North York Central Library Blog

My family's meals consist of kid-friendly foods such as spaghetti, meatloaf and chicken potpie.  This is a far cry from my pre-paren'thood days, when I made beef broth from scratch for French onion soup, duck à l'orange, Peking duck (I was big on duck) and Gâteau Saint-Honoré. 

Image courtesy of cbenjasuwan/freedigitalphotos.net		Image courtesy of noahpinionblog.blogspot.com

So, when I had a chance to live on my own for a bit, I was excited that I could take the time to make what I wanted to eat.  Much to my surprise, I found that cooking for one was no motivation for cooking at all.  I quickly fell into the habit of eating foods that required no prep time, such as jam sandwiches or yogurt … sometimes while standing over the kitchen sink.  Part of the problem was the lack of a stand mixer and a miscalibrated oven.  But still…who would've guessed?

I've been reading a variety of books on cooking for one.  Some of the recipes inspire me, especially those which are pretty straightforward and involve no cooking.  Reading about what others cook and eat when by themselves is both entertaining and reassuring.

The Pleasures of Cooking for One by Judith Jones	Solo Suppers: simple delicious meals to cook for yourself by Joyce Goldstein	Vegan Bites: recipes for singles by Beverly Lynn Bennett
Raw Food Made Easy by Jennifer Cornbleet	What We Eat When We Eat Alone by Deborah Madison	Alone in the Kitchen With an Eggplant: confessions of cooking for one and dining alone by Jenni Ferrari Adler

Now I understand why some seniors, especially those who live by themselves, don't have the best eating habits.  Fortunately, we have a presentation by University of Toronto Master of Public Health students, specializing in community nutrition, to get us back on the right track.  The focus of the presentation will be on healthy foods, vitamins and supplements and other tips for older adults.  Free samples will be provided. Join us at North York Central Library, Rooms 2/3, 2-3 pm on Tuesday March 4th.