Just cook like normal. Just cut back amounts. You will have left overs to take for lunch or have for a dinner later.

I quite often turned to my fav comfort foods when I first was newly saingle

One thing I loved is to cook up a peeled potato(just one) in the microwave-slice it,put in hot water,and cook-about 6 min
I'd mash it up,quickly do a veggie the same way(microwave) or have fresh-I'm big into tomatoes and cucumber
And with the above,I would have cold meat,a fav of mine.
Felt full enough,nothing wasted,and a somewhat balanced meal.
On Sundays,I made a big dinner-roasts,chicken,whatever,and portioned the meal out into freezable containers.

Cook as usual. Parcel up the leftovers into freezer safe containers and freeze for a day when you just want to POOF dinner (Pull Out Of Freezer :-) ).

I agree, cook like normal for leftovers, or do a big cooking session once a month to stock the freezer with chili, soup, etc. I'm single and sometimes it seems like such a waste of time to shop, prep food, cook it, and do all the clean up just for myself when I can pick something up for a few bucks, but having leftovers to heat up, or chili or soup in the freezer can really help convince me to eat at home if I don't feel like making a meal.

Think of what you used to make and like. Is it freezeable. ?Casseroles divided and frozen. Many pasta and sauce dishes freeze easily, or just make small portions. Chicken thighs, fresh veg and salad. You just have to think of yourself as important enough to be worth the time and effort. Don't be afraid to eat out alone. Bring a book or the paper or a magazine.

I agree to cook regularly and freeze the leftovers for reheating.

For non-reheated dinners, you can do a quick stir-fry, an omelette, a piece of baked chicken or pork chop, a pan-fried steak, scallops or fish.

When you're cooking for one, you can often afford to splurge a bit, as you don't need much.

You can cook whatever YOU want - that's one of the advantages of being single. There are no rules - no one is sharing and no one is watching LOL.

I eat a lot of stir-fries and salads. As much as I love to cook, I've found I don't get a lot of satisfaction out of putting a lot of effort into cooking for myself. I keep some fresh veggies on hand and buy either precooked brown rice or cook up a large batch of rice or pasta and use that for a few days (to add to whatever veggies I've stir-fried). Although I love meat, it's not a necessity for me and I find that I eat it a lot less often. I freeze meat in small portions. I can always take out several small portions if I decide to make a larger batch of something.

I would do more cooking ahead and freeze things but I never have any space in my freezer.

It is hard t get used t0 fixing meals f0r 0ne. I had a heck 0f a time learning t0 cut back t0 meals f0r tw0 when my daughter went t0 c0llege. But little by little y0u learn. Y0u just have s0 many things t0 learn f0r 0ne right n0w. But remember even if y0u get carry-0ut, there are usually plenty 0f left0vers. Just enj0y them 0r turn them int0 a new dish!

Well I've always been single but know it can be difficult to cook just one or two servings of something. I do as others suggest, cook like normal and either have leftovers the next day or freeze for later.

Both food network and Remann (Taste of Food) have receipes for one-2 people. In fact there is a magazine with receipes for 2 or less, not sure what it is called. You can even make pancakes, waffles etc, just freeze what you don't want.

I cook like I used to then freeze the rest.

Sometimes I buy Turkey or Roast Beef from the deli and make hot open faced dinners with gravy and some mashed potatoes. a 1/4 LB will work just fine.

If you cook in the crock pot, again, make a small version then freeze the rest. Today I bought a small pork roast and I will cook it in the CP add BBQ sauce for BBQ sandwiches, and freeze in small containers for about 4 meals.

Walmart has some really good frozen spicy or Italian coated chicken tender pieces and I take one out an its ready in 30 min, I cook most everything in my toaster oven too.

If you like soups, make a pot and freeze the rest.

There are cookbooks for cooking for one. I sometimes divide a recipe in half. You can also have breakfast for dinner or anything your heart desires.

I often buy a small piece of fish for dinner and have that with some fresh veggies. I bake salmon in the toaster oven and make a sauce of mayo, dill weed and a little milk. Yum. I also dip a piece of swordfish in lemon juice, then rub dried dill on it and broil. Yum again.

When I can't think of anything else I make scrambled eggs.

I like to make casseroles and soup that I can eat for a few meals.

If I had to go back to cooking for someone else, I would croak.

Buy a freezer! LOL, I used to cook every day for 2-3 people. Eat what I need and freeze the rest. Then shortly after, I realized, I didn't need to cook as much as the freezer was filling up. It was nice not having to cook every day.

Nowadays, I cook a few times a week, freeze and reheat food. I have more time to do other things now. Food taste better the next day as well :)

Invite a friend over for dinner. This will open up the possibility of you being invited back.
Although I am married, there were times when my husband would have to be away for weeks at a time. I understand not wanting to cook for yourself.
I would make fixings for a large salad and keep everything separate. Add hard boiled eggs, chopped ham, crumbled cheese one night. Turkey and cranraisins another night.
Sometimes I would buy a grilled or fired chicken cutlet and make the side veggies.
Just don't get into the habit of fast food.
I also would eat out by myself. Diners or cafe type places. If you have a Panera's near you, that is another place that you can feel comfortable going alone.

You are WAY overthinking this. You get to fix what you want and when you want it. When I divorced, feeding myself was never a problem! My X was the one who was going to starve, lolololololololol. (Oops, sorry but I still get a kick out of that.)

Do not get into the habit of crappy frozen dinners from the grocery, or fast food, or eating out all the time. Turn on music you love, fix a little of this and a little of that and enjoy.

Don't like eating alone? Invite people over! My meaningful social life quadrupled once I moved out. Just simple suppers, one or two friends or aquaintences...it doesn't take much. I also truly loved being on my own.

HMM I would pick up take out on the way home most of the time, if I were single~~~not fast food~~most restaurants do take out. My DD#1 was single for several years and where ever she lived she found places that deliver, her greatest joy was to find one that would deliver beer with dinner;)

What are some dishes that you stopped making because he didn't like them? It's time to pull those recipes out and reintroduce yourself to them!

Crock-pot meals are great -- cook once (usually even without stirring!), freeze individual portions, eat many times!

DH isn't out of town as often as he used to be, and I realize it isn't the same as full time cooking for one, but what I would do those weeks is treat myself, make things he doesn't like. Mac and cheese, grilled cheese and tomato sandwiches, or the other end of the scale - lobster tail for one, and a salad with vinaigrette or ranch for a change from his beloved blue cheese :)

I have to tell you about my neighbor though because I admire her attitude and spirit so much. And while she is slowing down she is still one of the most physically strong (bones, muscle, gorgeous skin) 86 yr old women I know.

C was widowed at 57 and has lived alone since. She cooks three times a day, partly because she enjoys food (all food, in moderate serving sizes) and she enjoys cooking. She also thinks she deserves to eat well.

A hot breakfast most days and always well balanced. Sometimes simple lunch, but always with a salad or fruit plate, or fruit on low fat yogurt or cottage cheese on the side. I can't begin to tell you how many times we will talk over the fence and she's planning the same dinner that I am. We both shop from the weekly specials, she'll make Navy beans with ham, a pork roast, spareribs, oven baked halibut, many of the things I cook for two, or two plus guests. she never skimps on side dishes and will have AT LEAST one fresh vegetable with her dinner. Of course she has her entree for lunch the next day and a second dinner, is faithful about wrapping promptly and freezing for that week she may have a cold, or wants to garden and not be in the kitchen...really, just amazing.

I know she is probably the exception, but proof it can be done without resorting to take out. She manages all those wonderful and fresh ingredients on a very tiny budget too by shopping carefully, makes that SS check really stretch.

Morz, I love your neighbor!

Sam, it is hard! I still cook for 2 or 4, and have been solo since October 2010.

I just freeze left overs. They make great "fast food".

But I have managed to cut back on a few recipes.

Moni

Thanks everyone

Taking all the advice given and i am going to run with it. Tonight I had one of MY favorite sandwiches....SPAM! have enough for 2 days. On Sunday I am making a roast which will last me several days of meals & sandwiches. Also found an Italian place 2 blocks over so I am going to try their lasagna dinner. Next week I have decided to make a huge pot of spagetti and meatballs!
Guess all of this is still sinking in but I am SO HAPPY I have eveeryone here to help me through this.

SamKaren
your resident DJ

You can do things like make a shrimp cocktail for your protein and then fix a favorite vegetable and rice or a potato for the rest of the meal.

I will buy the Publix rotisserie chicken when it's on sale (like yesterday. I boned it today.) I get soo many quick-fix meals from the leftovers. I have to stop being lazy and roast my own chickens. . ..

my mom cooked for herself for many years...but her fave was a turkey breast, cooked in a cooking bag with a packet of onion soup mix...she'd make it the meat of choice for several days and freeze....when i had to go out to care for her, bought a package of costco grd beef...measured out portions and pre-made her hamburgers (about as fast food as you can get) since she like to watch portions i did use her scale...showed her how to have "baked" potatoes by using the smaller reds....she also shared meals with friends...sort of mini pot luck...