I understand you perfectly. Prayers for you and us all.

I feel your pain....it hit me like a ton of bricks when I went to the deli and bought just one roll.....I barely even bother to cook anymore....I use to love to cook for my husband and I.....and "our friends"....well they still call (some if them) to see how I am, but not to invite me to join them for anything...we really do have to restructure our whole lives....it is so so sad.....HUGs....Lin

I understand completely.

Grocery shopping and cooking are very difficult now that I am a "me" instead of a "we". My husband had just had my kitchen completely redone...gutted top to bottom...my dream kitchen....now I hate to be in it.

I'm sorry that you are finding out that cold, hard lesson we all learn...grief rewrites your address book. I understand it, but it does hurt when the phone stops ringing.

Sending you gentle hugs and a prayer that you find a moment of peace everyday.
Blessings,
Sharon

The first time I made chili, I ate it for 2 days, gave some away and froze some. I haven't made a meatloaf yet, Someone said to do it in cupcake tins. Not so good at cooking for just one. And cakes? two hours of work for a slice just not worth it, but my niece and kids love it. So most goes next door.

I didn't go from 2 to 1 - my sons were (and always will be) with me (they are disabled), but I had problems scaling down from 4 to 3, problems going by the grocery shelves with Cliff's favorites that I no longer would buy, problems wanting to cook when my most appreciative audience wasn't there anymore, and me and the kids had a huge problem sitting down at the dinner table staring at Cliff's empty chair. I didn't want to cook, I didn't want to eat, shopping was horrible because we used to do that together and he always goofed around with the young store clerks - they were all shocked when I showed up alone. I think it was about 2 years before I could finally clear out the kitchen cupboards of the last things he bought. How ridiculous is that? Hanging onto stuff way past its sell-by date just because he had picked it out. Who gets sentimental over boxes of rice mixes?!? Umm, we do.....

It takes time to adjust. I started packing anything leftover for my work lunches. A girlfriend and I at work took turns making "lunch for two" which was a nice treat - I didn't always have to pack my lunch and we tried recipes for each other. I had my sister over for dinner more often. You could also organize a potluck once in awhile to share a dish. We used to do that at work - we did have some single ladies that liked to cook, too.

I took one of my sons with me to do the grocery shopping. The empty chair problem was solved by simply rearranging our seating. We used to sit 2 and 2 on opposite sides of the table. I moved to the head of the table and had a son at each side. No more staring at the empty chair. It was a big relief for all of us.

I wanted to mention that there is a member group here called "Recipes for WidowsWidowers" - here is a link:

http://www.dailystrength.org/groups/recipes-for-widowswidowers

The group has been inactive for a year, but maybe it's time to reactivate it. There are some good recipes in there for cooking for one and recipes you can do and break into meals to freeze. You might want to take a look. Just a thought.

It is hard. Cliff loved my cooking and freely admitted that he would have married me for my cooking alone - the old saying about "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach" was part of it I guess. (His mother was a terrible cook!) I have been cooking since I was a little kid. I cook therefore I am, etc. And I cooked for Cliff for 30 years. I adjusted things so it was the way he liked them. I did it to please him because I loved him.

It's often the everyday things - the small mundane things other people take for granted - that are the hardest. Hang in there.

Love and Hugs,
Martha

I am with you on that one. First, I had to cook for four when my children lived at home, the for 3 when my daughter left home, then for 2 when it was just us left, then for one.

Each time, I found it difficult to adjust to the correct number. I was cooking too much. Now, that I am on my own, mostly I do not bother or just buy one portion of fish or whatever but my heart is not in it. As for baking, zero, a cake for one is out of the question, I would eat it - not good for me, as well baking a cake is a festive gesture and my heart is not in it.

Do you suppose that in time we will learn how to cook for one? I know there are plenty of books on the subject, but I am not inclined to purchase one.

I made chocolate pie last bight... not 1, but 2. And then they taste like brownies. I have always been a good cook... not anymore. Now, what to do with them?

I understand. I cooked for five many years...plus several friends of our kids...until our nest was empty. It was 'odd' to cook for only two...but just a challenge. Now adjusting for ONE is beyond me. I don't know how...and don't "care". I try to eat sensibly...without cooking normal meals.

I have found tv dinners are good for a change. when I do yearn for some good home cooking, I end up eating it for days. By then I a sick of it. Its cheaper and easier just to run to McDonalds for hamburger. Sonic for Hot Dog. I find I throw more food out, than I eat. A loaf of bread, lettuce. etc.....I used to cook for 6, then it slowly dwindled. One at a time. I agree, it was hard to cook for 2... now impossible for one....

I used to make a huge pot of what we called goulash. Everybody loved it, you could fill up so full on it. then if you had any left over, was even better the next day. My children still crave it, so I make it. take them all a large container of it, but I am loosing my pans and Tupperware.

My husband was a big eater, cooking for 4 was the same as cooking for 2. We would eat the leftover next day if I cooked too much. Now I couldn't even finish one head of broccoli or a pot of stew in a week. Sometime I will buy lunch and share with people at work or they would share something with me. It sad to say I don't eat well anymore. I haven't bought any ice cream that he and I liked, no more crabs legs, no more cod. All of a sudden I don't know what to eat and no motivation to cook.

I am not cooking much either, I have a beautiful remodeled kitchen that he wanted so much, but now I don't want to bother cooking for just me. I can cook, but his cooking was wonderful...

Last night I opened a container that I bought that was a serving for one person. The label said "Red Beans and Rice" and had a lovely picture on it with rice and many red beans. I nuked it per the directions, then opened it and guess what was inside? Lots of white rice and some tiny (read microscopic) red dots. No beans. If you put all the red dots together, they could not have made even one whole bean. How can they get away with this false advertising??? The label said Louisiana something. It was a rip-off. So much for cooking for one. I am experimenting with every kind of quick one-serving meals. If anyone has recommendations, please let us know.

I really do understand where you are coming from. I lived alone for years and thought nothing of cooking for one. Now, after losing my wife about 5 months ago everything has changed again. WE used to have a great time together in the kitchen. She cooking and me doing the cleanup. Now cooking is something I really don't enjoy doing alone, it was so fun together. Hang in there, everything will be ok in time.

For leftover potatoes. add butter, cheese, bacon, whatever. put in muffin tins, use fork to grade over, put in over until browned, adds crunch to them.

Or mix with onions, peppers, add a smiggen of flour, pat into patties and fry. Potato cakes.

meat loaf, make, put in muffin tins, bake,

Get divider plates, seal them up . place in freezer. add whatever vegetable in plate. Through in microwave when ready. Instant homemade TV dinners.

I freeze most all my bread and whatever I can. Early on, I was buying most of the same items and was throwing out the fresh stuff so much. Now I keep a couple of baking potatoes, grated cheese, some lean cuisines, and I just buy the fruit or salads I know I will eat in a few days. If the grandkids come over, I'll buy extra. I don't ever cook, for just me, it's depressing. If I have company, I will, and have leftovers for days. Even cans of soup are too much. The dog gets what I can't eat, makes him happy.