As I live on my own, I only cook for myself as well. But I always cook for 2 so I have my lunch for the next day sorted. If there are any foods that your partner doesn't like but you absolutely can't live without, this is your week to cook them as you don't have to share the with anyone. Also, why don't you treat yourself to a tasty take-away and just relax on the sofa.

it is easy to go to the seafood section and ask for salmon (or other seafood) in portion sizes that are good for you. I often do this.

I agree, get together with friends a few times and eat everything you don't make because your partner doesn't like it!

You could also make a big lasagne or soup or something that you can eat for a few different meals, so you don't have to cook every night.

Or just cook like you normally would and eat the same thing two days in a row? Saves time, too!

I am a big fan of brothy solo soups, so you have minimal cleanup :). And you don't feel so bad if you eat the whole thing. :)

I can't resist mentioning this depressing looking cookbook:

http://www.amazon.com/Microwave-Cooking-One-Marie-Smith/dp/0882894560

If you're not averse to eating the same thing over a few days, pick one delicious thing to make that will only get better with reheating. For example, this week, I made a Beef Daube Provencal for just me. I cooked up some rice in my rice cooker (3 cups worth), and tonight will only be my 3rd (and last) night of eating it.

http://eatliverun.com/spaghetti-carbonara-for-one/

I cook for one almost every night! While I prefer eating with the so, I don't find anything depressing about not either. And I don't own a microwave nor can I do takeout due to diet limitations. I don't make something awesome every night, but I have fun trying.

Quesadillas are fun and you can stuff with whatever you have on hand.
Ditto on 1/3 lb salmon tail, pan sear, and top a fresh salad.
Breakfast for dinner. I'd just cut this recipe in half. http://events.nytimes.com/recipes/1735/1999/12/29/Baked-Eggs-With-Onions-And-Cheese/recipe.html
Enjoy!

I can't be the only one who says this is the time to be a little crazy if you want to. Ben and Jerry's on the couch for dinner? Not gonna kill you just this once. I would say do whatever feels like a treat to you (fyi, that was mine but maybe yours is candlelight sushi in the bathtub or something) and take care of yourself!

There are lots of things that are easy for one, like stirfry, salad, any type of meat with a baked potato and steamed veg. I am also a fan of the make for 2 and you have lunch the next day :)

This is so funny! I'll be in the EXACT same position starting this Sunday. I'm doing as others have suggested: cooking the stuff I absolutely love but the hubby doesn't like. I'm kind of excited to have my asian food week. It's been so long since I had a fresh vegetable spring roll or some delicious beef and broccoli! eek! Stir fry! (I do like the ice cream on the couch idea, too... that might be my final treat of the week.)

Great ideas! My most memorable meal-for-one happened one night when I wasn't up for anything more strenuous than cooking an omelet. Before starting dinner, I perused my bookshelves for something to read while eating, and found a forgotten book that was a gift from my absent hubs: Elizabeth David's An Omelette and a Glass of Wine. Perfect! I made the omelette, poured the wine, and enjoyed some wonderful writing.

Other than that, I'm usually in the make enough for lunch camp. Whatever you do, treat yourself well this week!

I agree with much of what has been said. I typically make the food I love that my partner hates when he's out or the slightly bizarre yet comforting foods that I could never ask him to eat.

Make what makes you happy (even if that's cereal, ice cream, or saltine + grape jelly sandwiches)!

When the hubster is traveling I tend to make things he doesn't like--seafood and mushrooms anyone. I try to approach it like a vacation--eat things I usually don't!

My husband is vegitarian and I'm not so if he's gone (& I'm not on a diet!) I'll get my favorite meat lovers frozen pizza and just pig out on the couch with a chick flick. I'm not saying you should do this every day, or week for that matter, but it helps to give yourself a treat when you're lonely for your sweety. I also agree that it's best not to just eat crackers for dinner or something like that. Don't make it a chore, but you're worth it, making a nice meal, even if it is just for you!

I live alone, but most of the time I make larger meals and save the leftovers. But when I want to cook just one portion, I love seafood. If you have access to fresh seafood, I recommend mussels. They're super easy to cook and easy to make in a single portion. The only problem with fresh seafood is that you have to buy it on the day you plan to cook it, which can be a problem with work schedules, etc. Frozen seafood has gotten a lot better and it thaws quickly so you can pull it out after work and be ready to cook in half an hour. Many grocery stores sell individually portioned fish fillets - Target has surprisingly good fish under their own brand as well - and they can be grilled in a tabletop grill or cooked in a saute pan. Frozen shrimp is also easy to cook for one. Thaw the shrimp (under cold water if you're in a hurry), then throw into a hot pan. The medium size cooks in under 2 minutes.

I usually plan 2-3 meals for the week that I'll cook in larger quantities and have for multiple meals, and/or put some aside to put in the freezer (thought that's probably not a concern for you). Usually a meat and potatoes dish, something with pasta, and something lighter, like soup and salad. Then I just plan to have simple things for the remaining meals--eggs and toast, bagel and cream cheese and fruit, cheese and crackers, etc. Good luck!

Sometimes (especially around dinner) I'm the laziest of lazy bones! I like to cook a pot of rice (I'm not lucky enough to have a rice cooker), and when it's about halfway done I'll throw in some frozen vegetables-- Brussels sprouts or broccoli or whatever I've got-- and then about 3-5 minutes before the rice is done, I'll make a little hole in the rice and cook an egg to runny but cooked. Yum!

My husband is deployed to Afghanistan for the year (almost over!!!) and I have done a LOT of eating alone. My first tip is to continue to cook. Don't just eat cereal! BUT.. if you WANT to eat cereal, do it! Also, use this as a time to eat things that NO ONE else would enjoy (which we see in Alone in the Kitchen...), or things your partner doesn't love. I do a lot of fish because making one fish filet is easy. Also, I don't mind leftovers, so that works. Also, for some reason anything with chopsticks feels particularly satisfying when alone. Enjoy!

Funny - I guess some of us are in a similar situation as my BF is away next week. I am personally looking forward to:

1) Cheese Souffle all to myself a la Judith Jones' "Pleasures of Cooking for One". Her book is wonderful.

2) Inviting my other foodie friends over to be guinea pigs. I am working through "Into the Vietnamese Kitchen" by Andrea Nguyen - so here we go, pho !

Eating alone is a guilty pleasure. Enjoy it.
You are very fortunate to have someone to share your life with. I hope that this is the worst problem you face in your time here on earth. Your time would be better spent learning how to divide by 2 so you could just cook what you usually cook.
OR you could listen to the more tolerant comments and eat what your partner doesn't like for the week, or take leftovers to work for lunch.
Just keep your meals as special as you usually do. Meals are not just special when we share them with a loved one. They are special b/c they nourish our bodies which are really all we have.
In good faith that you will love your respite from having to share for a week.
Peace,
Theibaud.

Instead of watching Tv listen to music, the radio or podcasts during cooking and eating. The trick is to pick something you like and which is interesting but at the same time you can miss a minute or two without destroying the enjoyment of the programm. So if you have to leave the kitchen for moment or if you are too absorbed by cooking or eating for a short time it doesn't keep you from enjoying the rest of the programm.
Cook everything you like but your partner doesn't or season after your own taste and enjoy it!

When I lived alone I frequently made meals of an eggplant, eggs and tomatoes, or a potato. It sounds boring but it always felt comforting and satisfying. I loved to eat it curled up watching TV or with a good book. Of course I have also been known to eat ice cream for dinner :)

When I find myself cooking for one, I end up doing "breakfast for dinner" sometimes. Egg white omelette with veggies, and a potato for some home fries. Minimal ingredients, not all that much prep, but something hearty that isn't a sandwich!

I cook for just myself almost 100% of the time, and I find it to be liberating. I feel free to experiment and try new things, and if it doesn't turn out 'great' but is still edible, I don't have to be embarrassed or worried about another person's reaction.

I agree with the earlier commenters who suggest making enough to have leftovers for lunch the next day. I also do a lot of one-bowl and one-pot meals. This includes pasta with sauteed veggies (just enough for one), salads, and I've done a lot of great variations on this Couscous Salad lately that I've really enjoyed. http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/vegetarian/recipe-cous-cous-salad-with-winter-squash-and-cranberries-043717

This is also a great opportunity for you to cook full batches of something and stash it in the freezer for future nights when you don't have time or don't feel like cooking. I love to cook a big pot of soup and freeze it in individual servings, so I can just grab one for lunch on my way out the door. Whole grains and cooked beans freeze well, too.

Good luck!

When my spouse is out of town, I make a regular 2 person meal, and then I freeze the second one for my grandmother. When my mom breezes through town on her way to see my grandmother, she picks them up and delivers them, and then my grandmother has homemade meals waiting for her in the fridge every night. I can't be there regularly to make her meals, but I like to be able to fill her up with homemade food, even if we are separated. She seems to really enjoy it, and really looks forward to my mom's visits for the company AND the food. :)

Perhaps this week you could make your regular 2 person meals, and bring the leftover meal to a single neighbor or coworker? Since you're already used to cooking for two, it shouldn't be too much of a hassle, and I'm sure the receiver would really love the thoughtful gesture.

Aside from that, I find that mini-meals are easy to accomplish just by using smaller portions. Pasta dishes with chopped veg are easy, as are anything with portion control proteins. I second the mention of brinner (breakfast for dinner). Whipping up some eggs, toast, and a little fruit or green salad is easy to do for 1 and doesn't leave piles of leftovers to deal with. I also second the idea of indulging in those foods your partner hates but you love. When my spouse is gone, I eat oodles of olives and bleu cheese. Popcorn in bed! YUM!

Good luck and enjoy your week! Take a little time to pamper yourself--no one will be there to judge, so scarfing down chocolate cake while wearing jammies and a mud mask is perfectly acceptable.

I live by myself so I am usually cooking for myself. I usually just cook normal meals (like an entire roast chicken!) for myself. But some quick and easy recipes for one would be tacos, greens with a fried egg on top, salad with some sort of leftover protein.

About a year ago, my husband spent 6 months away in training for his job. I did a bunch of the things people describe above but my favorites were:

- scrambled eggs with greens and cheese,
- roasted vegetables, with some lemon chicken one night, and then the leftover vegetables over polenta another night,
- soups (freeze the leftovers so you're not eating the same thing day after day after day),
- sometimes I'd have just a big bowl of broccoli with cheese, which my husband doesn't love,
- a salad with tuna, olives, capers, and a lemon-garlic vinaigrette,
- and I also really enjoyed going out to dinner by myself.

Good luck!

I just recently broke up with my boyfriend and we use to always make dinner together. It's kind of a downer now to make dinner alone but I'm getting used to it. If the recipe calls for a big batch of food, I usually use leftovers for lunch or send some of the dish (especially if its dessert) off to my mom or friends. =)

I really don't understand why people can't handle the idea of cooking for one. It's not that hard!

Most recipes are easily cut down--in my two-person household I usually cut every recipe in half to begin with unless I want leftovers. If you're making your basic meat + some veggies dish, it's even easier.

It's only for one week, just cook like normal but eat more or have some leftovers for the next day.