Widows & Widowers Support Group

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Meal for one

papagena
papagena
Nearly a year on, I still find it difficult to cook just for me. I always buy family packs at the supermarket and yesterday I made a vegetable soup large enough to feed an army. Of course I had to freeze most of it in single portion size boxes. When will I learn to cook and shop just for one.

There is however some improvement. In the months that followed his death, I could not cook, I ate whatever was available without taking too much notice as to what I ate and I would not sit on my own at the table to eat - too sad, I would cry in my food. Now, I do sit at the table for my meals and listen to the radio for company and I am ok with this.

I just need to adjust my food and cooking habits to fit just my needs - meal for one.

Any of you have this problem?
Squeege
Squeege
yes, i live off toasted sandwiches :) My squeege bought a sandwich press just before she died. it's not healthy but it's all i can handle. How does food taste with tears in it?
papagena
papagena
Salty!
barbarame
barbarame
I also find this a real problem - I try to shop sensibly but still end up feeding the dustbin more than I can afford to do. I can only get stuff delivered about once a month so tend to want to stock up.I really could do with a bit of help here. Not a good cook either, so that does not make things easier. Do not want to buy things like TV dinners as they are packed with salt etc, besides being expensive. Do not have a lot of freezer space either
handg
handg
In the last year I went from cooking for two and cooking healthy and continuing to do so in the first few months , then when Daughter moved back in and she did not eat exactly like me and my husband a kind of blockage happened and we went out to eat way too often and throwing food out way too often. I would go grocery shopping with the best intentions but then the fresh produce and food would go back in my fridge... Regular grocery shopping has become obsolete. I keep saying that we will get back into it but it hasn`t happened yet.
roxanne809
roxanne809
As much as I hate to admit it, still, at almost four years, I find this to be a really big problem. I go to the grocery store with intentions to cook meals, and a good bit of it goes bad and ends up in the trash. I hate it; I might as well take the money, skip shopping, and throw it in the trash. I have a friend who is also alone, and she has the exact same problem. I just wish I had the motivation to cook. It seems to have been wiped out of me. The only time I cook anymore is at large family gatherings that only happen twice a year. If someone else has the answer to this problem, I hope he/she will share.
Roxanne.
SmittyJones
SmittyJones
I would have this problem too if I tried to cook for just one. I don't like to cook so when I do, I purposely cook a big portion so I can divide it up into several meals and put it in the freezer. This way, I don't HAVE to cook for a while which suits me just fine since I have "burned out" on cooking.
Comfortablynumb
Comfortablynumb
At the beginning it was an issue. I also cook large portions, and as a result I tend to overeat, that's why I prefer eating out.

Even though, I prefer sharing meal with a companion, but became rather comfortable being alone at the local restaurant at breakfast and lunch, typically catching up on reading newspapers.

Being a regular at many local restaurants and coffee shops, I usually get the specially friendly service, that makes my visits pleasant.

It takes time to regain that life equilibrium, and I have had a longer 'training" over 5 years being alone.
deleted_user
deleted_user
My husband did much of the cooking for us.He was a wonderful cook and I miss his gourmet meals. He also was a very health-conscious cook due to his diabetes. I try to eat healthy but I also take the fast way out - I still am working and I am often too tired at the end of the day. I was eating way too many eggs and toast dinners or soup. I now really try to cook a decent meal that will yield several days of dinners. I usually don't freeze them because I don't mind eating the same thing a few days in a row. If its there all ready, I eat much healthier. Like Papagena, I often cry at meals because it was so much our time together.
Community LeaderShrn
Shrn
It was a problem for me too. I ate at a friend's restaurant for quite a while and was fortunate to feel less alone. When I was home I wasted a lot by cooking and then not eating it. I have no answer or advice other than keep trying. Sharon
jewells1
jewells1
There should be a class food exchange for us. My quick go to is a can of tuna, toasted bread sandwich. like you I have to freeze portions or my dog is well fed.
hope54
hope54
I think this is a universal problem. I love to cook and I still do. when my husband was alive I would purchase something for everyday of the week. We usually had enough for dinner that night and lunch the next day. Even though it's been over a year I still have a problem with buying a meal for everyday. I have so many leftovers I eat the same thing for 3 days and never use the rest of the food I bought. I will end up freezing the meat, but that gets lost in the freezer and months later I end up throwing it away. I really have to limit my purchases. Maybe I only need to buy enough for two meals and if I run out mid week I can go back to the grocery store. I just have a hard time cooking for one. I still feel like I need to cook for two.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I hardly ever cook any more, other than heating up frozen meals or soup. But, like many of you, I get groceries delivered and wind up wasting so much.

The whole business of meal preparation has become sad for me. I was never a very good cook (I'm the classic "What are you making for dinner?...Reservations.). But I liked to try for my husband (especiallly new recipes), and he always said he liked what I made. Sometimes we cooked together, and that was fun. Just one more way I miss him!!
DorothyJoan
LostAndFeelingAlone
LostAndFeelingAlone
I have never learned to cook for one, thus when I cook, I cook for 2-4 and freeze the left overs. It makes a quick meal. A big difference from the full course I used to cook when my husband was living.
sandeestttn
sandeestttn
I try to not buy, but find I do, too much. my freezer and extra fridge, as well as my everyday fridge, cabinets, pantry are all full. I went to fix some instant potatoes out of cabinet they were stale. All are in date, but stale.

So, yesterday bought 3 pounds of ground beef. used 1 pound for homemade tacos last night. now I have 2 pounds to fix something for the next 2 days. Would have been cheaper to have picked something up, out....Am so tired of throwing away food...
gerald222
gerald222
For me the cooking experience has been a little different. This is a area where I have pushed myself to learn new recipes etc. Part of that so called redefining ourselves. I do acknowledge though eating alone is not as pleasant. Eating out by myself doesnt really bother me. I kind of have the attitude it is what it is. Eating healthy. That is a area I still have to work on. The exception was last week I went to a restaurant I always took my wife on her birthday and it was the day of her birthday. That was a big mistake.
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