Cooking for one

So we all know that cooking makes financial sense and is healthier for you but let’s be honest, when you live by yourself, it’s extremely difficult.

We all know how to do it. Make a grocery list, buy the items, bulk cook more than one meal so you don’t get bored out of your mind, package them in single-serve meals, freeze, defrost and serve.

How many of us do that consistently when it’s easier to grab a ready-made salad (Sobeys and Longos make great ones) or maybe a frozen pizza? Or if you can cook, you make the same 8 damn meals all the time and you really don’t want to look at another plate of pasta ever again, god. Also, I can only handle so many chicken breasts before I think I’ve grown feathers.

Part of my problem is that recipes aren’t made for one, groceries aren’t often packaged for one nor are they priced for one so it’s not like I can just go to Costco and buy a flat of chicken breast to save money. I could, there’s nothing stopping me except for the lack of freezer space.

Every few months I say I’m going to cook more but I find myself buying pre-packaged foods (healthy-ish as one can be), eating out or buying a tub of hummus and crackers and eating those. It’s just easier and sometimes, even cheaper than doing groceries. Plus, while I can cook, I’d rather do other things than hang out in the kitchen.

So what to do? I’m not sure. I think I’ll keep doing what I’m doing – buy stuff to make and balance that with ready-made dishes, just eyeballing the ingredients. Or I could just turn into my own Shutterstock version of ‘woman laughing with salad.’

I’ve got the ingredients to make cottage pie and French onion soup. I also have a ready-made salad, cashew and pistachio nuts and yoghurt. I’m going to eat those first before I make the pie and soup.

Reminder: I’m part of a one-month writing challenge, as are my friends Kath and Diane – just click on their names to check out their excellent work!