Living alone definitely has its advantages, but cooking for one isn't always one of them. Whereas you can potentially eat what you want without having to check that your other half/the kids/whoever you used to live with likes it too, it does require quite a lot of organisation to ensure that you have what you need...and if you have a full-time job, it is often difficult to find the time to get organised. There are, however, some basic things that you can do to help with this.
Invest in a Freezer
This may sound obvious, but most people have fridge freezers with only a very small freezer section. If you are going to get organised, then you need to have plenty of freezer space. Why? Read on.
Cook from Scratch and in Bulk
It takes about the same amount of effort to cook several portions of dishes like chilli con carne, spaghetti bolognese, curry and casserole as it does to cook one. If you work in the week, then do a couple of different dishes at the weekend and freeze what you don't eat. That way, you can come home from work, cook some rice or pasta, and microwave a portion of whatever you fancy. Jacket potatoes can be cooked in bulk, frozen and heated up in the microwave or oven as and when necessary. It saves a fortune on frozen meals and is a lot more healthy.
Stock Up on Tinned Food
I always have two lots of tinned food in the cupboard. Chopped tomatoes, which can be used to make chilli and spag bol and can be stirred into pasta for a quick and easy, low-fat meal. And tuna, which can be used in a sandwich or with a jacket potato for a nutritious meal. Tinned vegetables are also useful to have in case of emergencies - some, such as sweetcorn, can actually be nicer than the fresh version. However, they can be high in salt and sugar, so keep them for emergencies only.
Buy Frozen Vegetables
Don't buy fresh vegetables unless you have a plan to use them immediately. I cannot count the number of times I have bought fresh vegetables and have ended up throwing them out because they have gone off. I buy frozen diced onions, a necessary basic for many of the dishes I cook, sliced peppers, casserole vegetables, garden vegetables, cabbage and even spinach. I can then use what I need for what I am cooking and replace the rest in the freezer for the next time. Frozen vegetables are as healthy, if not more so, than fresh vegetables, because they are usually frozen at source, which maximises the vitamin intake. And I find that I eat a lot more vegetables this way - I often add frozen spinach, for example, to spaghetti or curry for added iron.
Do a Weekly/Monthly Internet Shop
If you are really organised and plan your shop in advance, doing an internet shop can ensure that you have plenty of ingredients in your cupboard with the minimum of effort. I tend to buy the largest bags of rice and pasta that I can find, which saves me money and means that I don't have to carry it back from the shops myself. And although there is a delivery charge, the chances are you will buy only what you need instead of what you fancy when you see it in-store, so ultimately you are still going to be saving money.
Invest in a Slow Cooker
Slow cookers are a great way to prepare food with the minimum of effort. I throw in vegetables, meat, stock and seasonings, switch on and eight hours later, or when I get home from work, there is a ready-cooked, nutritious meal. It is worth investing in a slow cooking cookery book for other ideas - mine has recipes for all sorts of meals such as beef stroganoff, lasagne, chilli and ginger chicken and macaroni cheese.
Happy cooking!
