Cooking for One, the Mediterranean Way

Hi Carol Williams - Cooking and shopping for groceries for one has been my biggest challenge too! You were lucky that Kat Palmiotti blessed you with a cooking for one recipe book. You have made such a great impact on everyone on ActiveRain and you have a good heart. 

Good morning Carol. My wife is Italian and cooking for two is a challenge, can't imagine just one. That said, we to are focusing on healthier eating. My biggest challenge is to put down the utensils and saying enough. Enjoy your day.

I adhered to the Mediterranean diet for a bit a while back, and found it to be helpful for cooking for one, as I would make large quantities of minestrone soup, haha.

Good morning, Carol... it is very much about mindset. And I applaud your new mindset. As for me, my mindset is to eat what I like and in moderation.

Thank you for the mention! For some reason, I find salads seem to taste better when eaten out. It doesn't make sense, but that's just the way it is!

Good Sunday morning, Carol. All of us need to opt for healthy food selections. I have to watch my weight and check it every morning.

Hello Carol - regardless of method, food preparation for one can be challenging. It seems you are facing it well.

Good morning Carol Williams ,

Cooking for one is a challenge but I have to admit eating more the Mediterranean way makes it easier! Having on hand salad makings, fruits and vegetables, nuts, yogurt and cooking with olive oil makes things easier.

Happy Sunday Carol and I try to eat healthy and small portions and have something left over for lunch the next day.

Hi, Carol Williams I hear you on cooking for one. My solution is when I make soup, which I do frequently during the colder months, is to make a big batch and freeze individual servings. 

Same with salads, I can premake three and they will not go bad in the refrigerator - the dressing is added just before eating. 

Generally, one day a week, I have a "food prep" day, so I am good to go for the week. 

Rarely do I eat out. 

Hi Carol! This is such a heartfelt and relatable post — thank you for sharing it. Reframing the idea of “cooking for one” into “caring for one” is such a beautiful mindset shift. The Mediterranean lifestyle feels like the perfect fit — it’s flexible, flavorful and focused on nourishment rather than restriction. You’ve got the right attitude and those homemade soups sound like a delicious start!

I was told by a natural path to start a Mediterranean diet. Hard to do though, as I always want carbs!! 😬

Hey Carol seems to me anytime you've been here you eat pretty healthy and not that much either!  I do get the mindset shift - caring for one is a nice way of shifting it.  I'm into homemade soups too. In fact I'm making one today.  Enjoy Yuma!  

Carol, cooking for one is a challenge, and boring!   I make a lot of chicken in my tiny crockpot, which holds only 2 pieces, and usually one is a leftover.   I don't make many salads either, but because I hate the prep work.   They now have prepared salads, but I have been added olive oil and red wine vinegar to it versus the dressing it comes with.

Carol Williams John did a great job with his presentation and made some good suggestions on how we can eat healthier last Tuesday

This post hit home in the gentlest way, Carol Williams. Thank you for sharing such honest reflections and practical wisdom. It’s a beautiful reminder that nourishment isn’t just about food, it’s about caring for ourselves in small, meaningful ways. Your words made the Mediterranean mindset feel both doable and inviting.

HI Carol- I hear you!!!  I know that in our local H-E-B there is a growing section of prepared foods and they look good!  I know what you mean about salads. I used to really hate making them, even though I like them. But I learned a better way to store the veggies to keep them fresh. I will often prep by putting my dressing in a large bowl first, then layering the veggies, and finally the greens. Then I toss it when I'm ready. 

I do LOVE to come home from a restaurant with leftovers!

Homemade meals are so much healthier and you know exactly what's in the recipe, Carol. Soups are so easy and can be frozen for future lunches or dinners!