If you are single and living alone, there are a few challenges that you face when it comes to keeping yourself fed. You don’t have a partner or anyone else around to help you out, and the majority of recipes that you come across are geared towards two or more people.
We know that cooking for one can be difficult, so we’ve compiled a list of tips and tricks to help you out. From pre-made items like cereal bar or dairy-free probiotic yogurt to batch cooking, we’ve got some great advice for the solo cook!
Shop Smart
When it comes to groceries, don’t buy more than you can reasonably expect to use before it goes bad. This means paying attention to expiry dates, especially on fresh produce and dairy products. You may also want to consider buying frozen vegetables, which stay fresh almost indefinitely.
Batch Cook
If you’re going to take the time to cook something, you might as well make enough of it for leftovers. Make a big pot of soup or stew that will last several meals or prepare a meatloaf or similar dish that is easy to slice and reheat later on.
Plan Ahead
When you’re cooking for one, it’s important to plan your meals ahead of time. Creating a meal plan can save time and money by helping you shop smarter. It’s easy to waste food by buying items that go bad before you have a chance to use them when you don’t have a plan. A weekly meal plan also helps you avoid eating out because you didn’t have time to cook.
Choose Recipes Wisely
To avoid wasting food, it’s important to choose recipes wisely when cooking for one. For most recipes, it’s easy enough to divide the ingredients in half, but if you want an exact measurement, choose recipes that serve two or four people so that the amounts will be easier to divide in half. Look for recipes that can easily be halved without wasting ingredients or compromising the flavor of the dish. Another option is choosing recipes that leave leftovers which you can refrigerate or freeze for later use.
Get the Right Cookbook
There is a difference between a good cookbook and a bad one. A good cookbook will have information about how to store, prepare and serve the food. The recipes should be easy to follow, and they should all contain at least one ingredient that is not too expensive or difficult to find in your local grocery store. If you don’t do this, then you could end up wasting money on ingredients that you won’t use or food that won’t end up being very appetizing.
Think Outside the Box with Your Cooking Skills
Instead of just making meals from scratch, try experimenting with different ingredients that might be more familiar to you but aren’t normally used as main ingredients in dishes (like quinoa or rice). This will give you new ways to experiment with flavors and textures while still keeping things simple enough, so they’re not overwhelming or too complicated.
Buy in Bulk so You Always Have Snacks Handy
It’s often hard enough finding the time to cook during busy weeks—but what happens when you’re hungry after work and don’t want takeout again? That’s why it’s important to stock up on snacks like nuts or fruit that are easy enough to grab while still being nutritious and filling enough to hold off hunger pangs until dinner time rolls around!
