Dinner for one
Heyyyyy <3 Happy Thursday! What do you have going on this weekend? We’re having a couple of friends over for taco night tomorrow, and I’m working on Saturday. So glad you liked the quinoa burger recipe– let me know if any of you give it a try!
You can probably imagine what happens when the Pilot flies late during the week…
Soup
[Goat cheese and chili powder make soup slightly prettier]
Bella and the DVR.
I kind of failed in the meal planning and spaced the fact that the Pilot wouldn’t be home last night. I *could* have made fajitas for myself, but instead I’m waiting for a night when he’ll be home. I just went for quick and easy on the dinner front, which usually happens when it’s just me.
It kind of reminded me of my senior year in college, when I lived on my own –the Pilot was stationed in North Carolina and deployed most of the year- and if I didn’t go out to eat with friends, many of my dinners at the apartment consisted of soup, salad and… chicken out of a pouch. Those were the days before I knew how to cook anything, so I made it work.
When I’m by myself, I find it harder to make a beautiful meal if I have no one else to enjoy it with. But, when I take the time to, I’m so glad I did.
[Writing a blog with healthy meal ideas is good motivation, too]
The Pilot got home late –I was a zombie and hardly remember him sneaking in- and I woke up early to get ready for work.
Breakfast was set in the fridge before bed last night:
-Pumpkin overnight oats with
1 T almond butter (the end of the jar)
1/2 C pumpkin
almond milk
Sun Warrior
Stevia, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg
I don’t usually *love* overnight oats –I’d rather have a breakfast cookie– but these were so good. But, you could cover a trash can in pumpkin right now and I would eat it.
I’m off to teach! It’s a Zumba day.
Enjoy your Thursday and I’ll see ya later with my 28-week Family post update.
xoxo
Gina
Something to talk about: Do you still make a full-up dinner if your significant other isn’t home? Or, if you live solo, how often do you make yourself something special for dinner? If the Pilot is working late, I’ll usually roll with an omelet or soup.
Zumba song of the day: “Ella me levanto” by Daddy Yankee
and just in case you want to dance along….
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“You could cover a trash can in pumpkin right now and I would eat it.” I think this is one of my favorite things you’ve ever said… Um, maybe because I share the sentiment? 🙂
I definitely do a full-up meal at the dinner table when we are together but if he isn’t home… I tend to eat in front of the TV 😉
I definitely find that I am more likely to make an interesting, healthy recipe and take the time to cook it if my boyfriend is around. I still eat healthy when solo, the meals are just a little more boring!
When my husband works late, I usually just have leftovers. Since he has to work late a few times a week, I tend to plan to have leftovers for me just in case. Otherwise, I roll with a hodgepodge of food. My fave is probably a third of a polenta roll sliced into a hot skillet, topped with Arrabbiata sauce and goat cheese til heated through. it’s done in about 7 minutes and delish.
i haven’t had polenta in wayyyy too long- thanks for the reminder 🙂
Your soup looks delish! I’ve never added goat cheese to my soup before but I’ll give it a try! 🙂
i rarely make a full dinner if my husband is out late. i feel like it’s so much time and effort for one person! i’m trying to be better though because i, even solo, deserve a delicious and healthy meal 🙂
When my husband isn’t home I eat the bare necessities. And I actually don’t really think about it. I am not sure why. i think I enjoy cooking for someone else so much that I will eat what I gotta.
I tried zumba last week at a free drop in, when the class was over I signed up right away. Love it!
I don’t have a significant other but I do still try to put in the effort to make my meals look nice – having a blog that documents many of them is a good incentive too! On some nights though… I just can’t be bothered! (Oh, and I’m with you on the overnight oats. Bfast cookie > overnight oats any day!!)
I eat so much lighter when I’m not with Josh! I don’t know if its I’m perfectly fine eating eggs and almond butter sandwiches when I’m on my own but with him I want to go out to eat and explore new foods and make new things. It results in me eating a lot more! ;p
I definitely put more effort into putting together a beautiful meal when I’m cooking for someone else (say for example the mama, or my roomie) but I still love throwing together elaborate dishes when I’m solo (providing I have the time). If it’s the end of a long day after class and I’m pooped, I opt for something quick and easy like lentils and salad with hummus – always a winner.
My husband works until 8 pm most nights – and I’m not a fan of eating so late. So I whip up something simple for us on those eves. I eat at a normal time and he gets fed when he gets home. Sometimes he’ll eat at work so I don’t have to bother (which is nice). But I do miss nice, well prepared food. So when your Pilot comes home and sneaks – is he good at sneaking? My husband stinks at sneaking, although he thinks he’s good at it. He drops things, trips over things and doesn’t plop into bed like a feather! Enjoy your day.
Mo
I’m home a lot too because my bf is a police officer and I definitely slack off in the ‘beautiful meal’ area when I’m alone, but like you said, it’s wonderful when I don’t and make something worth sharing! 😀
Ow owwww. Daddy Yankee is fiyah.
Anyway, re: fixing up fancy shmancy meals! Once in a while, if there’s no biochemistry or organic chemistry calling my name, I’ll get off my butt and try and fix up a fancy meal, operative word being try. As a student I probably should’ve learned a bit more about cooking in the past summer, but I never got around to it. And now I’m (sorta) suffering for it 🙁 Guess I’m lucky I’m not a picky eater!
I definitely don’t cook up a full meal if my man isn’t home. I tend to eat leftovers, or just a salad or sandwich – often pbj! Meals for one is a difficult task, if I do make something I usually make way too much for just me. As far as this weekend, I’m having a house warming party for our new house, any suggestions for me? You look like you host great parties! Thanks!
Hmm I live alone and i’d say that at least once a week I cook up a good, fancy-shmancy meal. It makes me feel accomplished and provides leftovers for the week! 🙂 Plus if I don’t cook well for myself, no one else will! 🙂
I had to laugh when I scrolled down to the photo of your overnight oats, because as I was reading this morning I was eating… overnight oats out of a Trader Joe’s almond butter jar.
And I like making nice dinners for just myself every once in a while. I still make two portions… and then I have lunch for the next day! That way it doesn’t feel like I spent *all* that time for just one meal. 🙂
If I’m feeling down or blah I def like to put more effort into my meals, it just makes me feel better. I tend to cook MORE if I’m not with my signifigant other, since he and I tend to have different tastes. Me more healthy, him steak and potatoes hahaha!
I think you should post a Zumba video showcasing your cute pregnant belly…..just sayin 😉
i’m having the worse morning and this song made smile…ahh love the instructor!
I don’t ever make fancy dinners, even if the hubs is home 🙂 I tend to make a giant batch of something easy (pasta with a bunch of stuff tossed in) and I eat off that during the week. It doesn’t help that my husband and i don’t eat any of the same foods.
I live alone, so I have to get motivated to cook well for myself no matter what! My mother drives me crazy though, arguing that because she is single and lives alone she doesn’t deserve to make herself yummy, healthy food. WHAT?
I do, but I am nursing a 5mo and have a very active 3 yo that needs good foods. When it was just my hubbs and I, I tended to eat cereal.
When Shane’s gone for the night, I’ll typically make something that he has absolutely zero interest in – like quinoa or veggie burgers:) And catching up on the shows is definitely a must!
I used to just gobble up leftovers from the fridge, or eat a can/box of soup when The Boy when out of town, but after many, many week-long business trips and his most recent 2-week trip to Japan, I decided that I was much happier making myself full meals. Most of the time. There were a few nights where I had egg-and-cheese sammies with fruit for dinner!
This is kind of random, but do you actually buy all of those mp3s for your playlists and zumba classes? Or do they provide the music for you? I love all of these songs you post, but I’m too cheap to pay $.99/song ten times a week.
If I have more time one day, I’ll make something that takes a little more effort, but with classes and everything, I try to prep as much as I can in advance. I’m so happy it’s fall now, so I can justify eating soup all the time, haha.
My man is deployed, so I’m eating solo on the regular right now. During the week, I just eat easy, quick meals. On the weekends, I get a little more motivated to cook something fancy.*
I’m a college student, so I eat tons of soup as well! I usually doctor it up with beans, tofu, or a sprinkle of cheese to make it more substantial…any other suggestions? It’s always nice to be able to mix things up!
When hubby is gone, my son and I most definitely take it easy on mealtime- We usually make something easy like eggs, sandwiches or something from the freezer. 😀
When I am cooking for someone else my meals are always more elaborate. Most of the time, however, it is just me. If I have something planned I’ll make it (maybe 1-2 nights a week), but the rest of the nights I just roll with leftovers or random assortment meals or snacky meals.
And there’s been a few night where my dinner consisted of a bowl of cereal or popcorn-classy.
Normally, I’m just cooking for me (my bf and I are long distance), and my dinners vary. Sometimes I just couldn’t care less (enter in smoothies or eggs for dinner), while other nights I’ll really treat myself to something special. All depends on how I’m feeling/how much time I have!
As a single girl, it sometimes takes a lot of effort to make a big dinner just for me which is why there are those nights when soup and a salad just hits the spot! And ohh I’ve been looking for another use for my pumpkin that is sitting in the fridge and this might be the perfect thing!
If hubby isn’t home for dinner, I tend to make myself and the kids “breakfast for dinner”. They seem to enjoy it and it’s super easy 🙂
I think that sometimes it is important to treat yourself to a full up meal when you are home alone. I think it sends a message to yourself that you value you, and that you are worthy of a home cooked meal just like everyone else is!
I started going to Zumba with two of my suite mates this school year and I am LOVING it. I just did Zumba toning last night and all I can say is holy shoulder burn! It was great and I love having the chance to shake my bootay 😉
If I’m alone for the evening but already bought ingredients and don’t want to waste them, I’ll definitely cook for myself and eat leftovers for lunch throughout the week. Other times I’ll roast some cauliflower and top it with a fried egg; it’s a perfect meal-for-one, it’s healthy, and doesn’t take much effort!
Your sense of humor made my day! “you could cover a trash can in pumpkin right now and I would eat it.”.. Hahaha!!!
And p.s, you are SO taking the best blogger award! You have been in the lead the whole time! I love voting for you. I hope you know how great you are and how much your blog touches people. It is when you are your most genuine that you have the greatest impact, and your truth on this blog shines through in every post. You rock girl!!
As much as I love to cook, I relish having the night off of dinner when the husband isn’t around. Sometimes a bowl of cheerios for dinner is juuuuust right.
agreed! 🙂
Every time I cook for myself I end up making a dinner for 6!!
I *always* cook something nice for myself; I had to get over the notion “only cook nice stuff when with company”, and now it is second nature to me. I even have small pots for small portions. — As they say, …because you’re worth it (having a really great dinner!).
If my husband isn’t home for whatever reason during dinner, then it really just depends on how I’m feeling in terms of whether I make a full on meal or not for myself. Most of the time, I’ll have a big ol’ baked sweet potato with various toppings or a big salad. If I do make a big meal, I always make sure to cook a normal sized batch to cover for leftovers another night.
I cook for myself every night unless I cooked up a storm and have leftovers set for a whole week. Luckily, I’m the type of person who can eat leftovers forever, so it’s no big deal. Even though it’s kind of annoying to cook for one, I think of it this way: I’m special enough to enjoy a lovely meal all by myself 🙂
When I lived alone I usually rolled with simple small meals if I did not eat out with friends. I am not a huge fan of leftovers so I tried not to create any. Occasionally I woud roll my sleeves up and make a nice pasta dish for myself and since pasta leftovers never taste like leftovers I’d make plenty. 🙂 When my hubby was deployed before we were married, I would convert back to those solo days and make simple small meals. It is just not as fun when you do not have someone to show the pretty and yummy food to – plus having someone to share all your hard work with is a bonus 🙂
I definitely roll with something easy when the hubs is out of town like quesadillas, a sandwich or breakfast for dinner!
I really find blogging helps to motivate me to cook better dinners too! Something has to keep us in check and for me, the blog is definitely it!
lol this actually made me kind of sad! I have to make dinner for myself every single night! It’s definitely important to me to make something nice to eat most days a week. otherwise it’s like saying i’m not worth it.
I think it´s way more fun to make fancy dinner, when there is someone else than you.
But I still make proper meals.
I am single and live alone, and am rarely home for dinner, but sadly, I never cook for myself. I either eat something easy like soup, or order in sushi. Usually by the time I get home I’m so hungry I go for the easy options. I really want to get better at cooking for myself!
Hi Gina – you mention that in college you ate a lot of soup, salad and chicken because that was before you knew how to cook… I’m just wondering how you learned? I never really learned how to cook, I have taught myself a few things over the past few years but honestly don’t really know what I’m doing and more often than not I’m not thrilled with the food I make. I grew up very picky and I have been struggling to learn to like new foods so that is part of the struggle (veggies mostly so salads are pretty much out and still working on trying to like fish). On nights my husband is not working (he’s a bartender by night and a pilot in training by day!) I try to make up a nice dinner like organic chicken thighs in TJ’s yellow curry sauce with coconut milk and cauliflower served over rice but beyond that and the occasional frittata I’m sort of at a loss. I’ve been looking around for some sort of cooking class so I can learn the basics and find new food combinations but I haven’t had any luck yet. Anyway, I’m really enjoying your blog and keeping up with your pregnancy, you and the Pilot and Bella are too cute!
Hi Gina!
I should probably post this under ‘family,’ but since your recipe had Stevia in it, I figured I’d ask you here! My stevia box (Whole Foods brand) has a boxed warning for pregnant and lactating women, and I also read this in a few other places…have you done in research on this or spoken to your midwives about it? I am pregnant too, that’s why I’m asking, not being judgmental!