What Do You Eat For Dinner When Alone?
By CatsandDogs
@CatsandDogs (13963)
United States
February 2, 2008 7:08pm CST
As most of you know, my husband and I don't have any kids so when he has to go visit his mom, who has dementia and is in a rehab center due to a broken hip, I'm alone when it comes to eating dinner and I'm at such a loss at what to fix when it's just me. I'm an almost vegetarian meaning, I'll eat roast, ham and turkey, that's it and very little of that even. When hubby is home, I'll make him a meal with meat but I'll only eat a bite or two of the meat and a lot of veggies. Strange though I'll eat a sub sandwich, which has meat and I LOVE mexican food (without meat) but going out is out of the question thanks to our finances being so tight. So what do you eat when you're alone? I'm curious to what kind of responses I'll get. Come on folks! Give me some ideas or some good vegetarian recipes!! What do you say?
12 people like this
27 responses
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
3 Feb 08
Oh I LOVE salad!! Good idea!! I just might do that next time I'm alone!! Thing is though, I don't live in the city so I'd have a little drive to get my salad but I'll keep that idea in mind.
I love your "no rules" comment! LOL
2 people like this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
3 Feb 08
This happens to me occassionally, as my husband is a shift worker. When he is on late shift I eat alone too. I Try & make a decent meal. Last night I made spag bolonaise, which was a nice treat, as my hubby can't eat that
Here is a simple byt healthy vegeatarian recipe:
VEGETARIAN CHICKPEA PATTIES
2 15-oz cans chickpeas
1 1/2 cups quick oats
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
garlic and onion powder, to taste (if desired)
pinch freshly ground black pepper
2 to 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
salt, to taste
Drain the chickpeas and reserve the liquid. In a food processor or blender, process the chickpeas with 1/2 cup reserved liquid. If the puree is dry, add more liquid, a tablespoon at a time, to achieve a smooth, thick paste.
Place the chickpea puree in a mixing bowl and add the remaining ingredients except the oil. Mix well, adding additional water or oats as necessary to make a mixture that keeps its shape. Shape into 8 patties.
In a heavy skillet, heat oil and fry patties until golden brown on each side, for a total of 20 minutes or so. Thinner patties will cook in less time.
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
4 Feb 08
Hi Jenny! Thanks for the recipe! It looks tasty so I'm going to have to try that the next time I'm alone.
@SViswan (12051)
• India
6 Feb 08
Swan, I like that:)
And no, I'm not as thin as a rail and I do not wish to be..lol
But yes, I am on the slim side and that's only because of my genes!
I'm just losing my pregnancy fat and so have not even reached my original size yet...but I'm getting there:)
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
4 Feb 08
You must be thin as a rail! lol Lucky you! I wish I could say that.... oh my days of being so thin are so long gone. lol So far, a baked potato or a sandwich has been added to my list. Thanks swan!
@highflyingxangel (9225)
• United States
3 Feb 08
I'm a meat eater, but that doesn't mean when I'm alone I'll eat meat products. I just grab whatever I can find that sounds good. Can't say that I try to make anything big or special, because if I'm the only one eating, then there isn't a point to trying to make anything. Sometimes I'll eat a sandwhich, or other times I'll make a pasta dish, it all depends really.
3 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
4 Feb 08
Yeah, kind of what's the point in cooking when it's only for one, right? So far I've gotten the baked potato and sandwich added to my list of things to eat. Maybe I'll starve and get thin again? LMAO!! Yeah right.
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
3 Feb 08
Speggetti!! Good idea ElicBxn!! I'm writing a list of all the ideas that get posted and yours has been added. Thanks!!
1 person likes this
@JanisRemaxRealtor (432)
• United States
3 Feb 08
The best meal ever when alone is simply this: A Baked Potato........load it with brocoli and cheese, salt and pepper, sour cream and butter and you'll be satasfied! If you eat ham, would you eat bacon? If so, crumble some of that on as well. Yumm-O
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
4 Feb 08
Oh I love a baked potato!! Now if I can get my microwave to cook it through and through, I'd eat more of them!! Yeah I love bacon bits so I could add that to it as well. Thanks!
@JanisRemaxRealtor (432)
• United States
4 Feb 08
I told my boyfriend just the other day, if I were stranded soewhere and could only pick one sort of food to eat, what would it be? Potato! Each microwave is different, so good luck figuring yours out. Mine actually has a baked potato button on it, but I am not sure what power level it would be. If you have the manual, it should tell you how to operate it. Enjoy!
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
3 Feb 08
As I live alone I eat whatever I want but is is usually roast chicken or pork ,veggies and salad.
2 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
4 Feb 08
If I weren't such a picky eater, it would be so much easier for me to find something to eat. I just wish my mom made me eat then maybe I wouldn't be so picky. I grew up hating salad and now I LOVE it thanks to finding the right dressings and the same goes with baked potato, I hated it growing up but now that I know about butter and sour cream, I love it! My mom wasn't much into spicing things up they way I do now.
@songbirdnaimh (1422)
• United States
3 Feb 08
I love Morningstar Black Bean Burgers....yum with BBQ sauce on top!
2 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
5 Feb 08
LOL I don't like hamberger at all so that's out for me. But thanks for commenting!! Now go get that black bean burger and enjoy!! LOL
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
3 Feb 08
Well I live alone, but I still love fixing a good dinner for myself, like tonight for instance I had oven-fried chicken, a baked potato with melted cheese on it, and green beans..and for dessert some ice cream...hehee. Wow you love Mexican food...I haven't in awhile but I used to make homemade tamales, burritos, gazpacho soup..you might like that being nearly vegetarian..then I do Italian cooking like manicotti ---I would make up batches of that then portion it out and fill in pans and freeze it...so almost like having homemade frozen dinners.
3 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
4 Feb 08
I'm not much of a cook so some terms aren't fimiliar to me. My mom tried to teach me but I had other things on my mind. It just wasn't on my interest list. lol I can make a few good dishes according to hubby but they're not the kinds I'd like though, such as ribs, meat loaf, speggetti and a few others but all I eat is the veggies. When I make a big batch of speggetti, chili, or what ever, I'll freeze parts of it for another meal but it'll be for two instead of one since there's two of us. I always have to cook his separately from mine since I don't like hamberger at all... YUCK! lol
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
5 Feb 08
I would do that too if I were closer to town but I can't since I'm not close to town. I guess one could say living in the country has it's advantages and it's disadvantages but I love living in the country so I have learn how to cook or make a quick meal. lol
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
5 Feb 08
You must not be a picky eater like I am. I wish I weren't but I am and nothing I can do about it. I just need to learn how to cook more vegetarian meals for it's what I like most.
@ellie333 (21016)
•
3 Feb 08
I usually cook up some pasta. chop some salad onions and tomatoes and mix altogether in a honey and grained mustard sauce. This can be eaten hot and if any left served cold for lunch following day If I have some I will add chicken too. If I'm feeling lazy I will just do cheese on toast or make a sandwich but also like the lady with no rules will take into lounge to eat in front of the TV rather than sit at litchen table.
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
5 Feb 08
I'm not in favor of pasta unless the sauce is really good such as speggetti but what you've described sounds really good! Where do you get this honey and grained mustard sauce? And what is the brand name? I'd like to give it a try! Thanks!
1 person likes this
@ellie333 (21016)
•
17 Feb 08
Hi sorry it has taken me so long re the honey and mustard sauce. You can buy it readymade in Tesco so probably Walmart would do it. It is made by Kraft and called light honey and mustard dressing. If not you can make your own which I do sometimes by mixing honey, wholegrain mustard with a touch of balsamic vinegar and lemon juice. I never measure quantities just add until get the right consistency. Good luck and enjoy if you do try. Ellie :D
@madlees (1377)
• India
3 Feb 08
When I am alone I also tend to be lazy. If there is cooked rice at home, I try to make some mixed rice and a raita. If there is nothing left over the it'll be an omelette with mixed veggies and green chillies because I like them hot. Some bread toast to go with and a glass of fruit juice or some fruits to accompany. Once in a while if we can leave our stomach half empty will work wonders for the health.
2 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
4 Feb 08
Thanks madlees, those are good ideas. However try telling my hubby about leaving his stomach half empty... lol It would be like talking to a brick wall! lol
@cydzzj (354)
• Australia
3 Feb 08
Sometimes I will make fruit salad or garden salad, noodle, sandwiches(use ham/cheese/tomato, or egg/bacon, or chicken/SDT/spinach, etc.) for dinner when I am along. And sometimes I am very lazy. Just eat some junk food like KFC or McDonald's.
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
4 Feb 08
If I were closer to town then I'd eat out too but I'm in the country which is a bit far to be going out. I like the sandwich idea and just went to the store but forgot the carl budding meat!! Arg!! I'll be going again later on this week so I'll try to remember to get it then. Thanks!
@GardenGerty (161165)
• United States
3 Feb 08
I will eat a frozen meal. I buy a certain low cal brand for less than a dollar. Or I will microwave a frozen burrito, and a side of refried beans. Topped with cheese and salsa. I like soups.
2 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
4 Feb 08
I've searched for frozen vegetarian meals but there just aren't any. :( So I get stuck in what to have but a lot of people here have suggested baked potato, now if I can get my microwave to cook it right, I'd do that. I love a baked potato! So maybe if I turn the microwave down to medium, maybe then it'll cook it all the way through.
@sunshinelady (7609)
• United States
4 Feb 08
If I am by myself I fix something that is as easy as possible. I don't really cook anything. To much trouble to cook anything just for myself. I either eat sandwich or go and get something to eat from one of the restaurants here in town. I like to get the subway sandwiches. They are really good and I like to get them with a wrap instead of the bread. Makes my mouth water just thinking about them.
1 person likes this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
5 Feb 08
Yeah, that's what I'd like to do is find something quick and easy. There's no reason to run the oven for only one person. About subway, is the wrap like a pita? Maybe I ought to try that the next time I go there. Thanks!
@RetiredArmyMan (74)
• United States
5 Mar 08
What ever I can find in the fridge or freezer and throw in the pan is what I'll eat. I like hamberger and greezy beans the most but it all depends on what I can find.
1 person likes this
@jhoana_joey (616)
• Philippines
5 Mar 08
Before, I hate eating alone, it feels like I'm eating but can't enjoy and can't taste the food then when I got job away from my family and friends I just get used to it. Now, I usually prepare instant food like noodles, canned food or anything that can cook easily.
1 person likes this
@lady0fdarkness (73)
• United States
4 Feb 08
I am now living with my finace and our 2 year old daughter, I did however lived alone 4 years ago. Living alone has its advantages and disadvantages. For one, you can do whatever you please; not having to give a care about anyone but yourself can be quite nice. And also, you can eat whatever you want and not have to worry about pleasing the other people whom are dining with you, and ofcourse there are less dishes when you eat alone. But the one disadvantage of eating alone is ... the loneliness! And you end up eating a lot!! Well, I do anyway. My favorite veggie dish is a lightly fried bokchoy or mustard gabbage with sesema oil and steamed fish, and I normally eat these items with steamed white rice. The taste is light and the aroma is sure to wish you had someone to share it with! Enjoy your dinner!
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
5 Feb 08
You are so right, living alone has it's advantages and disadvantages. Just like living in the country, it has it's advantages and disavantages too such as not being able to just jump in the car and go to a fast food resturant but I love being in the country. Wildlife in it's glory is wonderful to see. Thanks for the idea!!