Food prep

annbutler560
annbutler560 Posts: 15 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
When choosing an item are you starting with a main meal and working bulk foods around it?
How to plan for 1 person is my need and not waste food.

Replies

  • sy_19440
    sy_19440 Posts: 55 Member
    I start with two or three main staples (proteins) for the week and build different meals around the proteins for various lunch and dinners (sometimes breakfast if the mood strikes me). I do meal plan before I go shopping so I have no chance of not having something on hand.
  • ArchyRunner
    ArchyRunner Posts: 58 Member
    I try and cook up a big batch of grains and grill a big batch of protein. Then I can add various toppings (veggies, nuts, cheese, dressing, etc) depending on how I'm serving it (rice bowl, salad, omelette, etc.)
  • cross2bear
    cross2bear Posts: 1,106 Member
    There are only two of us at home now, but I still make meals for four people - that way, I have two in the freezer for those days when I just cant bear to be in the kitchen. I meal plan too, so I can tell you pretty accurately what is for dinner next Thursday, so I can work in any fresh veg for example into the menu and not waste anything.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    I work from home now, but when I worked in an office and used to cook ahead on Sundays, I often did something like this:
    Bake 4 chicken thighs, seasoned with breadcrumbs, also make mashed potatoes. Have this for dinner M-Th, with a salad.
    Bake 4 chicken thighs, Thai Tandoori style, make rice and peas to go with it. Have this for lunch M-Th. Package it into lunch containers as soon as it is cool.

    I'd basically start with a protein, pick an ethnicity or style of cooking, and a starch and veg to go with it.
  • not_my_first_rodeo
    not_my_first_rodeo Posts: 311 Member
    annbutler560 wrote: »
    When choosing an item are you starting with a main meal and working bulk foods around it?
    How to plan for 1 person is my need and not waste food.

    I'm single too. I plan my meals in advance and try to either make individual portions or plan on taking in leftovers usually for lunch. Sometimes it works out well. For instance this week I have a lot going on and limited time to cook so I made a few big meals over the weekend and will just reheat stuff.

    Basically in addition to the entree, I figure out if I need to make salads or whatever. I also factor in snack foods.
  • annbutler560
    annbutler560 Posts: 15 Member
    I actually did the prep last Sunday with a Carnitas pork roast. Packaged it into serving sizes and froze some. I am feeling empowered. Finally got it!
    YAY! Now the fun in mix and match. Bet I can save a bunch of time and money. It's hard to cook for one.
  • kristen6350
    kristen6350 Posts: 1,094 Member
    It's actually easier to cook for one when you are watching what you eat. In 2011 I lost 50lbs. I cooked for myself every night. I had no other outside force telling me to eat something else. Or to be lazy and stay home with them.

    Fast Forward 5 years...cook for, live with and cater too a special guy. He loves rich food, carbs, sweets and beer. He isn't and has never been overweight. When we met I was 145lbs. Now I'm happy if I'm somewhere in the upper - middle 150's. Why? Because I have a problem working around what I should eat and what he wants to eat. And I feel I can't deprive him of what he wants and still be 145lbs. I can't maintain it and still live the way I want NOW. When I lived alone I rarely went out...I had a meal/work out schedule because I was the only one I had to deal with.

    So. Really once you get the hang of cooking for one (and having the motivation to actually cook for yourself), its really easy. And much easier than dealing with someone else's dietary needs.

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