by Santi Meintjes

Created on: February 06, 2008

Cooking for "singles" is not the same as cooking for one. The latter is required of most of us occasionally, whether single or not, and any old slap up out of a packet or can will do. However, when you are single, you need to do more than that, not only for your taste buds but also for your health.

It is very, very easy to get into a toast and pasta routine when you are single. Ready-to-eat starches are ubiquitously available (pizza, muffins, subs) and who wants to bother with meat and vegetables for only one person? It takes planning and discipline, but you must prepare varied and fresh meals for yourself, and here's a few tips on how to achieve it.

Stocking the cupboard
It takes a while and it feels like it costs a lot, but go to the trouble of acquiring a wide range of herbs and spices. They last quite a long time because you do not use much at a time, and if you keep them tightly closed and out of light, they will keep their flavour. Get some basic oils and sauces too - they can do wonders to bland food with minimal effort. For example, mix some Worcestershire sauce and Dijon mustard with chicken broth, add garlic if you like it, chuck it in a dish with some broccoli, into the microwave, and about 8 minutes later you have a green veg to die for.

Stocking the freezer
For a single person the refrigerator is an even better friend than the microwave. Leave the pre-packaged meals alone - they are flavourless and expensive. Instead, get a basic supply of chicken pieces, ground meat (mince), bacon, fish, and something special that you like particularly (lamb stew?) and divide it into servings before you freeze. Add a few packets of frozen vegetables (peas, carrots, and corn are very useful) but again, the basic ones, not the premixed varieties.

Fresh stuff
You will go to the supermarket for fresh milk - make a habit of picking up something fresh in the greengrocer at the same time - a few tomatoes, a head of lettuce, six mushrooms, half a cabbage, and then put it where you can see it. The same for fruit. Even if you buy just two bananas or four apples or one mango, and set it out in a bowl in your kitchen counter, you will gradually eat more fruit.

Cooking
Look for simple recipes initially and go on to more complicated ones as you gain experience with the pots and pans! Most of the time you only want something to eat, not a gourmet occasion, so here's what you do.
Chop an onion and braise (that means fry gently) in butter (nicer) or oil (tends to spatter). Add some spices

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