If you live alone, do you bother to cook/eat properly?

[Saxalt]

And if so, can I ask what sort of meals you cook?

For the first time in 30 years I've started living on my own this year. I'm struggling to bother cooking properly - even easy stuff. I'd quite happily live off sandwiches or cereal or whatever my current obsession is (at the minute, pistachios and frozen Greek yogurt). But there comes a time (sadly) when you have to be sensible ...

Also, and I don't know how to explain this properly, but I don't feel like I live in the house or use it in the same way as I did when I had family living with me. Things like I won't bother lighting a candle because it's "only me", or putting the tv on because it's "only me". One of my dc came to stay recently and it struck me how he used the house as a home much more than I ever do.

I know I haven't explained that very well or articulated what I mean, but I don't know how to express it!

I've lived alone for most of my adult life. I usually have oven food and vegetables most nights, although it's a bit more relaxed at the weekends. Once a week or so I might buy a roast meal from a local place which makes them - they are so delicious - but as for making things from recipes I really can't be bothered most of the time. Sometimes I will make something easy and freeze a couple of portions.

I live alone by choice and it always feels like a home to me. It's my sanctuary and my happy space.

Feeling all of this. I used to love cooking and somehow it's been years of me feeling it's a chore. Need to sort out cholesterol now though (never had an issue before so it's a new one on me!). Anyone got easy low cholesterol tips? I bought an air fryer last month too 🫣

I don't live alone now but when I did yes I cooked a bit apart from needing more food now I don't think it's any different

I also batch cook .. can get about 8 portions out of most things
Spag bol
Chilli
Curry
Chicken , mushrooms in sauce
Pasta with whatever I've got type meals

Just take a random one out of freezer before I go to work , sometimes I think it's curry then I get home to defrosted chilli

I do a lot of roasted veg which I just plonk a poached egg on

Salmon and asparagus in a pan takes 10 mins

I've had to become more disciplined as the sandwiches , crisps and snacks led me to weight gain which I've now managed to get back down

When dc were little they went ti their dads three nights a week. I would get a treat meal one of the nights (like steak) and enjoy a nice meal followed by a bath or a film.

Maybe start small and plan two meals a week to cook and see how it goes-
Spag bol
Chilli and rice
Chicken breast, roast potatoes, veg gravy
Salmon , new potatoes, peas
Chicken tikka masala
Thai green curry
Beef stir fry with noodles
Bacon, egg, sausage, beans
Steak, chips, peas
Lasagne and garlic bread
Beef stew and dumplings
Chicken and chorizo tray bake

And definitely double up and have a portion the next day or freeze one.

Hairy bikers have some great recipe books for inspiration

When I'm on my own I don't really cook, but I do eat properly.
Lots of fruit, eggs, salad etc.
I don't enjoy cooking and after years and years of being a lone parent, I'm looking forward to not having to cook a meal every single day.

Maybe once DS2 has left home (currently 15) and I've had some head space I might find some joy in cooking.

I do cook when my health is good enough. I sometimes use meals on wheels (local council offers it to anyone who wants them).

I try to cook so I'll do something like a shepherd's pie as I would for a family. I'll make the meat and the potato and then instead of putting it in the oven I portion it into foil trays, cook one and freeze the other three.

I also build in 'left overs' so I don't bake a single potato, I will do more and use one to make gnocchi the following day.

I have a tiny air fryer and I can do something like steak and chips (I use foil to separate the chips from the steak).

Or I might make a spag bol and use the left over bol to make a chilli or a curry.

I have a raclette but it is huge, so I'm thinking of getting a small one just for me.

I completely understand. I have not cooked a curry, a casserole or baked since I got divorced. I don't like cooking for 1.

I live of salad, pan fried steak, chicken breast or fish. I can't even be bothered to boil rice.

My DS is at uni so when he comes back, I try to make an effort but I've really lost the habit of cooking

I lived alone for nearly 7 years in my late twenties to early thirties.
I started off like this, then I began to question why 'just me' didn't deserve the best in life.
I worked through that and realised I was sending myself exactly that message.

It's not 'only you' it's you, the main character of your life, wonderful, brilliant, you who deserves the best of everything, and certainly deserves anything you'd do for others!

Love yourself! You'll do it better than anybody else can.

I can understand the effort of cooking for 1 and feeling what's the point, but to not light a candle or not put the TV on because its just you is really, really sad. In fact I can not imagine feeling like this. I hope you find a way to get out of this mindset and hopefully the food issue will become more balanced.

My airfryer is so useful for this. I often roast chunks of veg in it, or baby new potatoes, a couple of chicken drumsticks, foil wrapped piece of salmon, breaded cod, piece of quiche...It's simple to do a small something in there, or double up and plate up the next days meal to keep in the fridge. I very often eat the same meal 2 days in a row!

I will shortly be living alone for the first time in decades. Almost twenty years of cooking every day for a family of five, gradually dwindling as one by one they moved on with their lives (including the darling partner, of course) and the final child will be off to university next month.

My plan is to cook what I used to cook for five (saucy type things like spag bol, chilli, curry, casserole, etc. etc.) but only on a Monday after work, and so have five portions for the working week. Really do not care about eating the same thing every day for five days. Not prepping/cooking on the other four weekday evenings is going to be amazing. Choosing what time I want to eat and then just reheating it. And then at weekends be a bit more creative if i feel like it, or "treat" myself to a ready meal if I don't.

I'm expecting this to be amazing. I will be getting so much time back by not cooking every day - currently feeling a bit dizzy thinking about how I'm going to use it all.

My problem is that I've always preferred sandwiches and snacking over 'meals' and bread is to me what chocolate is to others. My favourite thing in the world is sandwiches, crisps, peanuts and a glass of wine. I always add salad.
I prefer baking to cooking and often make large batches of scones which I love, and quiche (ready made pastry). I've tried Hello Fresh - nice if that's your thing, but I much prefer bread based food. I also have a cupboard full of meals from Parsley Box which are nice and can be heated in about 2 mins. I add bread or salad to them.
I am a real home bird and although I love it when the kids come round, I'm more than content on my own 99% of the time.

I don't currently live alone, but when I did it was 50-50. I rarely cooked anything high effort or that was hard to scale down to one portion (eg a roast) but I did vary what I ate and tried new recipes for simple things like curries, pasta, stir fries etc. But equally, if I came home tired or stressed I'd just have some toast and nothing else.

I'm currently on weight loss injections and my lack of interest in food is hard to manage when also planning and cooking for my family. If I were on my own, I'd often have a very low effort dinner or none at all.

I see it as an important way of reminding myself I matter and am worth looking after.
When the DC aren't around (increasingly that's the case as they are older teens), I always try to make sure that what I am eating is something I'd want to eat, even if it's not elaborate. Sometimes that can just be an omelette and salad. Sometimes a piece of fish with a salsa made from what is in the fridge. Sometimes it's more elaborate- last night I made a lentil bake that will work for a couple of lunches this week as well.
Light the candles, people! Drink the nice wine! You're worth it

Been living alone for for more of my life than I have with someone. Most of the time, I don’t really cook, I eat soups with fresh vegetables added, wholemeal bread, and some kind of protein, cheese, Quorn, beans, that sort of thing. Or ‘massive salads’(!), the size of a family fruit bowl. Nuts,grains and seeds with natural yogurt for breakfast, fruit smoothies that I make myself, for lunch. Occasionally I’ll make a 🌶 or something, but most of the time, it just has to be quick,easy, and as nourishing as I can make it.

I'd invite a friend over for lunch or dinner maybe two or three times a week then you have an incentive to cook.

I don't live alone, but I batch cook things to have when DH is away. Usually veggie stuff like Dahl/veg curry that I can get out of the freezer and reheat easily, and know it's nutritious. Other times I'll have an omelette or something on toast.

Great thread. I’m hardly ever alone as I live with three young adult DC and cook a family meal almost every day. I love cooking and don’t watch TV so that’s my wind down time after work and then time to catch up with the family around the table.

On the rare occasion I’m alone it’s an omelette or fridge scraps.
Am also on the weight loss injections and it’s a bit frustrating to have to time eating with standard mealtimes. Left to myself even when not on the injections I would eat at 11 and 4. Am looking forward to just eating when I’m hungry and may move one to meal a day. My dad has been doing that for 20 years and finds it liberating and healthy. Because he only eats once he eats well.
I tell myself I got fat from eating when not hungry because of catering for others and because there’s junk in the house. Once this extra weight has gone I want to be more mindful so might get the DC to start doing their own cooking and I’ll just sort myself out. Some great ideas here.

I completely understand. I have lived on my own for a long time and really struggle with this. I really don't enjoy cooking and when you have to do it every day with no break or chance to share it with someone else, it's such a chore. I would like to find a way to eat better though.

I ate a much better diet when I lived alone, prior to DH and DC (both a bit fussy).

I would do things like cook a large chicken on a Sunday night and have a mini roast dinner, then use the leftovers for a chicken sandwich the next day, followed by a chicken salad or stir-fry that evening.

Batch cooked meals like cottage pie and soups; made tuna pasta bake and had the leftovers for dinner again the next day or frozen it. Ate quite a lot of sti-fry’s and homemade soups as they are quick and easy.

Now, a blood test has shown I’m pre-diabetic so I’ve started a massive clean up of my diet as I never had this when I ate properly.

This thread is making me feel normal.

live alone. veggie. Hate cooking esp after years of family type meals. Exhausted after work.

tend to eat bread, toast, fruit. Cholesterol levels high and need to lose some weight.

love the notion of assembly type meals or setting 2 x cooked meals per week as target, makes it feel manageable.

loventhis thread thanks op

Yes, I cook properly when on my own but things that take 5 mins effort such as:
Fish with courgettes & lemon
Tuna with white beans & garlic
Lamb burgers from the butcher with salad & chunky bread
Spaghetti putanesca
Tomato & mozzarella salad

Then fruit & creme fraiche, or mixed nuts for dessert.

Anything that takes longer then 15 mins from going into the kitchen to sitting & eating, is too much effort. It's easier in summer but in winter I use a slow cooker, put something in at lunchtime and ignore it until it's ready at 7pm.

I feel much much better when I eat healthily. I get ideas from EAT by Nigel Slater or from Antonio Carluccio.

I live mainly off eggs, ready made soups and whatever yellow sticker items I can find in M&S

I love cooking but rarely do anything more adventurous than hunters chicken, I do a roast sometimes but use a chicken breast or pork loin steak. When I make Cottage pie, I make 2 small ones and one goes in the freezer. I had cheese on toast for supper on Friday, salad yesterday with some ham and salami. I eat a lot of chicken, and do roasted Mediterranean veg with it. I'll also buy some ready meals (Cannelloni, Lasagne) just as sometimes I want something different and have things like fish fingers or fish in so I have something I can just put in if I can't be bothered to cook.

If I've been in the office it's usually toast or cereal because I can't be arsed to cook when I get back.

I tried those meal prep boxes (Hello Fresh etc) but always find they're for 2 or 4 and I'm not a fan of leftovers. Wish someone would do one for 1 person.