who was recently divorced or widowed. Living alone has it’s advantages and disadvantages, but one thing many people don’t realize is how challenging cooking for one can be. Most people, especially if they’re just starting out, can’t afford to eat out every night, and you can only eat so many microwave T.V. dinners. Eventually, you’re going to want to cook an actual meal. Try some of the following tips if you find yourself cooking for one.

Common Problems

One of the biggest complaints from people who live alone is the fact that most recipes that you find in books or elsewhere are designed to feed at least four. You may wonder why they don’t just half or quarter the ingredients, but if you’ve ever tried to do so, you’d know that it’s not as easy as it sounds. You may end up with more hassle than you started with. A simple solution to this would be to prepare the full recipe, and freeze what you don’t intend to eat at the time. This will not only save you from having to waste uneaten portions, but it will also save you from having to plan a meal later on.

Another problem with cooking for one also has to do with leftovers. It’s easy to get tired of eating the same thing over and over again. Even if you freeze your leftovers, you could find yourself becoming bored with the same dish. This problem can be solved with a little creativity. You can eat the same entrée for a couple of nights in a row without sacrificing variety. If you change the way it is prepared or served each time, it will feel like a completely different meal.

Cooking for one also becomes a challenge when you’re at the market. Usually, you get better deals on food items when you purchase them in larger quantities. This is especially true in the case of canned goods, such as fruits ad vegetables. Even though it seems like you are getting a bargain when you buy the larger cans, when you think of the unused food that is wasted, it just doesn’t make sense. Even though purchasing the smaller amounts doesn’t seem very cost effective, at least you’ll be getting your money’s worth by using it all. You also won’t have to feel guilty about wasting food all the time.

It’s also easy to skip meals because you don’t feel like cooking for one. Sometimes it’s easier to just raid the snack cupboard since there’s no one else to cook for. Obviously, this is an unhealthy habit to get into. If you do give in to the temptation to skip cooking meals, make sure you have some healthy snacks on hand so you don’t have to feel guilty about stuffing your face with junk food.

If you’re new to it, cooking for one can be a bit tricky. However, with some of these helpful tips and a little bit of experience, you’ll catch on to it in no time.
 

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