Preparing a meal for one person can be a challenge—especially if you’ve spent much of your life cooking for a whole family. Often takeout can seem like the best solution but, unfortunately, it’s not always the most healthful or the most economical. On the other hand, collecting all the ingredients for a recipe and handling post-meal cleanup can seem like an unnecessary hassle for just yourself.
The good news is there are plenty of ways you can create delicious, easy-to-prepare and nutritious foods that will have you yearning to jump back into the kitchen. These tips will help you get started.
Become a Master of One-Dish Wonders
From a warm, hearty chili to a comforting pot of chicken noodle soup, a sizeable fresh salad to warm, baked lasagna, some of the most popular foods are cooked (and served) in one dish. That means less cleanup, less effort spent on preparation and more time enjoying your satisfying meal.
By making sure your meals are nutrient-rich and complete, there’s no reason you can’t whip up your favorites several times a week. And if you’re not a natural chef, consider enrolling in a cooking class that specializes in cooking for one.
Plan a Weekly Menu
Before you make a trip to the grocery store, sit down and plan out your meals. This will help you avoid wasting ingredients you don’t use or loading up your cart with lots of over processed frozen dinners. Planning ahead will also help you focus on healthier options.
For example, if your doctor has recommended you lower your cholesterol, you can search new recipes that follow a low-cholesterol diet and purchase only items that fall into your meal plan.
Fill Your Freezer
One of the most difficult things about cooking full-size recipes when you’re living alone is that, after a while, eating the same leftovers gets boring. With freezer meals, though, you can create full recipes without living off the same leftovers for a week. Simply prepare the meal as normal, divide it into servings and freeze them individually. Consider starting a freezer club with friends to share your favorites and try something new.
Invest in Small Kitchen Appliances
Small appliances are the most powerful tools when cooking for one. They’re easy, require less cleanup and take up little counter space. For example, a toaster oven allows you to roast a single serving of vegetables, bake a small pita pizza, toast your own kale chips or whip up a mouth-watering tuna melt.
Similarly, a slow cooker is a dream for cooking up sized-down portions of your favorite stew, baked beans, casseroles, stuffed peppers—and even this healthy fudge cake when you have a sweet tooth.
Cooking for one can seem difficult at first, but there are plenty of easy options for enjoying the homemade foods you crave without paying for a personal chef. Try the suggestions above for getting the nutrients you need while staying independent. Who knows? You may discover cooking is your new favorite hobby.
Cooking for yourself is just one of the many benefits of aging in place, but there are plenty more! Discover how older adults like you are changing retirement in our free guide, Aging in Place: A Popular Trend for a New Generation of Seniors.
