Cooking for one person can be challenging for various reasons. On the one hand there is the cost of the ingredients, time invested in shopping, prepping, and cooking, and on the other hand there is the question of quantities, do you go to all the effort for one portion or do you cook in bulk only to have to eat the same meal over and over. Then there are those recipes, most of which are designed for 4-6 portions. Do you halve the ingredients? How to go about it?

Cooking for one is an act of self-love, just like pampering yourself in other ways. You know what goes into your own food. No restaurant can be trusted to use the kind of oils and other ingredients that you would use when cooking for yourself. You, as the cook, are in control of the ingredients.

Save time and effort by making smoothies, chia-seed no cook porridge or eggs for breakfast. Make salads the main feature of lunch with any kind of protein you like thrown into it. Cook a protein, some root vegetables and non-starchy greens for dinner.

Here are a few suggestions to simplify cooking for one.

1. Dedicate time for shopping for fresh ingredients. If you work full time, Saturday or Sunday may be the day for you.

2. Inject some fun into food shopping by finding local farmers’ markets, walk there with your shopping trolley, if it is within walking distance, and enjoy the sights, smells and market atmosphere.

3. Put your fruit and vegetables in breathable containers in the fridge, where they will keep well and be readily available.

4. Store your tomatoes, potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions and garlic in a cool part of your kitchen but not in the fridge.

5. Bulk cook food like soup and stews and put into portion size containers. Freeze immediately to avoid having to eat the same dish for a few days in a row. This will also ensure the freshness of your food and guarantee that there is food for those very busy days when you simply cannot cook.

6. Cook a few portions of rice, quinoa and any other grain you may be eating. They keep well in sealed containers in the fridge for a few days. Always nice to eat cold in a salad the next day.

7. Freeze your perishables in one dish portions. If you feel like cooking for more than one meal, simply take out of the freezer as many portions as you need.

8. Spoil yourself with quick meals for one. Buy a delicious steak, piece of fish or succulent chicken breast that can be cooked in a matter of minutes. Add a big green salad and you are done.

9. Experiment with fresh herbs and spices, they make an enormous difference to the cooking and elevate a meal from mundane to exciting.

10. Fully cook only one meal a day. Make breakfast and lunch as easy as possible and if you cook double portions, you can use the leftovers for lunch the next day.

11. Use the best cookware you can afford. It is a joy to cook in good pots and pans.

12. Wash up immediately after preparing, you will feel much better when your space is neat and clean.

13. Celebrate your creation by plating it beautifully, put on some relaxing music and enjoy your food, you deserve it!