Single People

 How do you cook a meal for one with a sleeve?

When I'm cooking just for me, I like to use chicken tenderloins.  They are about 2 oz each, so a great portion size.  I buy them individually frozen (they come in 2 or 3# bags) and then just thaw one or two out at a time.  I do the same with other meats.  I buy a normal size package, but then I portion them into individual servings (ziploc bags) and freeze them that way.  Then I just thaw out what I need.

I also try to use similar ingredients over the course of a week.  So if I buy a head of broccoli, for example, I'll use it for several meals during the week so I don't have to throw too much leftovers out.

Eggs and string cheese is pretty self explanatory.  LOL  I use those regularly too.

I'm pretty organized... maybe some OCD going on, so this is fun to me.

I cook a normal sized meal and package the leftovers into individual servings to take in my lunch and eat for dinner later in the week.

I buy tilapia packaged in single-servings (they sell it at Wal-Mart), or I cook some eggs, or a single chicken sausage.  I also will buy a steak or a piece of salmon and cut it into three or four pieces, and eat it over the course of a few days.  I also buy big packages of frozen shrimp, and defrost a few to eat for dinner.  I've always primarily cooked for one, so it wasn't too hard to adapt post-op.

It took me a while, but I finally got to the point where I am no longer throwing out food.  It takes a lot of weighing of food and freezing. I also had to be willing to eat leftovers for breakfast so that I don't waste food.  When I bring meat home,  I divide up what goes in the fridge and what goes in the freezer.

If done right, the grocery bill should go down drastically.

For me it's pretty difficult. I just made taco salad the other night and I'm sure I'm going to have to throw out more than half of the ground turkey and almost all of the refried beans. I made half a pound thinking it was going to shrink up as much as the ground beef. WRONG. I put like half an oz of refried beans and 1 oz (give or take) of turkey, grated cheese on top (generously) and then a bit of salsa and sour cream (can do greek yogurt as well). Well, Unless I want to eat in for breakfast, lunch and dinner for a week, it's all going to go bad. The 2 cup can of beans is going to go to waste when I'm using a freakin tablespoon per meal and the turkey is going to have to get thrown away as well. I bought a pound package but I thought I'd go through the half pound in a few days because of the meat shrinking (it didn't) and because I didn't take into account the rest of the food in the meal I guess. It takes time to get used to but I waste so much food that I really refuse to buy anything that isn't frozen or freezable.

I just cleared out my fridge and it was 3 grocery bags of stuff that I had bought in the last 2 months that are useless now :(

I would freeze it into individual sizes then eat it whenever you feel like it. I cook normally because I have children and then I love leftovers for myself so I don't have to figure out what to make for my lunch at work etc.. I am starting to get sick of chicken though and need to change things up. I did make some turkey soup, thai soup and stuff that is in the freezer still and some fish paddies. One thing I learned before my surgery was to be prepared, have options and that really is about freezing foods. I didn't buy any veggies this week and will finish up what needs to be gone by the time I leave for vacation, there is enough stuff for the kids plus they are just home for suppers now. I will come back home and learn how to use my slow cooker to start preparing stuff, it is so late by the time I pick up my youngest at daycare and get home to start supper (this is where leftovers come in handy).

 Freeze it, girl!

Ha! I've had so many other things on my mind that I didn't think about freezing it AFTER I prepared it. I'm such a doof.

Remember, you can always freeze leftovers and eat them at some other time. This week you will do a lot less cooking and can have a variety. :o)