So far in our meal planning series we have heard a lot about how to engage our families in the process to make it easier and suit everyone’s preferences. That might leave you thinking that if you live on your own, meal planning will be a breeze – no arguments over dinner! I can share that I do not have to worry about others’ preferences, but for me meal planning is a must-do if I am going to eat well.
I live on my own and I love to cook but cooking for one can lead to wasted food and money if I do not have a plan. Most foods do not come in packages designed for one person and I do not like to cook every night. So, my approach to meal planning focuses on making efficient use of ingredients and preparing meals ahead for a busy week.
- I focus on easy meals. I prefer to cook with methods instead of recipes. For example, I love sheet pan meals. I put vegetables and protein on a sheet pan, roast it in the oven and it comes out delicious. Our Roasted Veggies and Kielbasa is a great example of a sheet pan meal. You can swap out the ingredients to suit your preferences and the season.
- I embrace planned-overs. If I am going to get out the cutting board and dirty some dishes, I am going to make several servings. My meal plan usually includes eating that meal the day I cook it and one more time during the week. I freeze my additional leftovers in single-serve containers and my meal plan always includes a couple of nights that are leftovers from previous weeks’ meals. Knowing my freezer has a variety of tasty things in it helps me stay out of the drive through when I am so hungry on the way home from work.
- I stay flexible. At the end of the week, I almost always end up with some odds and ends in my refrigerator that are perishable. Even careful planners will have this happen most weeks. Before I move on to new meals for the week, I use those up in a soup or stir fry. I really enjoy making soup or stew when I have more time, so this usually fits well into my weekend plans.
Meal planning for one may feel a little strange, but in my experience, it reduces waste, saves money and allows me to have nutritious and tasty food. If you live on your own, I hope you’ll give it a try!
