To some people I know, cooking a meal just for themselves seems a lot harder than, say, cooking for four. It can be intimidating to look at a recipe that serves four to six and try to figure out how to scale it down…or decide what to do with all the leftovers. What I’ve learned over the years as a foodie (and chronic dieter) is that cooking for one is actually a much bigger joy than cooking for four (or more)!

The best part about cooking for one is that you only have to take into account your food preferences. Think about it: no worrying if someone doesn’t like something or is allergic to it. No wondering if they had Asian food last night if you’re wanting to cook up a stir-fry, or if they had Italian for lunch when it’s chicken piccata you’re craving.

As a singleton, I’m pretty busy with my bustling social life most nights (if you count the contestants from So You Think You Can Dance as your social life), but I still like to sit down and have a real dinner while my dog pants in my face. A real dinner, to me at least, usually consists of a protein source, good carbs and a green veggie. Cooking that for yourself every night can seem daunting at first, but with some strategic planning, you can make it all come together rather easily. Read the rest of this entry »