Cooking for One

Helpful Tips When Cooking For One

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.