Anne recently lost her husband of 42 years to cancer."I can't cook for just myself," she told me. "What can I do so cooking is not such an ordeal?"
Anne's circumstance is typical of many seniors who have lost a spouse or partner. And while it would be easy to give her a "cooking for one" cookbook, that really doesn't address
problem - an undesirable change.
When you've cooked for a family of two or more, cooking for one is a lonely endeavor. But a few simple changes can help.
1. Change your culinary environment.
Throw out or store those old dishes that have so many cues for remembering other times. Replace them with a new set for two or four. I've found delightful tableware sets for four for under $50.00 at Crate & Barrel and Kitchen Etc. Tableware doesn't have to be expensive to be fun, and change will help steer you toward life you're now living.
While you're at it, take a quick trip to your local bookstore. Many of latest cookbooks feature beautiful color photographs of scrumptious meals to tempt your palate.
2. Change your eating habits.
Change time you eat your mail meal. Change your habitual diet to something new and more exciting. Change your eating partner. You may have friends that would enjoy sharing a meal. If not, make new ones at volunteer or senior centers.
Invite friends, new and old, to come to share a meal. Perhaps they'd enjoy sharing meal preparations as well.
Spend your mealtime periodically working at a soup kitchen or delivering "Meals-on-Wheels." It's hard to be lonely when you're giving of yourself.
3. Don't cook for one.
It's no more trouble to make a meal for four than a meal for one - so cook for four, and freeze surplus in meal-sized portions. Ziplock TM freezer bags will work well for single portions, but do not use sandwich bags. They are too thin for adequate freezer storage.
