Tips to Successfully Cook for One

As of 2024, more than 30% of Americans lived alone. Regardless of your circumstances we all may find times where we are cooking for just ourselves. Whether you find cooking intimidating, are used to cooking for a larger group of people, or would like to cut down on pricey takeout- keep reading to learn the top tips to successfully cook for one!

Plan

Plan your budget! By planning your grocery budget you can ensure that you are staying within your means! If you aren't sure with where to start with your budget try tracking your grocery and food expenses for two to three weeks and then assessing. Most financal advisors recommend spending allocating 10% to 15% of your income on groceries.

Plan your recipies! You don't necessarily need to start from scratch with new recipies, you can adjust your tried and true recipies for fewer portions by halving or quartering the measurements. Make a plan for your leftovers. Whether you eat them the next day or freeze them for later, factor them into your meal plan. If you are new to cooking and not sure where to start, look online for one serving recipes! One Dish Kitchen has an amazing collection of over 600 single dish recipes that is conventiently categorized and even searchable!

Plan your ingredients! Buy ingredients that you can prepare and use for several different meals! A rotisserie chicken is a great example of a protien that can easily be put into several different meals. You can add the chicken to a salad, enchiladas, and soup all in the span of one week! Don't discount the usefulness of a stocked freezer. Frozen veggies are nearly nutritionally identical to fresh veggies and they will last much longer than a fridge full of fresh produce.

Prepare

Prepare ingredients ahead of time for easy meal assembly Batch cook ingredients and freeze them for later use. You can cook pasta, rice, or lentils and freeze them in individual portions to make meal preparation easy. Starches can last in your freezer for up to 3 months! Cut your herbs and fresh vegetables and store them in the freezer! This will help to ensure that you can use your ingredients before they spoil.

Embrace Leftovers

Love them or hate them, leftovers can be hard to avoid when you are cooking for one. If you are happy to eat leftovers of the same meal for multiple days, add a large yield recipe like a soup or stew to your meal plan for the week and enjoy the servings over several days. On the other hand, if you are not a fan of leftovers, your freezer will be an asset on your cooking for one journey! Clearly label and freeze your leftovers in individual portions and enjoy them for up to 2 months.

Final Thoughts

Cooking for one can be a new challenge for many, but with some planning and preparaton it can be an exciting new adventure. If you or your loved one need assistance grocery shopping, meal planning, and cooking call Total at 219-937-2811 to schedule an assessment for in-home personal care!