Dining alone

Kittylester like you I also had difficulty downsizing after all the family were gone. It took me years to learn that I still don't have to buy the " usual " groceries.
Even now I still find it hard just to buy for myself and tend to keep stocking up. I glance at other single elderly's trolleys and they have the basics then look at mine which is overflowing. I couldn't survive on less than at least one cooked dinner daily with a variey of meat,fish and veg.

I do eat ready meals sometimes. I always read the ingredients, and reject the ones with lots of additives and E numbers. The better ready meals (M and S, the premium ranges from supermarkets) can be pretty good. Not cheap, though.

I’ve never eaten on my own in the evening, but the daytime is fine.

I lived on my own for a number of years and (mostly) ate sitting at a properly set dining table with a glass (or 2) of wine. As I was working long hours I usually cooked so there were at least 2 meals and maybe something to freeze. Hearty soups like minestrone are always good, full of all the essential nutrients with lentils for protein and good to freeze. Just add some crusty sourdough bread for a delicious meal. I have never liked dining out at night on my own but am fine lunching on my own.

Oh yes Peanut butter , very sustaining ! toast seems too many crumbs , giveaway to my slovenly behaviour

In the months after Paw died Aggie I ate a lot of toast and peanut butter, also cream of tomato soup!
And I used to cook professionally!

Since Jim died in May , I haven't set the table , I make excuses if my daughter asks .. too far from the tv is one . I do eat mostly soup (home made ) bread cheese and something sweet to finish , yogurt , biscuit fruit . I used to always sit at the table and insist that the children and grandchildren did the same . I still do set the table if I have a child here ............ so I also cook properly for them too

Dining alone?
Dinner for One?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnpxE0eZtr0

I have lived alone for 18 years and nearly every day I eat a cooked meal with fresh ingredients on my own. I sit at the table, it's easier.

I am not a fan of ready meals, when I read the ingredients it often puts me off. But I eat the odd one when the ingredients are more natural, no or few chemicals/additives.

I have an Indian or Chinese takeaway or fish and chips sometimes not often. Now and then I'll enjoy eating lunch in a café on my own but wouldn't really eat out in the evenings without feeling uncomfortable.

I had enough of cooking family meals but now it's just me I can be more inventive especially when there is food in the fridge which needs using up. Meals are simple and quick though...usually involving cheese, fish, eggs, chicken, bacon, lots of vegetables and prawns at least once a week!

I don't like cooking, never have. Lots of effort and mess, and it's all gone in a few minutes. I sometimes prepare OHs meal, but sometimes he does it. We often have separate food as I'm vegetarian.

I am weird in that I will eat breakfast in the evening if I fancy it. I love a bowl of museli with lots of nuts, dried fruits and omega rich seeds, with Greek yoghurt and maybe some fresh fruit too. I'll eat that any time of day.

I like cheese and crackers, or egg or beans on toast. I like eating out when I can afford it. I have a weight problem, which no doubt is partly due to the above.

Yesterday, DH was out for the day and at lunchtime I sat at the table with a nice home-made prawn pilau and vegetable curry. It was exactly the same when he was working and was, on occasion, away for several months. I had a proper meals at the table. Even for 1, I will bulk cook and freeze single portions for use later on. You do not need to cook every day. (as I just realise*Oldwoman70*, has already said)

I much prefer eating, and doing much else on a table, sitting in a straight backed chair.

I love the evening meal. Even if I’m by myself which isn’t often, I still have something nice, at the kitchen table, with a glass of wine.
It marks the end of the busy day and the start of the relaxing part.
Ready meals are strictly for when we’ve just come back from holiday and need something quick. I wouldn’t want them every day or even every week, and we never have takeaways. If I’m going to eat restaurant food I’d rather sit in the restaurant and be waited on and not have to clear up afterwards!

I love cooking and am a real foodie so cooking is no chore! I have lived alone for a couple of years now and even after a long day at work I always eat a proper meal. I try to make sure when I cook that I cook two meals and freeze one so that on nights when I am too tired to cook I can pull one from the freezer and have it. other meals I make are quick and easy such as pasta with a simple garlic olive oil dressing and sautéed veg or a stir fry so not very time consuming. I slightly envy the posters who say they aren’t bothered about food and eating much! How do they do that! Unfortunately I love food?

I've been on my own for 18 months and love cooking for myself after years of catering to other people's tastes and peeling and chopping big piles of food (which I still do at weekends). It's so nice choosing something simple like salmon with veg that takes very little work and tastes nice. I always sit at the table as I feel uncomfortable eating on my lap.

DH and I usually eat at the kitchen table with napkins, serving bowls and a properly laid table. Saturday night though is always on our laps in the lounge.

If Dh is out I will usually have a previously frozen meal on my lap.

I love the ritual of cooking and still have difficulty down sizing our meals from the 7 when all the children lived at home to just 2 now and, therefore, I find I have batch cooked.

I suspect I would continue the same way if I was on my own though I would eat more fish.

NanKate that does not bother me although I would not go to a restaurant on my own for lunch and never in the evenings. It would be MacD or Waitrose.

I am fortunate that I still have my DH and we sit in front of the fire with trays most nights. However when our DS and GSs come we always sit at the table.

From the age of 11 I have gone out for coffee and cake, or lunch on my own and have enjoyed the experience. However I don’t know how I will feel when perhaps I have no choice.

As a woman who loves food, shopping for it, obviously, could spend all day in a French supermarket, and have, an Italian deli, heaven, love cooking for one or twenty, don’t even mind the washing up? so I do cook everyday for myself, sometimes complicated, occasionally disastrous, to baked beans on soughdough toast, yummy, and everything in between?

I love cooking just for myself. Don’t have to worry about other people’s tastes or preferences. Can just please myself.

Since DH died three years ago, I can’t generate any enthusiasm whatsoever for cooking. I’m usually alone in the evening and tend to grab some cheese and biscuits, or a sandwich, followed by fruit, honey and Greek yogurt. Very rarely do I actually cook for myself, but I seem to be surviving.?

Bluebelle, thank you for the welcome.
Have lurked for quite a while and thought that this was a nice safe thread to start on as a total forum novice ?

The omly thing I miss now living in my bungalow is having a dining room/table but OH and I eat either on a tray or at the small breakfast bar in the kitchen,I dont mind eating on my own anywhere as long as its not fast food.

You're all quite organised, it seems.
My own eating patterns are quite chaotic, I've only just realised!

I eat all my meals at home alone. I don't enjoy cooking so set aside a day when I batch cook - casseroles, chilli, pasta sauce etc. - and freeze down in individual portions. All I have to do then is cook vegetables, rice or whatever.

I eat alone mostly now and always cook a proper evening meal and sit on the sofa with a little table and a glass of wine.
I love cooking and mostly I cook for two, eat half and freeze half, so I always have a stock of home-made ready meals in the freezer.
Yesterday I made a beef hotpot in the slow cooker to eat when I got back from the rugby, which I discovered would easily stretch to three meals! Had one last night, one tomorrow, and will freeze the last third.
Tonight I shall do a roast chicken leg with roast potatoes and Yorkshire Pudding (I make a batch of Mary Berry ones and freeze them, so easy to pop one in the oven for the last five minutes).
I never sit at the table and eat alone, it reminds me too much of DH. I don't mind eating out alone, but have been lucky enough to have had three meals out with family in the last two weeks!