do you still cook for yourself if single

W

Wilberforce

Jeannine
Location
BC Canada
Folks keep telling me that they don't cook anymore as there is only themselves, they use convenience foods. I can't see me ever doing that but they tell me it is inevitable;...is it. what do think?
 

It is a problem cooking meals that are enough for 4 or more servings, because what do you do with all those leftovers. What I do is use Mason or Ball jars and put the leftovers in those in single serving sizes. I then use a manual vacuum pump (Pump-N-Seal) to pull a vacuum and put them in the fridge. I put homemade chili, chicken soup, pork 'n beans, etc away like that and they stay good for weeks. I eat rice with most all of those and just put the rice away in single portions in plastic containers that also go in the fridge. The rice gets eaten within a week so I don't worry about vacuum sealing those.

I use an electrical pressure cooker and a rice cooker so the cooking part is pretty easy. Once you get the hang of it it itsn't all that bad. Fixing the leftovers is easy in the microwave and the quality and taste is better that what I get eating out. I still eat out a few times a week but not all the time.
 
I cook one thing every day or so and piece it together with leftovers or convenience foods to make a meal.

As an example I was alone this year for Thanksgiving so I heated up a frozen entree with turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes, I added my own cabbage salad, Brussels sprouts, and apple crisp.

It helps to prevent me from overeating or wasting excess food due to spoilage.

My mother loved to cook, her solution was to cook and bake for various church/community functions. She and some of the other ladies cooked complete meals, fixed lunches, snacks and baked goods for various meetings, study groups, funerals, fundraisers, etc... Sometimes they cooked together in the church kitchen and sometimes they cooked at home but they still cooked, enjoyed each others company and fed people. My mother loved to feed people!!!
 

Certainly do. Got a 6lb shoulder of Bute lamb in the oven at this very moment.

I also make my own bread.

I will admit to using prepared or frozen vegetables though. Arthritic thumbs and wrists make veg preparation too painful to do as a matter of routine,
 
I hate to admit it but I very rarely cook for myself. I usually either eat out or hit the frozen section of the grocery store. I know it's more expensive and less healthy but I find it hard to cook meals just for me. I will cook breakfast and once in awhile grill something outdoors but besides that I'm rather "kitchen lazy".

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I love to cook and I love food so most days cook a proper evening meal for myself, fish or meat with fresh vegetables or salad, sometimes pasta or rice, can't see myself changing to convenience food, in my opinion, it's just not as nice as home made
 
I cook for myself all the time and do not use prepared convenience foods (I do use some frozen vegetables). I don't like the idea of all the sugar, sodium, fat, and god knows what all else in convenience foods. I think what we eat is very important at our age. Preparing healthful meals isn't all that hard or time consuming and it's a lot better for you.
 
When I was single I cooked for myself, wasn't a problem as I love having leftovers. I just had to plan more carefully, so that more perishable items could be consumed in a timely manner.

With bread, I'd buy a nice whole grain loaf, and keep it in the freezer, and just toast it when needed.
 
I do and must because of being on a special diet. Usually once or twice a week I will make something I can freeze for future use. Then on those nights I am too tired to cook, I eat that. I make simple meals but healthy ones. I used to eat some of those frozen meals before but can't anymore. At least when I cook something, I know what I put in it! Don't use any of those long chemical components.
 
Other than going out to eat once a week or so, I prepare or rather ASSEMBLE all my meals. I don't think of broiling fish or a steak, making tuna salad, chicken stir fry etc. as COOKING.
 
When I was single, I mostly cooked for myself, rather than fast or convenience foods. Like Lon, nothing fancy. Often I would prepare big batching of things like soup or chili, and freeze single portions. Still do that now.
 
Lon said:
Other than going out to eat once a week or so, I prepare or rather ASSEMBLE all my meals. I don't think of broiling fish or a steak, making tuna salad, chicken stir fry etc. as COOKING.
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Very well said and exactly what I meant from an earlier post of mine.
 
I cook for myself and often make meals that can last about four days so I don't have to cook every day. Then I just take some out and heat it in the micro.
 
I don't eat left overs so it is more of a problem for me, but it is good to see that others are still cooking for one. I have found my electric steamer is very useful. It has three baskets . I can put a selection of veggies in it eg, a small slice of squash, 2 brussel sprouts half a carrot and three baby potatoes. If I wanted a mixed veggie plate and had to do it with with pans it would be a nightmare and I would be throwing most of it out but the steamer changes that. I can then BBQ , bake or panfry a single steak, 2 lamb chops etc or poach a piece of fish. there a few things I make in bulk and freeze but only a few like spaghetti sauce and chilli or I will bake a cheesecake and freeze that, just cut a slice off frozen.

I make my own bread which I slice on a machine and I will freeze that then take out two slices, it is as good if only in the freezer a short time. I love home made butter and home made mozzarella and I can make those in small quantities.


I do cook large amounts of some things and they get donated to family members etc. I used to run a soup kitchen years ago and I lived that, there is mothing better in the world than feeding people!!
 
I used to sort through recipes and plan meals for my family and cooked for us all for 20 + years, but I really never have 'enjoyed' cooking. Being single, I only eat two meals per day, and I seldom cook, except for breakfast and an occasional dinner; otherwise, I get small-order take-out.
 
Today I grilled a couple of ham steaks, baked a sweet potato, made a side salad and baked a few frozen biscuits. That's about the extent of my 'cooking'.
 
I tell my wife that statistically she is required to outlast me. She doesn't buy that, but she has fed me well for 57 years.

We each make our own breakfast and lunch. She makes supper.

When I was working I traveled all week, eating out 13 times a week. Restaurants do nothing for me.
 
I haven't reached that point yet, but don't think I will fare too well when or if I do.

I started life like most of us - - -mom made the meals. From that to 4 years in the military and my rating wasn't a cook, so food was provided. Before I left the military, I had married my one and only wife. She was a stay at home mom and always did the cooking. I'm not proud of the fact, but aside from cans and packaged stuff, I never learned or was interested in cooking and she's handled it for the last 61 years. We share our home with our youngest daughter and her family ( and have for the last 28 years) so for my wife or I, it may be a moot point when one of us passes on as we don't expect to be by ourselves.
 
When I hear the term "cooking" I always think of preparing a complete sit down meal. In that sense I *never* cook. Never cared for meals. I cook by the item.

One time I'll do a baked potato, in the microwave, maybe a grilled cheese, or a salad, or a big pot of frozen vegetables, or a frozen dinner, hot dog, mac & cheese, whatever is in the fridge. Not always junk. Friday I had a ribeye steak, all by itself. It was good!
 
I don't particularly enjoy cooking but don't like using prepared foods either so I make a lot of soups and crockpot stews that will last awhile. Also Big Fat Salads with everything but the kitchen sink and baked or poached fish.
 
If I were alone I most certainly would cook for myself. I love to cook. If anything, it would give me something to do. Even now,I don't mind going to the grocery store. I would enjoy looking up recipes, trying new herbs and spices. Even the challenge of dividing up a chicken or other meat into portions for one person to use in different ways. Hopefully I would feel well enough to grow some new herbs in my garden..
 

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