For those who are single, do you cook?

fastfoodietofitcutie

I eat out A LOT. I don’t have a hard time staying within my calories because most places have nutrition posted. I do get hungry often because I’m eating fast food for the most part (mostly sub sandwiches and chicken). I could eat a lot more and more healthy if I cooked myself. For example I’ll probably go to Taco Bell later but I could eat twice as many tacos if I made them myself.

The problem is I find cooking such a lonely activity. I stand in the kitchen alone for 20-30 minutes making something and then sit for a while by myself to eat. I put on music or watch tv but it’s still quiet.

Just wondering if other single people cook or what they do.

MsOpus

Cooking and eating has to be the loneliest activity there is. I do cook. I usually try cook and freeze left overs as meals for another day. Although, it's so much easier just to have toast for dinner. Honestly, if I weren't single, I'd probably eat so much healthier.

ElizabethKalmbach

I'm not single, but my husband and I work opposite shifts, so we're only in the house at the same time for 30 minutes/day until Monday/Tuesday.

I tend to precook a lot of options that I can combine in a variety of satisfying ways. I can simultaneously cook several different meals just as quickly as I can cook one.

Yesterday I grilled a bunch of pork chops and put them in little pre-weighed bins of 5.2oz each, and I made a couple servings of rice that I put into 200 calorie bins, and I sauteed about 4 servings of green beans.

From a few days before that I have ground beef that I browned with onions. I can eat it with cabbage and rice, I can eat it in a burrito skin with rice and beans, I can put it on salad greens - and I have a couple servings of pasta too that I could pile that on with a bit of Ragu from a jar. I can do the same with the pork chops. In a couple days I'll probably cook a few chicken breasts and add them to the rotation.

I don't ever cook *a* meal. I pre-cook components that are easy to assemble into a meal based on my mood. That way I don't spend all evening in the kitchen every night, and it's easy to pack a lunch in the morning.

Sharon_C

Like the commenter above me I'm not single but my husband and I work opposite shifts too so I eat alone most nights. I don't cook from-scratch meals for myself, but rather stock my kitchen with easy grabs. My go-to is an egg omelet with goat cheese--filling and packed with protein. Or I will pop a veggie burger in the microwave and eat it with a yogurt.

You can still eat at home and not have to slave over the oven.

COGypsy

I’m single and rarely cook beyond maybe some breakfast on the weekends. I use a meal delivery service, so my main meal of the day just gets selected and zapped. I have a smoothie in the morning before the gym (does that count as cooking, lol) and either go out for dinner or heat up leftovers from the last time I went out to dinner.

Cooking and eating at home are highly overrated components of weight loss/management, in my opinion.

Siege_Tank

Aye, but it's quite a shame really. I skip plating and presentation, and usually just eat it right as it cools. If it goes in a bowl, I serve it in my glass Tupperware and lid it up when I'm through. No sense in lighting a dinner candle just just me and my chicken and veggies.

anubis609

When I was single, I only cooked food as a necessity and for efficiency. Presentation and palatability were negligible. It only needed to be edible.

never2old67

I have always made everything from scratch (Kahlua, breads, hummus, pasta, tomato sauce), so yes, being single, I cook, and bake :-). October is here and time to go to the pumpkin patches, grab some pumpkins and make home made pumpkin pies!

psychod787

Yup.. 99% of the time

glassyo

Siege_Tank wrote: »

Aye, but it's quite a shame really. I skip plating and presentation, and usually just eat it right as it cools. If it goes in a bowl, I serve it in my glass Tupperware and lid it up when I'm through. No sense in lighting a dinner candle just just me and my chicken and veggies.

Depends how good that chicken looks.

I don't cook and don't really eat out unless you count a little somethin' somethin' from the Whole Foods hot bar or some frozen yogurt on my evening walks "eating out".

I like the quiet or having the tv for company so I'm good.

seltzermint555

When I was single, or even when I was married previously and worked opposite shifts to my then-husband, I cooked once or twice a week and ate leftovers a LOT. I don't mind doing that and I usually made meals I really liked and seasoned them to my taste. Common for me were meatloaf & veggie, taco salad, beans & cornbread, various chicken casseroles, and spaghetti. I'd have them maybe 3-4 meals and in between go out or just make a sandwich or something.

Katmary71

I mostly make easy stuff like sheet pan meals and stir fry. I'll try new recipes a couple times a month. It's a lot more fun cooking when I have company. I usually double my recipes so I don't have to cook every night.

COGypsy

glassyo wrote: »

Siege_Tank wrote: »

Aye, but it's quite a shame really. I skip plating and presentation, and usually just eat it right as it cools. If it goes in a bowl, I serve it in my glass Tupperware and lid it up when I'm through. No sense in lighting a dinner candle just just me and my chicken and veggies.

Depends how good that chicken looks.

I don't cook and don't really eat out unless you count a little somethin' somethin' from the Whole Foods hot bar or some frozen yogurt on my evening walks "eating out".

I like the quiet or having the tv for company so I'm good.

I have a theory that the singles who cook a lot are happier being at home in general. While some down time is nice, overall I would rather be around friends and family or out doing something where other people are than doing just about anything at home (much less cooking and eating) by myself.

LyndaBSS

I'm widowed, so maybe not your version of single.

I get tremendous pleasure from cooking, more so now that I live alone. I'm able to cook whatever I want, whenever I want. I play around more with spices because I don't have to worry about someone else not liking a flavor or ingredient.

I eat pescatarian. My husband hated seafood. You can imagine why my tastebuds are happy. 😀

LyndaBSS

Siege_Tank wrote: »

Aye, but it's quite a shame really. I skip plating and presentation, and usually just eat it right as it cools. If it goes in a bowl, I serve it in my glass Tupperware and lid it up when I'm through. No sense in lighting a dinner candle just just me and my chicken and veggies.

I'm the opposite. I plate each meal as if I'm dining in a restaurant. And yes, I lit 10 candles tonight before I had my dinner. Tonight I served lobster in a butter vanilla tarragon sauce over linguine. Delicious.

RelCanonical

I guess I never really thought of cooking alone as a bad thing before. I get to make what I want the way I want it. I'm pretty introverted and rarely get lonely in general, so I might just be weird, lol.

Legs_McGee23

I don't cook - I get impatient with how long it takes and all the dirty dishes. I didn't cook when I was married either. I'm trying to be better about it to save money, but it's not going very well.

Siege_Tank

glassyo wrote: »

Siege_Tank wrote: »

Aye, but it's quite a shame really. I skip plating and presentation, and usually just eat it right as it cools. If it goes in a bowl, I serve it in my glass Tupperware and lid it up when I'm through. No sense in lighting a dinner candle just just me and my chicken and veggies.

Depends how good that chicken looks.

I don't cook and don't really eat out unless you count a little somethin' somethin' from the Whole Foods hot bar or some frozen yogurt on my evening walks "eating out".

I like the quiet or having the tv for company so I'm good.

It's pretty good, that's why i got into cooking.. I got burned too many times eating out by food that was just.. dead. Everything I cook is.. done right, I'll say. Quite tasty.

You don't cook and don't eat out? What do you do for food then?

geraldaltman

I am single and have spent much of my (early) adult life trying to find ways to not be, always with little or very limited successful. I've found as I've gotten older that "the process" (whatever it is) has become just too difficult and too emotionally taxing for me, so I just don't it anymore. That I live and do most things by myself has become a "non-starter" and I accept it. I do cook for myself fairly often. I am ok with that because if a meal I make is great nobody can take my credit and if it sucks nobody has to know. I am perfectly fine with cooking a meal and eating it at my table with a TV show or game on my tablet. I am just as fine going out for a meal and chatting up with strangers or joining family when they ask me. To use an overworn phrase "it is what it is". I am happy, even more so today because I have taken care of some discomfort and mobility issues that have plagued me in recent years. Doing so has given me the ability to get out and do more things...for me and to improve my overall health and wellbeing...for me, without spending anymore of myself to find that "special someone". It just wasn't meant to be.

kshama2001

I find it easier to be a healthy weight when I'm single. I cook more simply, and make meals that have less calories. I also cook less often - have leftovers more.

Additionally, I spend more time at the gym when single.

nighthawk584

single and cook every day. I have eaten away from home 3 times since I started my journey in April.

kshama2001

I read a definition here about intro- and extroversion that I found interesting. It was along the lines that if you feel 'recharged" while being alone, you are an introvert, and if you recharge with people, you are an extrovert.

I'm definitely an introvert, which probably explains why I do not feel lonely. I recharge in my garden or the woods by myself.

I work from home and can go days without leaving the house or speaking in person to anyone but my OH, which is fine with me. I interact with coworkers via daily IM and weekly phone calls, I see family weekly, and I maintain relationships with friends who are now long distance, and that fills my needs for socialization.

I've previously picked girlfriends who were drama-llamas, but think I've outgrown that now.

LyndaBSS

I'm not an introvert, I'm socially awkward. 😳

COGypsy

kshama2001 wrote: »

I read a definition here about intro- and extroversion that I found interesting. It was along the lines that if you feel 'recharged" while being alone, you are an introvert, and if you recharge with people, you are an extrovert.

I'm definitely an introvert, which probably explains why I do not feel lonely. I recharge in my garden or the woods by myself.

I work from home and can go days without leaving the house or speaking in person to anyone but my OH, which is fine with me. I interact with coworkers via daily IM and weekly phone calls, I see family weekly, and I maintain relationships with friends who are now long distance, and that fills my needs for socialization.

I've previously picked girlfriends who were drama-llamas, but think I've outgrown that now.

I really think that’s what it comes down to in a big way. I am a textbook extrovert—it’s been a long week and I’m sitting here counting the minutes til I can go to supper club and hang out with my friends. For me it’s not a matter of skill—From the time I was 10 I was responsible for lunches and dinners for my family. It’s a matter of interest and where I prefer to put my time and effort. I put my effort into maximizing the time I can spend with family and friends, which often involves food. My condo is really just a place to sleep, shower, and keep my stuff.
I’ve actually turned down jobs that had a large work at home component. It would KILL me!

GummiMundi

I'm single. I cook for myself most days, and when the dish allows it, I double the quantity so I can have leftovers for the next day. I have zero issues with dining alone, and in fact I have to admit that usually I even prefer it.

I get to cook what I want, when I want, and how I want. I don't need to cater to someone else's taste buds, only mine. I don't cook very elaborate meals that would trap me in the kitchen for hours, because I don't have patience for that, but then again I prefer simpler food, so it all works out for me.

I've heard many people throughout the years saying that if it's only for them, then it's not worth the trouble to cook. I find that a bit sad (sorry!), because if I'm not worth it, then who is?!

AnnPT77

I'm single (widowed 21 years now) and absolutely, I cook.

I make foods I find much tastier and more satisfying than what most restaurants dish out, at lower calories, and it's way less expensive. I've been cooking for a long time, so mostly just make things up (don't follow recipes), and always have a few things prepped in the freezer for over-busy days. Usually, I find slicing and chopping quite restful and meditative. It's fun to go to the farmers market and pick out fresh goodies, try new things, experiment. I'll often cut up raw veggies, and snack on those while I cook the main dish, listen to radio news or music, etc. Enjoyable!

I eat out with friends once or twice a week, occasionally pick up something when on the run or for variety, go out for a special meal alone occasionally, but most meals are home-cooked, by far.

nooshi713

Yes i cook, but not daily.

I usually cook twice a week and eat leftovers.

I also have a few quick and easy meals that I often prepare like veggie burgers.

Kupla71

I’m single and I quite enjoy cooking. I find it relaxing. I love making a big batch of soup or stew on a lazy afternoon. I’m definitely an introvert. Being alone is how I recharge. I consider cooking a way to destress and experiment with new ideas and recipes. I like finding new ways to nourish myself and work towards weight loss and health.

glassyo

Siege_Tank wrote: »

glassyo wrote: »

Siege_Tank wrote: »

Aye, but it's quite a shame really. I skip plating and presentation, and usually just eat it right as it cools. If it goes in a bowl, I serve it in my glass Tupperware and lid it up when I'm through. No sense in lighting a dinner candle just just me and my chicken and veggies.

Depends how good that chicken looks.

I don't cook and don't really eat out unless you count a little somethin' somethin' from the Whole Foods hot bar or some frozen yogurt on my evening walks "eating out".

I like the quiet or having the tv for company so I'm good.

It's pretty good, that's why i got into cooking.. I got burned too many times eating out by food that was just.. dead. Everything I cook is.. done right, I'll say. Quite tasty.

You don't cook and don't eat out? What do you do for food then?

Hah! Well, I microwave eggs...but mostly cottage cheese or greek yogurt mixed with protein powder, protein bars, tuna packets, some fruit, chocolate, cookies , cereal, stuff like that. I don't eat many veggies...

COGypsy

GummiMundi wrote: »

I'm single. I cook for myself most days, and when the dish allows it, I double the quantity so I can have leftovers for the next day. I have zero issues with dining alone, and in fact I have to admit that usually I even prefer it.

I get to cook what I want, when I want, and how I want. I don't need to cater to someone else's taste buds, only mine. I don't cook very elaborate meals that would trap me in the kitchen for hours, because I don't have patience for that, but then again I prefer simpler food, so it all works out for me.

I've heard many people throughout the years saying that if it's only for them, then it's not worth the trouble to cook. I find that a bit sad (sorry!), because if I'm not worth it, then who is?!

I say exactly the same thing about the money I spend on meal services and eating out....there are SO many things I would cut from my budget before I’d regularly cook and eat by myself.

MoxyLeigh

I do cook, generally daily, and I don't mind cooking or eating alone really. I also don't mind going to a restaurant alone though, which many people find... well, weird.

Not to say I don't miss having someone to cook for. I enjoy cooking for other people, and I certainly "do it up" more under those circumstances. But yeah, if I'm alone I find food to be good company. Lol.