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!

Thank you. You'd be surprised to know how much that message means.

@Gymnopedie you're more than welcome. I hope you have lots of support around you x

I’m sorry too, @Gymnopedie.

I live alone. I have done for 10 years. No children.

I have adhd so struggle with planning meals etc. I'll get hungry then just grab something that takes minutes and no prep so pot noodle or a ready meal. I don't think ahead.

I can't tell you the last time I cooked a proper meal.

Today I had pot noodle for lunch and a tesco ready meal for tea.

I struggling with food shopping too because of having to think ahead.

Misogynist soup? 😂😂😂

This is a very helpful thread. Thanks OP.

Yup it is a headspace.
I usually pick one thing I need to eat (like bag of salad for vitamin, can of tune for protein, etc.) And do somethung simple around it.
When I was alone my main goal was to make myself healthy bcs I did not have anyone else to count on.
After some time forcing myself to eat normal food served on a normal plate,keep things organized at home, take care of myself etc. started improving my mood.

I alowed myself to be nice to myself.
If I cannot do it, how could I expect anyone else to do it?

Depends what you cook.
I usually precook protein so I just reheat it from frozen and I have pasta or rice cooked in a fridge for three days each.
That covers almost all week.

So like curry chicken, stirfry mince and vege, chickpeas something with rice, and then bolognese, chicken in white sauce, tuna and pasta.
Most of my batchcooking is just chicken and mince bcs it is easiest to use same product and just spice it up differently.

@Saxalt I mostly don't eat at the table but I will occasionally depending on what I am eating.

Those pigs in blankets are, well, spectacularly bad.

They are aren't they?! They've gone down in family folklore.

I live to eat. I'm retired and live alone so decided to treat every day as a holiday. I lounge in lavender baths, cook myself cheap but sumptuous meals, have afternoon naps, go cruising around on my free bus pass and generally treat myself as the most important person in the world. Look after yourself and enjoy the whole process of making a meal for yourself. I see there are some good recipes and tips from other netters.

@missdeamenor love this 😁

I love this :). What a brilliant and positive approach - long may it last!

My lovely DH also died suddenly, eight years ago. I used always to eat at the table for years after he died, but have got into the habit of eating on a tray in the evening, watching TV. And with no reason as I don't watch live, only streamed stuff. I've already posted upthread about my cooking.

I still cook from scratch as he did, and often think of how much he'd like the new stuff I do.

All the best.

@cushionfiend Taking supper out of the freezer is something I do while the kettle is boiling for my early morning cuppa, part of the routine. Every day without fail.

I'm a single mum, work full time, collect DS from the school bus and home by six. I don't have time to faff around in the evening so supper - sausages, salmon fillets, a tub of Bolognese etc defrosts while I'm at work and straight in the pan when we get it. I can generally have food served by 6.30.

@Meadowfinch Thanks, I'm pretty routine-oriented and I do love a morning cuppa so linking those in my head could be the way to go!

My DH is great for this. If I go away he will get in his fave foods and spend (and enjoy!) time preparing something nutritious and delicious for himself. It's part of his self care. He'd also take time to exercise etc. I however would live on cereal and binge netflix. I find it very hard to motivate myself when it's just me.

I hate cooking unless i want to.
Living on my own i love it i eat very heathy salads fruits because i dont have to cook that.

No I don’t. I had toast and beans 3 nights on a row this week.
I just can’t be bothered with the effort for just me

Ive always lived alone (50s) and its mainly batch cooking or super easy stuff like stir frys, salad in summer or soup in winter.
I used to live on junk and take aways but you can make stuff healthy and easy so I try to do that now.
Although at the moment Im stuck on crudites, with rice cakes and hummus. Its my favourite summer meal!

I think it's a self care issue. Maybe you can address this once you feel better.
Saying that that's easy for me to say because I like food.

You can eat whatever you like. Toast and cereal is fine. It's easy and quick.

But at some point, as part of the self care you should make a point of occasionally making the effort. (Even if the next day you go back to eating toast for 2 weeks)! Our body does need a variety of things, including vitamins and minerals. Buy something you like, eg steak, or a nice salmon fillet and asparagus. Or eat out. Or order something in. Only because you deserve it.

I normally do set the table and eat at it. I was never a fan of eating on the couch. Not fancy with napkins etc, but I have placemats as sometime plates are hot. Occasionally I have a vase of flowers on the table for a week or so.

I am working on looking after myself and allowing myself to use nice things. Like my nice candles, smelly bath salts, decent serving dishes etc.