Cooking/eating for yourself: choosing simple, no-bother food

[LBR]

If you didn't need to prepare meals for anyone else, would your cooking/eating choices be much simpler?

I often hear women say, and I agree, that yoghurt and half a banana for breakfast, or something similarly easy, might also do for lunch. I only feel inclined to actually cook or bake for myself, in spurts. I'm not keen on washing dishes, shopping, or standing in the kitchen. I'm also the sort who thinks that if it works for breakfast, it'll work for supper.

I rather like food that can just be washed and eaten. And when I do cook, I want it to last for several meals. I've just returned from needing to cook and wash up quite a lot. I was glad to help out, but, whew!, did it underline for me, that I wouldn't want to do it daily or long-term.

Anyone else want simple, easy, no-full, no-muss food most of the time?

[StripyPixieSocks]

Nope, I spent the last half of my last relationship cooking for myself as he didn't really like what I used to make... I also lived on my own for some time when I was younger and cooked and ate well.

I think if I were on my own again I'd probably eat differently as when you're cooking with / for someone else too you tend to compromise but I wouldn't eat simpler per se.

It depends on how much you like cooking I suppose and don't think most foods are a fuss to cook.

[invisiblepiper]

lived on my own for two months in Tasmania - and ate oven roast veg or amazing carry out fish from a floating 'chippy' in the harbour. ... my OH hates fish - so it was bliss!
Oh ...and fell in love with macadamia nuts!

[ina]

I like cooking - but I tend to make simpler meals just for myself; either one or two pots at the most, and then preferably cooked for several days in advance. In summer, uncooked food is a good option - muesli and fruit, or salad for lunch - but in this cold wind I prefer something hot!

[Annpan]

When I lived alone I still used to make GIANT pots of chilli, pasta sauce, soup, stew, etc. The freezer was my best friend. I still like cooking in huge batches (I can never make things in small amounts) But now my freezer is tiny so I can only keep 6 or so meals in there, the result being that we don't eat as well or as varied a diet.

[John Headstrong]

my no bother food was (and still is) hummus,pita and salad. At one community I lived in the high summer people used to use my bus like a salad bar, people would often pop in with a extra packet of pita or more salad, others would make a nice spicy guacamole or something extra and leave half of it for who ever was next.

These days most of the salad is my own.

[Flo]

It's a relief not to be bound to the kitchen now that family has all left home. I'm no cook anyway and dislike doing it. But I do a handy soup or three fresh with stuff from the allotment, also stir fries and salads. Other than that I'm happy with cheese on toast or beans on toast or whatever comes easy. My errant ways with cookery have ensured that all the kids can cook well though

[Millymollymandy]

For a while my OH was going to Paris occasionally for an overnighter and I loved being able to have porridge and golden syrup for my dinner. That's one thing I miss, I'm quite happy with a bowl of muesli and a banana for an evening meal but the OH wants something savoury and more substantial. Cooking is a real chore sometimes.

[LBR]

MMM, muesli and a banana sounds nice. I agree about the cooking being too much work.

With this in mind, I'm off to buy groceries....

Wishing you all happy cooking or eating, or fasting....

[Green Aura]

When I moved up here I lived alone for 6 months while my husband worked his notice (I know loooong notice).

Like Annpan I cooked big batches of anything I fancied and froze batches (usually 3-4meals) for later. Breakfast was homemade muesli and I found I was happy with that every morning, maybe adding fruit, or having yoghurt instead of milk.

I lost over a stone without any effort, and dropped a dress size.

Now my husband is here I cook the same big batches, although I rarely get to freeze much. OH doesn't like to eat the same thing more than twice and so my breakfast routine is all to cock.

I've gained over a stone without any effort, and gained the dress size.

If he weren't so damn cute I'd divorce him.

[snapdragon]

Yet again

I LOVE this forum and it's members

I thought it was just me that had enough of cooking

when on my own my diet tends to be nuts, porage or pancakes made with oatmeal

[Thomzo]

I tend to cook properly for myself most of the time but there are occasions when I really can't be bothered. Then it's a couple of slices of toast or a bowl of cereal. I make the effort whent he OH is here but he cooks really well too so will happily cook for me. When I cook just for me, though, the food tends to be the one-pot style and usually vegetarian. OH likes his meat, so when he's here I always cook something a bit more recognisable. It's chicken risotto tonight (when he eventually gets back from London).

Zoe

[LBR]

It's a relief to know there are others. I'll even cook something and eat it for three meals in a row, then go back to not cooking, and then cook something else for a few meals.

If I still ate wheat, I'd probably be back on the cheese sandwiches for long stretches.

[Rod in Japan]

When my wife asks "What do you want for dinner?", my answer is always "Something complicated".

Somebody has to take responsibility for maintaining the richly varied culinary traditions of humanity, and if it has to be me, I'll do my duty.

[snigger]

It is much easier to cook for yourself. The only real difference between cooking for my family of 5 and cooking as a chef is the quantities. Take 5 ingredients and with anything more than 3 people someone will hate at least one of them.

The only real execption in my house is when I make macaroni cheese. But I don't really like that.