To think this is an ignorant comment

[sahayaway]

We were talking about typical mundane office talk and I sajd “oh I don’t really like to cook”, mainly because I’m not good at it.

Colleague said “yeah it’s no fun cooking for one”. This is a woman in her 30s that’s been with her now husband since 16, so I highly doubt she’s ever lived alone.

I’m probably sensitive but I just find it a bit ignorant to comment things that like assuming the reason is because I’m single.

I think it’s a bit of an insensitive thing to say. I wouldn’t choose the word ignorant to describe it but insensitive or thoughtless, maybe a bit condescending?

As a divorcee with DC who've left home I don't cook much as it is a faff cooking for one (despite being a good cook). So I agree with your colleague. I wouldn't take offence if someone said it to me.

It's tactless and cooking for one on a regular basis is difficult from cooking for one on a random night because your partner is working late

I've done both

When living by myself I never cooked for one anyway, I would make a meal for two and have leftovers, I planned my life around it. I wasn't just eating cheese and crackers every night. But living with a partner that's what I do, because I know that there's another "proper" meal coming soon and this is a casual night off of cooking

But tbh she was probably just trying to make conversation, yanbu to be a bit annoyed though.

There are two of us (me and a teen) and I rarely cook for two unless it is something quick. I mostly cook for six. When I've had a week alone I do the same.

It's not an ignorant comment. It's an opinion and you can choose to take offence or not. I'm single and agree that cooking for one ain't great. Easier to eat crumpets.

Slightly off your topic OP but I can't understand why cooking less is more difficult than more?? If you live alone then you can cook 2 or more portions so you get cooking free evenings. As someone who has to prepare a meal for 5 every bloody day of the week I can't for the life of me understand the cooking for 1 comments. Do you guys also struggle with not having enough laundry or not enough toilets to clean? Come to my house and help me then.

OP I think you read a lot into it. People say silly things, I'm sure most people hear similar irritating comments on their own lives and you just have to let it slide.

I've been married over 30 years but often have to cook for myself as dh not always here for meals.

I don't, of course because as OPs colleague points out, cooking for one is no fun.
And fortunately I do love a fish finger sandwich. That's not really cooking is it?
Anyway, it seems like a normal thing to say.

Wow. You really are very sensitive about being single. Like over the top got issues level. The poster clearly wasn’t saying single folks should starve.

neither that comment or the woman’s was wrong. The issue is you. I’d focus on trying to accept there is nothing wrong with being single and addressing your issues with it.

What is it with all the threads on MN lately with people being offended or upset by an innocent remark? If she had said it to me I would have agreed with her.

Btw, just because someone has been married for years doesn't mean that they have never cooked just for themselves. Spouses aren't joined at the hip you know, sometimes one of them might have an evening - or, horrors, even longer - away from home.

LaMaG you don't understand do you? When you cook a meal for other people you do it with a sense of shared pleasure and satisfaction. Someone will hopefully say thank you or nod done appreciation for your efforts plus you get to chat over the table with everyone.

When you're on your own it feels like more of a palaver just to sit on your own eating it in front if the telly (even if you do save a portion for the next day). So often I have a Caesar salad with chicken, or other salads with prawns or salmon. It's very similar to dining out in your own - just not as pleasurable or satisfying. I get that it is a chore to cook for 5 every day but I miss having my DC here to cook for and enjoy their company.

Maybe its just the stage of life I'm at but there is no sense of pleasure just the drudgery and very little thanks. More likely complaints as there is always someone who 'hates' what i have gone to the trouble of making. At least 1 is always off at training or somewhere so I'm plating up for later half the time. I guess it's a grass is always greener thing - right now I'd love to just cook for me.

I think she was trying to show agreement and connection with you. It’s clearly backfired as the comment has hit at a sore spot with you. However, she is not to blame for that. It’s not going to serve in life you to look for malicious intent where this is none.

I'll be single when my kids fly the nest as I'm a widow. I don't plan to stop cooking normal meals for myself like chilli, Bolognese etc. I've never only cooked for others but to enjoy myself too. The Leftovers will be frozen or enjoyed for lunch the next day.

I don’t think it was deliberate. My single friend and my sister both said cooking for 1 is rubbish however I remember in a conversation with my friend once I made a comment about a particular dish and that was quite an effort for one. My friend didn’t bat an eyelid but I felt really bad as if I’d insulted her. (It was just a conversation about thinking of meals and how boring it gets!)

I love cooking for one...I can guarantee everyone will eat what I make and not complain

I don't think she is assuming it's you're primary reason. You've already expressed that. I'd say she's also saying she believes it must take more effort to cook for one as there's no sense of duty, responsibility and no meaningful feedback from a job well done. She's allowed to give an opinion. Why didn't you say, 'No, nothing to do with living alone, I wouldnt cook if I had my own family/partner'. Then of ghe conversation took that direction you could have discussed cooking, dinner parties, picky eaters, smells,single v family life etc...

I'm single. I agree with her.

I don't think you can assume. I have been married for 30 years and now that my children have led home I usually cook for one.

My husband is very fussy. I am not prepared to eat most of the unhealthy things he likes so we compromise that I cook something that we will both like at weekends and the rest of the time I cook for me and he eats ready-made rubbish.

It is a bit of a pain cooking for one. So in general, I cook for 2 -3 and eat the same thing two days running and or freeze the rest for another day.