Creating fun and flavorful meals for one, doesn’t have to be complicated or boring. Learning how to cook in the kitchen will allow for the opportunity to explore new foods while nourishing your body with foods you enjoy! Below are some tips and tricks on how to create delicious meals for one with ease!
Stock up on staples:
- Keeping your kitchen full of staple ingredients can help you whip up a meal in no time! This includes canned veggies, tuna, frozen fruits, and vegetables, as well as herbs and spices to enhance the flavor of these simple ingredients. Having a grain like pasta or rice can allow you to build a meal around that ingredient as well.
Look for shortcuts:
- Buying pre-chopped/washed vegetables and salad mixes can save on time, prep, and clean-up. Do be aware that these shortcuts might save time but raise the price.
Cook once, but eat multiple times:
- Cooking a large meal at the beginning of the week will allow you to have leftovers for meals the next few nights!
Batch cook your protein:
- Batch cooking a protein like chicken at the beginning of the week will allow you to use the leftover meat in many different dishes. Add it to a soup or salad, throw it on a sandwich, shred it, and put it into a taco, or combine it with some veggies and pasta! The opportunities are endless!
Reinvent your leftovers:
- Eating the same meal day after day can get boring, but having leftovers can be a great starting place for your next meal. You can wrap leftover protein, rice, and veggies into a tortilla with a little cheese and salsa and you get yourself a burrito!
It can be hard finding the motivation to cook for yourself, especially after a long day of work, but finding ways to skip the takeout and microwave dinners by mastering a few skills to put you on track to see the benefits of cooking yourself! Learning these skills will help you save money, cook meals that are quick but will taste great, and boost your energy and mood while keeping you healthy to tackle another long day ahead!
Written by GAUDS intern Emma, with contributions from helpguide.org
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