veg for lazy single people

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Replies

  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,149 Member
    Bag o greens- open and eat.
  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    I buy butternut squash that's already been peeled, seeded & chopped. Easy peasy lemon squeezy!
  • samantha1242
    samantha1242 Posts: 816 Member
    If you have a Costco membership they have veggie and fruit trays in the produce aisle/cooler. Everything is all chopped up ready to eat. A little pricey, but worth it if you aren't wanting to chop/cleandishes/etc. Most grocery stores have these available too in the produce section by the bagged salads.

    Grocery stores also have bags of pre-chopped broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, snap peas, etc. Super easy to grab a couple for a snack, cook (steam/boil/whatever) or add to something and then close back up. Some of the bags even reseal, but if not, just invest in a good bag snappy-closey-thingymabob.
  • tomatoey
    tomatoey Posts: 5,446 Member
    Thanks so much guys!

    So many great tips :D

    To summarize:
    - washed/bagged veg
    - steamables - I've never even heard of these! - or microwaving veg
    - Sunday veg prep or cooking
    - freezing brothy soups
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    I cook for just myself a bunch and actually find veggies the easiest part since most of them are so quick. The trick is just getting into a consistent pattern. I tend to buy my favorites regularly and cook them in a few simple ways. First, is that I have some for breakfast pretty much always--usually in an omelet, but if I'm not in the mood (like this morning) I just roast or panfry some as a side. Second is with dinner, and usually (especially after work) this means a simple preparation, again just roasted or pan-fried, since that's how I like them best. I make 1-3 kinds, depending on what's on hand and what else I'm eating, but nothing too elaborate for a routine dinner. I do usually make extras and pack them up for lunches, but this is to make lunch easier--it's not that hard to cook for just one or two meals, IME. (I actually think it's tons easier when dieting than cooking for a family.)

    For me, I was helpful to stop trying to plan a meal and buy for that meal and instead just to force myself to use what's on hand. That's when I started using things up instead of letting them go bad. Basically, I approach cooking for the week by taking out or having ready to take out the meat I want from the freezer and making sure it's something that will cook quickly or that I have a plan for (i.e., the slow cooker or a Sunday prep in advance), and then have sufficient veggies on hand to make sides. With that I can make any meal super quickly. (I also use lots of veggies in fast olive oil-based pasta sauces and a slower meat sauce, but that is less common than just eating them on their own. I have salads and other raw preparations occasionally, but eat cooked veggies far more often.)

    Aha! Unplan the planning! I like it! I do still focus my meals around meat, so this is something that will work for me, I think :)

    Thanks so much, guys!

  • tomatoey
    tomatoey Posts: 5,446 Member
    edited December 2014
    Tag-on question for singles: how often do you shop for veg? 2-3x a week? Daily, on your way home? Weekly shop at a big grocery store? And how many veg things are in your fridge at any time (if not doing frozen steamables)?

    Oh re why I dislike frozen veg - I don't know. It just doesn't taste as good as fresh to me :/ Spinach in particular is always disappointing imo. And when I use frozen veggies as ingredients for other things, handling the water release issue is a little odd, imo, it's just a little different from what I usually expect "fresh" veg to behave like

    - I know my "fresh" stuff isn't always the freshest, just mean not frozen or canned
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    JoRocka wrote: »
    steamables- throw a bag in the microwave- slap a pad of butter on the top little S/P and you're good to go.
    It's not easy to eat all your food if you're single! Even if you eat leftovers for every meal, you're still looking at like three days eating nothing but whatever you made.

    how is that a problem?

    Two solutions- 1.) do that- sub out dinner with scrambled eggs. or 2.) cook one stove top- one oven- so you have two dishes you can rotate back and forth... actually 3rd solution is get over it - it's only 3 days before you rotate meals.
    hashtagIeatthesamethingsforweeksonend
    It isn't a problem. I didn't ask for nor do I want a "solution," lol. I'm going to stick with freezing. It works well for me.

    When the day comes that I want to more like you, I will be sure to ask your advice. For now, that's not really the way I want to go.
  • CyberTone
    CyberTone Posts: 7,337 Member
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    CyberTone wrote: »
    Winter squash (acorn, butternut, spaghetti) are in season, inexpensive, and taste good. You don't even have to peel them. Preheat oven or toaster oven, cut one squash in quarters and remove seeds (wrap unused in plastic wrap and put in fridge - it will last for days), place on a piece of aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes, or just microwave for 3-4 minutes until tender. I season with garlic powder and any flavor Mrs. Dash (I have to watch my sodium intake). Recycle aluminum foil.

    I thought this was funny, because I honestly don't get the difficulty with cooking veggies in general, but I always complain about winter squash being so much work. I have a ton of it right now--I get a CSA and have been having winter squash and root veggies provided in huge quantities--and the time it takes to cook them, plus the pain of having to cut them (I need better knives, granted) and clean out the seeds, while minor enough, makes chopping a cauliflower or tossing some spinach in a pan seem like nothing at all. Also, the fact that one does last forever is kind of a drawback if you are trying to make single servings, sometimes.

    But my own perception of this aside, I agree that they are great and tasty and not nearly as much work as my mind sometimes likes to think they are.

    I just microwaved one quarter of a spaghetti squash for dinner tonight: 200g and 62 Cals. I have a set of CUTCO knives, well worth the cost. A good heavy-duty butcher knife is essential for winter squash.
    zsaigatphffp.jpg
  • T1DCarnivoreRunner
    T1DCarnivoreRunner Posts: 11,502 Member
    Go to Subway (or similar establishment) and get a salad.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    I haven't tried microwaving, and maybe should. I have this idea in my mind that the only tasty way to cook them is roasting, and that's slow, or is for a pumpkin and some of the other big ones (delicata ARE about the easiest possible).

    Anyway, I eat them quite often because of the CSA and the season, but it just tends to feel like more work than it should. I've gotten way better, though.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    tomatoey wrote: »
    Tag-on question for singles: how often do you shop for veg? 2-3x a week? Daily, on your way home? Weekly shop at a big grocery store? And how many veg things are in your fridge at any time (if not doing frozen steamables)?

    Couple times a week for me, although I could probably do less--I just happen to shop that much anyway.

    Right now I have a bunch of in-season (or kind of in-season) stuff that's longer lasting, like winter squash, carrots, and parsnips, plus my rotating standbys--right now spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, and green beans, plus mushrooms and onions and some white asparagus. It sounds like a lot, but I go through them pretty fast since I cook them until they are gone, and I cook most meals. The mushrooms, spinach and broccoli will show up in my omelets, for example, and I'll also use the spinach raw. I often use the stuff in season now in place of potatoes or sweet potatoes, so tonight I am having carrots and parsnips and cauliflower (all roasted).

    I have more variety than you will want at first, though. What I would do is pick up 2-3 things that you think you'll use in the coming week and just work with that. After a bit you'll get a better sense of what you need and what you like it with, and then it will be lots easier.
  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    tomatoey wrote: »
    Tag-on question for singles: how often do you shop for veg? 2-3x a week? Daily, on your way home? Weekly shop at a big grocery store? And how many veg things are in your fridge at any time (if not doing frozen steamables)?

    Like @kimny72‌ upthread, I shop weekly. I eat bagged salads the first day or maybe two (they get gross quickly), then the other fresh stuff, then frozen. I also eat a lot of fresh fruit—they have fiber and micronutrients, too.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    tomatoey wrote: »
    Tag-on question for singles: how often do you shop for veg? 2-3x a week? Daily, on your way home? Weekly shop at a big grocery store? And how many veg things are in your fridge at any time (if not doing frozen steamables)?

    I live in the city, two blocks from the grocery store. I go in daily. A few vegetables usually lasts me a couple nights. I eat the same thing very often. Doesn't bother me. It's just fuel.
  • lenoresaari
    lenoresaari Posts: 500 Member
    Put frozen veg in a bowl with water in it and microwave, drain water and eat. Or drink V8
  • tomatoey
    tomatoey Posts: 5,446 Member
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    tomatoey wrote: »
    Tag-on question for singles: how often do you shop for veg? 2-3x a week? Daily, on your way home? Weekly shop at a big grocery store? And how many veg things are in your fridge at any time (if not doing frozen steamables)?

    Couple times a week for me, although I could probably do less--I just happen to shop that much anyway.

    Right now I have a bunch of in-season (or kind of in-season) stuff that's longer lasting, like winter squash, carrots, and parsnips, plus my rotating standbys--right now spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, and green beans, plus mushrooms and onions and some white asparagus. It sounds like a lot, but I go through them pretty fast since I cook them until they are gone, and I cook most meals. The mushrooms, spinach and broccoli will show up in my omelets, for example, and I'll also use the spinach raw. I often use the stuff in season now in place of potatoes or sweet potatoes, so tonight I am having carrots and parsnips and cauliflower (all roasted).

    I have more variety than you will want at first, though. What I would do is pick up 2-3 things that you think you'll use in the coming week and just work with that. After a bit you'll get a better sense of what you need and what you like it with, and then it will be lots easier.

    Copy that - excellent advice, thank you!
    editorgrrl wrote: »
    tomatoey wrote: »
    Tag-on question for singles: how often do you shop for veg? 2-3x a week? Daily, on your way home? Weekly shop at a big grocery store? And how many veg things are in your fridge at any time (if not doing frozen steamables)?

    Like @kimny72‌ upthread, I shop weekly. I eat bagged salads the first day or maybe two (they get gross quickly), then the other fresh stuff, then frozen. I also eat a lot of fresh fruit—they have fiber and micronutrients, too.

    This is a sensible way to go, as well!
    arditarose wrote: »
    tomatoey wrote: »
    Tag-on question for singles: how often do you shop for veg? 2-3x a week? Daily, on your way home? Weekly shop at a big grocery store? And how many veg things are in your fridge at any time (if not doing frozen steamables)?

    I live in the city, two blocks from the grocery store. I go in daily. A few vegetables usually lasts me a couple nights. I eat the same thing very often. Doesn't bother me. It's just fuel.

    I wish I could see it that way ;) This is my situation too. What I've tended to do is buy 2-3 items daily, and worry a bit over using them up in time. E.g., I love red cabbage, but I picked one up a week ago - I've made a soup (I did freeze it, got 6 portions out of it) and a monster salad (3 portions there) and I'm still working on it. Similarly for a bag of carrots.. The places near me usually sell in huge bunches, so, it's like that for some things, at least. I'll think through it, though.

    Thanks so much again, everyone!
  • tomatoey
    tomatoey Posts: 5,446 Member
    samantha1242 wrote: »
    If you have a Costco membership they have veggie and fruit trays in the produce aisle/cooler. Everything is all chopped up ready to eat. A little pricey, but worth it if you aren't wanting to chop/cleandishes/etc. Most grocery stores have these available too in the produce section by the bagged salads.

    Grocery stores also have bags of pre-chopped broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, snap peas, etc. Super easy to grab a couple for a snack, cook (steam/boil/whatever) or add to something and then close back up. Some of the bags even reseal, but if not, just invest in a good bag snappy-closey-thingymabob.

    This is true, thank you!
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    [/quote]

    I wish I could see it that way ;) This is my situation too. What I've tended to do is buy 2-3 items daily, and worry a bit over using them up in time. E.g., I love red cabbage, but I picked one up a week ago - I've made a soup (I did freeze it, got 6 portions out of it) and a monster salad (3 portions there) and I'm still working on it. Similarly for a bag of carrots.. The places near me usually sell in huge bunches, so, it's like that for some things, at least. I'll think through it, though.

    Thanks so much again, everyone! [/quote]

    Red cabbage is hard. I used to put it in my salad every day, and usually a bit would be left over, unless the head was huge. But that was one thing I decided maybe I shouldn't eat every day-I guess it can leave you a little bloated. Carrots, I do not like unless it's a big organic carrot with the greens still on it so I'm sure a bag would go bad on me too. I don't know, find something you don't mind eating for at least 4 nights in a row? A lot of people wouldn't agree with me but I just don't care. I'd rather enjoy my damn squash every night and lose the weight than mess around in the kitchen for an hour cooking, let food go bad, etc.
  • tomatoey
    tomatoey Posts: 5,446 Member
    arditarose wrote: »

    I wish I could see it that way ;) This is my situation too. What I've tended to do is buy 2-3 items daily, and worry a bit over using them up in time. E.g., I love red cabbage, but I picked one up a week ago - I've made a soup (I did freeze it, got 6 portions out of it) and a monster salad (3 portions there) and I'm still working on it. Similarly for a bag of carrots.. The places near me usually sell in huge bunches, so, it's like that for some things, at least. I'll think through it, though.

    Thanks so much again, everyone! [/quote]

    Red cabbage is hard. I used to put it in my salad every day, and usually a bit would be left over, unless the head was huge. But that was one thing I decided maybe I shouldn't eat every day-I guess it can leave you a little bloated. Carrots, I do not like unless it's a big organic carrot with the greens still on it so I'm sure a bag would go bad on me too. I don't know, find something you don't mind eating for at least 4 nights in a row? A lot of people wouldn't agree with me but I just don't care. I'd rather enjoy my damn squash every night and lose the weight than mess around in the kitchen for an hour cooking, let food go bad, etc.
    [/quote]

    Yeah no, I'm starting to see the light :) I like cabbage because it's great for antioxidants and fiber, so filling (but yes, I hear you on that issue). At least I've got a good pace going with spinach and tomatoes, lol.
  • JustAnotherGirlSuzanne
    JustAnotherGirlSuzanne Posts: 932 Member
    Just eat your broccoli, peas, green beans, tomatoes, spinach, or whatever raw? Then you won't have to do dishes. Or you can make your veggies first and eat them while you're cooking your other food in the same cooking pan.
  • tannadine
    tannadine Posts: 115 Member
    I actually love this thread - I'm so glad I'm not the only lazy single person out there :)
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    tomatoey wrote: »
    Tag-on question for singles: how often do you shop for veg? 2-3x a week? Daily, on your way home? Weekly shop at a big grocery store? And how many veg things are in your fridge at any time (if not doing frozen steamables)?

    Oh re why I dislike frozen veg - I don't know. It just doesn't taste as good as fresh to me :/ Spinach in particular is always disappointing imo. And when I use frozen veggies as ingredients for other things, handling the water release issue is a little odd, imo, it's just a little different from what I usually expect "fresh" veg to behave like

    - I know my "fresh" stuff isn't always the freshest, just mean not frozen or canned

    well certain things freeze/unfreeze well- peppers and spinach are not ones I have seen to have good success.

    I pretty much live by garden blend and any type of string bean variation- those freeze well- unfreeze/steamables or sautee up well.

    I don't buy fresh veggies but once a week- otherwise I live by frozen- I waste to much and I don't have time to go to the store that often.
  • Azexas
    Azexas Posts: 4,334 Member
    Kalikel wrote: »
    Invest in Tupperware. Cook stuff in big batches, then freeze a bunch.

    ^^this. I cook all my veggies out on a Sunday and leave the rest for left overs throughout the week. It makes life so much easier.
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