I am a 63 year old female, and I eat on an $80.00 a month food allowance. I have high blood pressure and high cholesterol, so I have to watch what I eat. I have found cooking for one is very hard and to avoid any waste, I purchased containers from the dollar store. When I make a casserole, pot of stew, beans, soup or anything that I have leftovers from, I make meal sized portions from the leftovers and freeze them. When I don't feel well or just don't want to cook that day I use them as you would a frozen TV dinner.
I also use a lot of the vegetables I have leftover to make the soups with. Just freeze the portions you have leftover until you have enough, take it all and make a wonderful pot of soup with it.
I also freeze spaghetti sauce, and when I get the urge for that italian taste, I use it with either vermicelli, or macaroni, and make a casserole topped with cheese and have an entirely new tasting meal.
By freezing leftover corn bread, packaged bread, rolls or biscuits, I can make my own croutons, bread crumbs, corn bread stuffing, and puddings from the biscuits and bread. You can freeze all breads and use them as needed in place of many products you would have bought at a much higher price at the store, and they are both fresher and taste better.
I hope this will help someone who lives as I do, alone and on a very small food allowance. I have many more ways to save money on your food bill and ways to use almost all the food you have leftover. If you would like more ideas, please feel free to contact me and I would be happy to share them with you.
By Mary from Spiro, OK
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My son is in a new town with a new job, having graduated from college. I asked him what he was going to have for dinner, and the answer didn't make me happy. Frozen pizza, TV dinner, mushy salad in a bag destined for the trash and hot dogs were all he had in the fridge. Not nutritionally balanced.
He was going to go to the grocery store later, but I suspect it's more of the same. Any suggestions for him? He's actually a great cook, but won't unless he has friends to cook with and for. He'll have to change that attitude pronto.
Thanks in advance for your input.
Holly
By CookingSingleintheCity31
12/25/2008
I have been cooking for one for 20 years. What I have found that works is to have the staple seasonings, condiments and jarred vegetables from a place like Trader Joe's, Henry's, Whole Foods (Capers, Green Olives, etc), as well as some of the better seasoned veggies in the frozen section. Trader Joe's, for example, has a delish Melange mix of green, yellow and red bell-peppers, along with onions that I toss in with an omelette, or if it's evening, with some pasta and some e.v.o. All he'd have to do afterwards is add whatever meat (or no meat at all) he'd like to have as the key protein ingredient. The frozen and jarred veggies spice up a dish like nobody's business and yet, keep fresh for future use!
There are other sites and blogs--I know of a great one: www.cookingsingleinthecity.blogspot.com ;) that help with resources, as well...such as cooking classes for singles!
Flavorful dishes are the best. Left-overs are only taste-worthy for a day, two at best. Best wishes to your son!
I live alone and have been trying to save money by cooking my meals at home. I know buying a whole chicken is cheaper but I'm afraid that the leftovers will go to waste, any ideas? The same goes for a roast.
Mimi Gonzalez from San Antonio, TX
By TGallagher
01/16/2011
To answer the question of what to do if you don't have a freezer to buy or cook in bulk and freeze portions of meat, soups, casseroles, etc. 1) Adjust your shopping to your needs. Shop for one or two weeks only. First sit down and read the stores circulars and locate the sales. Second, make a menu of what you'll have for breakfast, lunch and dinner during that time and stick to it. (Okay, leave a little "fudge" in the menu in case you want something else- make it something you already have.)
Third, concentrate your menu on things you already have in the pantry, using leftovers first. Lastly, make a list of those items you need to make the menu happen and then go shopping. You'll save money hand over fist. Next, to answer the question of milk going bad. If you don't have a large stand-alone freezer, use dry milk. Don't make faces- using dry milk allows you to make only what you need when you need it, and gallon per gallon, it's cheaper than milk in the jugs. Use your calculators at the store and see for yourself.
I love cooking chilies, soups, stews and casseroles. I eat one portion and freeze the rest. My menus the following weeks will include one of those servings. And, yes, there are weeks when I don't need anything at all from the store- so I don't go shopping unless there's a blockbuster style sale on. Usually I go when they're putting out the "reduced price" meat, and buy in bulk then.
It's time to celebrate being frugal again.
I don't enjoy cooking because most of the time I'm eating alone. What are others in my situation eating? It has to be fast and not have a lot of cleaning up. I buy fresh veggies and often times they go bad because I never get around to cooking them.
By Betty from Lubbock, TX
By shotpusher
02/04/2010
Take your fresh veggies put them on a pretty plate, put your favorite dip in the middle and snack all day on fresh veggies. I leave mine on the counter and graze all day. Keeps me from eating junk & I get my nervous nibbling satisfied. When your veggies don't look fresh enough to do this, dump it in a pot and make soup. When salads I make get limp I dump them right in a soup.
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Cooking for One 