Judy26
Pearl Clutcher
MOTFY Bitchy Nursemaid
Posts: 2,970
Location: NW PA
Jun 25, 2014 23:50:38 GMT
|
Post by Judy26 on Apr 14, 2019 19:15:49 GMT
I am facing an empty nest soon. The kids are all off living their lives. DH spends most of his time at our river cottage in the Spring, Summer and Fall. I have to stay home as I work 30 hours a week from home to pay for some house renovations that need done. Because of this I am home alone most of the time. Weekends are usually spent at my Mom’s house helping her with cleaning and errands so not a lot of free time to plan and shop for elaborate meals.
I like to cook and bake for others but I just can’t work up any enthusiasm to do it for just me. I find myself subsisting on fruit, cheese, crackers, cereal, yogurt and the like. Sometimes I’ll throw together a salad but even that usually doesn’t interest me.
Do you or would you make the effort to cook just for you? I swear if they could invent a meal replacement pill I would be happy as a clam.
|
|
|
Post by mom on Apr 14, 2019 19:18:21 GMT
Probably a little of both - eating at home and eating out. I get tired of eating out so I make a bunch of shakes + add in veggies and fruits. Fills me up and is healthy.
|
|
|
Post by pjaye on Apr 14, 2019 19:21:42 GMT
Yes, I cook for myself all the time. I also take home made meals in to work with me. I don't cook every single day though, I'm happy to eat the same thing 3 or 4 days in a row, therefore in winter I'll make a soup or pasta sauce etc enough for several days at a time.
|
|
|
Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Apr 14, 2019 19:22:07 GMT
I'd only cook it I felt like it.
Rotisserie chicken from the supermarket, maybe?
|
|
|
Post by chaosisapony on Apr 14, 2019 19:23:13 GMT
I live alone and cook for myself. Usually I make up a couple of larger meals on the weekend and just eat the leftovers for lunches and dinners throughout the week. Keeps it simple.
|
|
|
Post by lucyg on Apr 14, 2019 19:25:55 GMT
I was home on my own for about seven years, and I really hardly ever cooked for myself. I’d have sandwiches, eggs, or easy soups for dinner most nights, or pick something up. Then about five years in, I started cooking dinner for my sister’s family once a week, and trying more new recipes and such. Honestly, I was happier cooking once or twice a week than I’ve ever been, either almost not cooking at all, or having to cook every night.
|
|
christinec68
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,379
Location: New York, NY
Jun 26, 2014 18:02:19 GMT
|
Post by christinec68 on Apr 14, 2019 19:26:17 GMT
I would cook for myself. It wouldn’t be anything fancy and most likely I would make multiple portions so I’d have leftovers and not have to cook every night.
|
|
|
Post by lucyg on Apr 14, 2019 19:26:45 GMT
Yes, I cook for myself all the time. I also take home made meals in to work with me. I don't cook every single day though, I'm happy to eat the same thing 3 or 4 days in a row, therefore in winter I'll make a soup or pasta sauce etc enough for several days at a time. That’s exactly what works for me, too.
|
|
|
Post by Skellinton on Apr 14, 2019 19:36:57 GMT
I am too cheap and picky and allergy ridden to eat out all the time. Also, I get home at 4:30 and I am not leaving the house to get dinner when I am actually hungry. Generally once I am home, I am home for the evening, and I am not old enough to eat at 4:30.
When my husband is out of time I make or Costco a rotisserie chicken and use it to make simple meals, so I am cooking somewhat, but probably not as elaborate or varied as when my husband is home. Wraps, soups, simple pastas.
I too am happy eating the same thing several meals in a row, so I would probably just cook like he was home and just eat it for 2 days in a row (we take leftovers for lunch everyday).
I am absolutely much less motivated to cook for myself, but I do it anyway.
|
|
|
Post by freecharlie on Apr 14, 2019 19:39:34 GMT
If nobody is home, I don't cook. I don't know what i would do if it was on a more regular basis
|
|
|
Post by scrapmaven on Apr 14, 2019 19:45:12 GMT
I cook for one. Dh eats and I do not. It took getting used to, but I really like it. When I cook the meal will normally last 2 nights. So, I don't have to cook every day. Plus, we make broth on the weekends for soup during the week. So, some days I cook dinner and soup for the next day. I am getting spoiled, because I cook about 4 days per week, lately. When the kids come home for the summer it'll be back to full time cooking.
Go online and surf recipes. You'll find inspiration.
|
|
DEX
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,394
Aug 9, 2014 23:13:22 GMT
|
Post by DEX on Apr 14, 2019 19:50:02 GMT
I have been alone for 5+ years. In my previous life I was expected to cook dinner every night. Now, I am grateful to not have to cook every night. I cook when I want to. When I do cook, I have days and days of leftovers. I hate eating wild rice soup for 5 days.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Sept 29, 2024 23:26:11 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2019 19:50:55 GMT
It is a toss up for me. I go through times I eat out way more than is good for me. Other times I do heavy "snacking" (cheese, fruit, cereal, yogurt type) other times I cook once or twice a week and eat multiple meals from it.
Today I put 4 pound of chicken thighs in the crock pot. Most of them well get frozen but I use one a day to make various chicken dishes like a chicken chili, chicken pot pie in a bowl.
|
|
|
Post by ~summer~ on Apr 14, 2019 19:54:26 GMT
I cook for myself a lot -- usually either breakfast or lunch but nothing elaborate.
A typical 'brunch' I might make is to sauté a bunch of greens (spinach usually), then throw in a few eggs and feta....let it cook then drizzle with some sirachi. Yummmmm.
|
|
|
Post by 950nancy on Apr 14, 2019 19:55:10 GMT
I would cook things that would freeze well and make individual sized dinners. I just got an air fryer on Friday and have happily played with that this weekend.
|
|
|
Post by KelleeM on Apr 14, 2019 20:05:48 GMT
I also don’t mind eating the same meal 3 or 4 times in a week. When I lived alone I cooked about 90% of the time.
|
|
|
Post by quinlove on Apr 14, 2019 20:07:48 GMT
Yes, I cook for myself all the time. I also take home made meals in to work with me. I don't cook every single day though, I'm happy to eat the same thing 3 or 4 days in a row, therefore in winter I'll make a soup or pasta sauce etc enough for several days at a time. Same here, except I don’t take lunches to work. It makes me very happy to have leftovers at home waiting for me. I only cook stuff that I really like and eat it for days. I used to cook for the 5 of us forever. Now that it’s usually just me, I still cook the exact amount that I am used to and eat it til it’s gone. Although I have frozen some if there is way too much.
|
|
|
Post by Skellinton on Apr 14, 2019 20:16:26 GMT
I cook for one. Dh eats and I do not. It took getting used to, but I really like it. When I cook the meal will normally last 2 nights. So, I don't have to cook every day. Plus, we make broth on the weekends for soup during the week. So, some days I cook dinner and soup for the next day. I am getting spoiled, because I cook about 4 days per week, lately. When the kids come home for the summer it'll be back to full time cooking.
Go online and surf recipes. You'll find inspiration.
Just wondering, what do you mean you don’t eat?
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Sept 29, 2024 23:26:11 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2019 20:19:48 GMT
I have no choice as I have a load of allergies so I would have to.
But I would be smart about it and do enough for 2 so I'd have left overs for lunch next day or triple for freezer left over.
|
|
|
Post by crazy4scraps on Apr 14, 2019 20:30:05 GMT
I don’t mind cooking in general, but when it’s just for my own subsistence I’ll pass. It’s more work than I want to put in on a daily basis, and I hate eating the same thing 3-4-5 days in a row. I know I could batch cook and freeze into single servings, but even that is more work than I really want to do. Bottom line is I really don’t care what I eat, it just isn’t that important to me. I’m happy eating cold cereal and milk, fruit, cheese, pancakes/waffles/French toast, eggs or egg salad, cold sandwiches, soup, yogurt. We have an air fryer that I would probably use more often for convenience foods and an Instant Pot that I would use for some stuff too on occasion.
DH is the only one who really cares about eating regular meals, DD and I do not. She would eat soup, macaroni and cheese, frozen pizza, hamburgers or Spaghettios every day of her life if we let her.
|
|
kelly8875
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,407
Location: Lost in my supplies...
Oct 26, 2014 17:02:56 GMT
|
Post by kelly8875 on Apr 14, 2019 20:38:02 GMT
I cook for myself a lot. I have to eat, and usually what I’m cooking for others is what I want anyway, just more of it. Most things don’t really take much time to cook. Pasta is super fast, and there are some amazing raviolis available either in the frozen or refrigerated sections of the store. Make a simple brown butter sauce, or use jarred sauces to go with. A small salad on the side, and it’s a 10 minute meal. Fish is fast, served with veggies & rice, another 10 minute meal. Burgers, chicken, steaks, all quick make a soup one night, eat for several. Most freeze great, and can be pulled out later.
|
|
scrapngranny
Pearl Clutcher
Only slightly senile
Posts: 4,821
Jun 25, 2014 23:21:30 GMT
|
Post by scrapngranny on Apr 14, 2019 20:38:05 GMT
No, I would cook for myself at all. Right now it’s just DH and me. If he were not here, my meals would be really scary. It would consist of a lot of cereal, sandwiches and soup. I couldn’t care less about eating meals. Dinner every night is a distasteful chore for me.
|
|
tanya2
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1604
Posts: 4,427
Jun 27, 2014 2:27:09 GMT
|
Post by tanya2 on Apr 14, 2019 20:43:14 GMT
I have never lived alone, but I've often said that if it was just me I would live on sandwiches, soup, eggs, and cheese and crackers.
But in reality I would probably try doing a meal prep day once a week to have food for the rest of the week. I like to cook but I don't like 'having' to do it every day.
|
|
|
Post by freeatlast on Apr 14, 2019 20:48:15 GMT
With having to watch carbs, sugars and sodium, it's near impossible for me to eat out. Unless I want to eat a salad or a plate of veggies and I can do that at home. So I do cook a lot. Like others have said, I don't mind 3 or 4 days of leftovers. In fact, I kinda love them! In the winter I make a pot of soup almost every week. I do a lot of stir fry meals all year round. And various egg dishes like frittatas.
|
|
|
Post by mikklynn on Apr 14, 2019 20:48:43 GMT
DH has so many health issues, that he often just eats soup or cereal.
I do cook for both of us, but if he can't eat it, I eat it for lunch or the next day's dinner. I freeze individual meals for myself, too. I don't want to eat something 3 or 4 times, so freezing works great.
I also order take-out occasionally and freeze portions, so I have meals available.
|
|
|
Post by annabella on Apr 14, 2019 20:50:15 GMT
All the time because I enjoy eating good food.
|
|
SharonScraps
Full Member
Posts: 144
Jun 27, 2014 23:36:35 GMT
|
Post by SharonScraps on Apr 14, 2019 20:50:30 GMT
Yes, I joined a Forks Over Knives meal plan for a year. Super easy, it plans the meals, grocery list, recipes. Very easy to choose portions & they have left overs planned into their plan. I added one portion so DH can have one meal as a side. That said, do you belong to Costco? In the deli section, near the rotisserie chicken, they have packs of shredded chicken breast. The pack is more expensive than 1 rotisserie chicken, but cheaper by the pound & no skin or bones, just white meat. I used to buy those, portion out servings into snack baggies, then throw them in the freezer. If I pulled one out, it was thawed by lunch. I could add them to salad, tacos, just about anything. You might also consider planning two or three meals, and have a cooking day to make it all. Dish into containers and stock the fridge. All you would have to do is microwave a container, and ready to eat. Take care, Sharon
|
|
trollie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,580
Jul 2, 2014 22:14:02 GMT
|
Post by trollie on Apr 14, 2019 20:53:44 GMT
Yes, I would and have cooked just for me. Easy meals for sure, but I like home cooked food.
|
|
|
Post by cadoodlebug on Apr 14, 2019 22:13:32 GMT
I was single until I met DH when I was 36, so yes I did cook for myself. Not as fancy as I cook for DH, but enough to sustain me. I also had a grocery store near my place that sold stuff I would never make like Crawfish Pie. OMG! It was to die for and it was individual portions so perfect for me.
|
|
|
Post by teacherlisa on Apr 14, 2019 22:29:21 GMT
I’m a single empty nester and I cook for myself. I enjoy cooking,but even more than that I enjoy eating good food.
If I did not enjoy cooking I wouldn’t do it and I’d find simple ways to feed myself.
I just found this fantastic YouTube gal/food blogger who meal peeps in a unique way, and she is a single gal cooking for just herself. Her channel is Downshiftology.
|
|