Cooking for One!

kristineh86
kristineh86 Posts: 134
edited September 19 in Food and Nutrition
Does anyone have any good recipes for dinner for one?! I hate when food goes bad and I don't usually eat leftovers. I am sick of eating hotdogs, pasta, and quesadillas. HELP!! :) Thanks in advance!

Replies

  • Does anyone have any good recipes for dinner for one?! I hate when food goes bad and I don't usually eat leftovers. I am sick of eating hotdogs, pasta, and quesadillas. HELP!! :) Thanks in advance!
  • Poison5119
    Poison5119 Posts: 1,460 Member
    My typical dinner is pretty simple actually.

    I buy my meats, divvy them up into 5oz portions and freeze them in sandwich bags.
    I buy frozen veggies by the bagful.
    I buy Aunt Millies 12 grain bread, or small red potatos.

    I decide in the AM what I want for meat, take one serving out and leave it in the fridge to thaw.
    I have a George Forman grill I use to grill the meat - I might sprnkle some spices on it, nuke the veggies fresh out of the freezer and add spices to that, and butter a peice of bread or nuke a baked potato, which I put non-fat sour cream on.... Voila! Instant awesome balanced dinner.
    It takes me 10-15 mins to throw dinner together.
  • keiko
    keiko Posts: 2,919 Member
    I'm not sure what kinds of foods you like but many can be made and then frozen into individual size portions. Soups, chili, spaghetti sauce. After it's cool use freezer bags. They don't take up much room in the freezer.
    When I make meatloaf I make individual size bake them all eat one freeze the rest. Take one out of the freezer in the morning and about hour before dinner bake with a sweet potato or regular if you like. Have a salad or vegetable and your dinner is done.
    The rotisserie chickens are a good buy. Eat some, take the rest off the bone and freeze for use in soups, casseroles., pot pies, chicken salad. Our store sells the cold ones even cheaper.
    Kelly
  • psyknife
    psyknife Posts: 487 Member
    I live alone, and for myself I usually:

    A.) Have sandwich materials on hand that stay good for 1-2 weeks (breads, meats, veggies)
    B.) Keep lots of freezer items (frozen fish fillets, frozen veggies, Morning Star Farms items...)
    C.) Boxed items (Kashi cereals & granola bars, oatmeal, Quinoa, Brown Rice, Whole Wheat pasta)
    D.) Canned Items (mostly organic... soups, beans, veggies, salsa...)
    E.) Fruits

    When I make dishes I either make single servings (i.e. I'll cook one fish fillet w/veggies & some rice or Quinoa) OR I'll make something that will keep in plastic containers for a few days for quick reheating (stir-fry and pasta dishes).
  • lessertess
    lessertess Posts: 855 Member
    I can't really give you recipes, becuase I seldom use one. My Mom and Grandmom taught me to cook from the school of "dash of this", "pinch of that", and "season to taste" and I was taught to make A LOT of whatever I was cooking. But, I have learned that it is possible to just use smaller portions when cooking and make smaller amounts.

    For Example:
    I make chili using 1/4 pound of lean ground beef (as soon as you get home from the grocery store break your meats into single portions and freeze them in ziploc bags) and either soy crumbles or portabello mushrooms and 1/2 cup of beans, some onion and some canned, diced tomatos. Spice it up with chili powder, garlic and crushed red pepper....yum!

    Use the toaster oven or a skillet and cook just one turkey cutlet or chicken breast and add your favorite herbs and spices. (works with fish too and you can get really nice flash frozen single fish filets in most grocery stores)

    I've even made a tuna casserole for one by cooking a single serving of pasta and then adding a single serving of each of the other ingredients. (tuna, celery, mushroom soup, onion, cheese, breadcrumbs)

    Stir fry is always great and you just have to throw whatever you've got in the fridge in the pan.

    Salads and frozen veggies make easy side dishes.

    Oh, and baked potato as a base with salsa and a single serving of grilled beef or chicken, add in some black beans and corn. Top with a little fat free sour cream....delish.

    Eggs are great, I often have breakfast for dinner.

    You can make soup with Swanson chicken broth, add frozen veggies and dice up whatever protein you like or just go for canned soups. Dinner for me lately has been canned soups and a multigrain bread. It's high in sodium, but truthfully, I have too much else to worry about so I balance with potassium and make sure I drink plenty of liquids.

    I know how you're feeliing though. It is tough cooking for one and it's easy to spend way too much money for more convenience and small portion foods. Just be adventurous and throw stuff together, it's kinda fun. :bigsmile:

    .
  • Anna_Banana
    Anna_Banana Posts: 2,939 Member
    I'm not sure what kinds of foods you like but many can be made and then frozen into individual size portions. Soups, chili, spaghetti sauce. After it's cool use freezer bags. They don't take up much room in the freezer.
    When I make meatloaf I make individual size bake them all eat one freeze the rest. Take one out of the freezer in the morning and about hour before dinner bake with a sweet potato or regular if you like. Have a salad or vegetable and your dinner is done.
    The rotisserie chickens are a good buy. Eat some, take the rest off the bone and freeze for use in soups, casseroles., pot pies, chicken salad. Our store sells the cold ones even cheaper.
    Kelly

    I don't cook for one, but this is what I do. I will make enough soup to feed an army. then I put single servings in freezable bowls and freeze it and use them for my lunches.
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