Extension for Real Life

Cooking for One or Two

Cooking for one or two can sometimes be tricky. Many recipes are designed for families or groups. What if you live alone or are empty nesters? We’ve got some tips for you to help you cook in small batches and be successful with it!

The number one key to success? Planning. Plan meals out before going to the grocery store. This saves money and helps you buy only the items you need. I’ve found that if I go into the store with a plan, I’m less likely to go off script and buy food I don’t need.

When planning meals, consider these tips:

• Use MyPlate to help guide your meals. This will make planning easy and help you stick to creating meals that are nutritious.
• Is buying in bulk the smartest thing for you? It can reduce costs, but it may also lead to waste. Only buy items you know you can freeze. I buy my meat in bulk and repackage them into smaller servings.
• Consider buying single-serve items like cheese slices, tuna, yogurt, fruit, soups, and tortillas. These items are especially good to have handy on days you need a quick meal.
• Make “planned-overs.” Some people love leftovers, others don’t. I personally do! Get single-serving containers and portion out leftovers. This makes mealtime easy on busy weeknights! I also plan different meals from the same meat. If chicken is on sale at the grocery store, I will incorporate it into two different meals. You can also use vegetables that don’t get eaten in casseroles or soup. Get creative!
• Speaking of leftovers, freeze food so it doesn’t go to waste. This has been a game-changer for me. If I have leftover meats, casseroles, or soups, I will divide them into individual portions and place them in the freezer. They’re easy to pull out when I don’t feel like cooking or when I need a break from leftovers.

Got a recipe you want to make but don’t want to end up with tons of leftovers? Use these conversions to cut the recipe in half:

• Half of 1/4 cup equals 2 tablespoons
• Half of 1/3 cup equals 2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons
• Half of 1/2 cup equals 1/4 cup
• Half of 2/3 cup equals 1/3 cup
• Half of 1 tablespoon equals 1 1/2 teaspoons
• Half of 1 teaspoon equals 1/2 teaspoon
• Half of 1/2 teaspoon equals 1/4 teaspoon
• Half of 1/4 teaspoon equals 1/8 teaspoon
• Half of 1/8 teaspoon equals a dash

Cooking for one or two people can take time to figure out. View it as an opportunity to try new recipes and new cooking techniques! With smart planning and a dash of flexibility, your weekly meal preparations can be a tasty success!

Special thanks to our friends at Illinois Extension, Nebraska Extension, and North Dakota State Extension for the resources and tips!