Loners - do you eat like you should?

[Jaded]

Last night I had french fries, three slices of bologna, and popcorn for dinner. I know I don't eat right, and I have a house full of food, but I just don't feel like cooking just for me.

How do you overcome this problem? It's so hard being alone, and only having one person to think about. I wanted to make some meat, but it's all frozen, and I didn't want to bother with defrosting it, thus the bologna.

Also, being stressed makes me lazy, so right now I don't want to do anything.

[ktsmama]

My DD stays with her dad every other week, so I am a loner on those weeks.

I have found that I am eating worse and worse. And my body is showing it! I have been thinking about the same thing, but I can not get myself motivated to cook for one person.

[Sari]

No I don't. A lot of nights I eat at my mom's house, but I know some people don't have that option. When I'm home by myself, I eat junk. I need to get better about it, but I hate cooking for only 1 person.

[grneyegrl]

guess im strange...i love tocook but i live with my mom and sister...i will cook 4 serving we may eat 2 and then freeze the rest.. i also buy frozen turkey burgers.. much cheaper than fast food

[jacqueline]

ummmm.... i eat horrible. one of my goals for 08. living alone and working 12hr days....i usually grab what is easiest or quickest and it's hardly ever good. unfortunately, it is wearing on my health...i have GERD and can't seem to lose any weight.

[shoiji]

I do enjoy cooking but sometimes don't want to cook. When I cook soup, macaroni & cheese or stew I divide it up and freeze in single serving size.

Also got rid of most of the junk food. Also keep fresh fruit and vegetables on hand. potatoes can be easily microwaved.

Try and think the night before to take what you are having the next day out of the freezer. I realize it is difficult when you are tired and hungry but just try making changes slowly.

Good luck with it.

[acidcookie]

I tend to feel more like living alone gives me the freedom to experiment. I can try to cook anything and if it sucks no one else has to eat it. No one even has to know how bad it was. Health is important to me, so living alone hasn't ruined it, but I do sometimes eat smaller things here and there instead of cooking. That's not so bad though--PB&J and yogurt for dinner? So?

Also, when I cook I always make much more than I need at once so I purposely have leftovers.

[mnmarty03]

I live alone too and I find myself often eating random things. You probably shouldn't ask how many times I've had a bowl of cereal for both breakfast AND dinner...several times in the same week. I don't do specific meal plans, I never stick to it, but I do grocery shop with a variety of meals in mind. That way I still have a "meal plan" but I'm not forced to stick to a specific meal each night if I'm not in the mood. When things are really tight, I've even made a list of all the different meals I can possibly make from my food I have, then I just cross them off the list after I make them.... knowing in my head what meals I can make (or seeing it written down) helps me to get more motivated for cooking for myself.

I've been told that making dinner a treat can also be good for you. Instead of seeing it as "something I have to do so I don't die", try seeing it as "a wonderful chance to relax." In other words - indulge. Make something you LOVE or try something new. Set a nice place setting at your table (placemat, nice dishes, cup of something yummy to drink, cloth napkin, etc. anything to make you feel special), and enjoy your meal! Often times I just grab my book, and eat while reading. I find it relaxing and a great way to get a chapter or two done if I'm really busy other times. Or if you love TV, movies, internet, etc, grab your food and sit down to your favorite stuff.

Anyways, these are just some suggestions. I wouldn't worry if you don't make a "real meal" every night. I've had cereal plenty of times for dinner. And pancakes (takes like 10 min to cook). I've had sandwhiches and soups... and left overs. I always make enough food for at least two meals.

Hope this helps!

[monkeywrangler71]

When my husband is out of town I eat like garbage. I'm not even alone, I'm still feeding 3 kids, but I don't want to cook something elaborate because they barely eat. Most of the time I feed them something more lunch-like, then I end up with junk or don't bother eating at all. Luckily he doesn't travel as much, he used to be gone 3 weeks a month.

Funny, because my mother will nag me about eating, but then I'll be talking to her when my father's away and she's having popcorn for supper.

[pita1213]

one of my neighbors lives alone. she will make a casserole, or soup on a night when she's in the mood to cook then put one or two servings in the fridge for the next day and the rest of it split into servings in the freezer.
you could cook something on the weekend or whenever you have had a day off, and still eat some of it later in the week.

[Jaded]

one of my neighbors lives alone. she will make a casserole, or soup on a night when she's in the mood to cook then put one or two servings in the fridge for the next day and the rest of it split into servings in the freezer.
you could cook something on the weekend or whenever you have had a day off, and still eat some of it later in the week.

Yeah, but the problem with that is, I don't always have a taste for the same thing several nights in a row, in fact, I seldom do. I seem to have different tastes every day.

[dcompton]

I'm one of the lucky ones I guess, because I never mind left overs. I cook a lot when I cook -- especially meats -- and freeze most of it, so I only have to pull it out of the freezer. A bag of frozen veggies to go with it, or a can, isn't as much of a challenge as the meat. I also try to keep things on hand for sandwiches, and often make homemade soup on my day off. I had some time off around Labor Day and I COOKED. I hated doing it then -- every day something substantial on my vacation time -- but I am still eating off the bounty. Not every meal, but it's great having little packets of sliced turkey and pork loin and chopped brisket and such on hand.

I've also started keeping some frozen or packaged convenience foods on hand. If I just don't have the ambition to do anything else, I can heat a frozen meal. Not great, I know, lots of salt and other evil stuff, but on those days I would probably do something worse without it.

And, well, no, I don't always eat like I should. My doctor is going to seriously frown when I see her in December, but I do try. I don't enjoy cooking anymore either, but I can usually look around and find other housework I would like to do even less, and choosing the lesser of the evils, march myself into the kitchen. But nearly all of my major cooking is cooking ahead. When I get in from work I never want to cook anything more demanding than a fried egg.

[TreasureFinder]

I don't enjoy cooking, but I'm on a special diet and can't just eat TV dinners like I used to. One thing that helps me is making meals from pre-cooked items from the store, like rotisserie chicken and fully-cooked chicken sausage. I buy containers of rice from a nearby Asian restaurant, and mix it with some type of meat and/or vegetable. Costs more than making it myself, but I'm eating healthier because of it.

[Droppedonmyhead]

I've lived alone for 10 years. I really don't eat out too much. I prefer to cook my own meals. I make a lot so that I can freeze the leftovers or eat them in the next few days. Probably a thing from my childhood and way our grandparents ate, but I don't mind making a lot of something and eating it every day until it's done. Just doesn't bother me at all. I do plan my weekly menus. . .have for years. It helps prevent me from buying all kinds of unncessary things.

[Jaded]

I think if I could ever get into the habit of cooking and freezing whole meals, not just casseroles or spaghetti or something like that, but a meat and a couple of veggies, I'd be o.k. One thing is, I hate stuff like frozen fried chicken. I like my meat freshly cooked, but if that was all I had to cook, and the rest was just pull out and reheat, I'd probably be o.k.

I just don't know what it's going to take to motivate me. I did at least cook a pork chop tonight, but I also ate french fries with it. Ice cream float for dessert.