Cancer Protective Diet

Home Alone – Great Ideas for Meals for One

We’re often asked at Cook for Your Life about easy meals  for one. I think cooking for one is a state of mind. If you live alone, looking at recipes that feed 6-8 people can seem too much, which it absolutely is unless you think a little bit out of the box.  I had an ‘aha’ moment about cooking quantities and the single girl when I lived in... Paris. I watched a French girlfriend of mine who lived alone cooking huge soups for herself and then freezing them. Doh! Much better than wrestling with the math of halving recipes! Like her I now make full recipes of sauces, soups or chilis, but only eat what I’m hungry for and freeze the rest in portions to enjoy on days when I don’t have the time or energy to cook.  I make rice and quinoa in bulk too. They freeze well and can be combined with other veggies into easy one pot dishes like veggie fried rice (a personal ‘home alone’ fave) or steamed as sides for other foods. Protein rich quinoa is a great base for veggie ‘bowls‘. Marinades can be frozen too. When they are thawed, you can just pop a chicken breast or fish fillet into the bag with them to soak up the flavor. Another great standby in my house are pita pizzas. I often use wholewheat pita breads or naan instead of pizza dough to make tasty pizzas in minutes. You can use almost anything as toppings and eaten with a salad it’s a great meal. Pasta is a great way to transform leftover veggies or to turn special spring treats like asparagus into full meals. Speaking of leftovers, they can easily be made into single serve frittatas or even curries, served with a little of that frozen rice. The possibilities are endless! Enjoy!