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Recipe books for single people Like me.

5Terry

Active Member
Messages
43
Location
Halstead, Essex
Type of diabetes
Prediabetes
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Being alone and having little or no money to enjoy the hobbies I like to do.
I have been advised to try low carb diet, but there is a HUGE problem with recipe books, the meals in those books only cover meals for 4 or more people, to make. I live on my own and to make meals following the recipe in the book is a waste of food, as I do not have space for a freezer to freeze the rest for future use. And the first person that divide the recipe by 4. Will get a black mark. As if I cook the meal as per the book I will be wasting a lot of the ingredients will go to waste, and with the cost of living constantly on the increase, to me is a waste of money.

Is there any books that are for the single person like my self with easy recipes for someone that has very little cooking skills. I have a small (1.5ltr) slow cooker. Along with a small air fryer as well.

Terry
 
Tell us the things you normally eat and the things you wouldn't eat. Then we can help. For instance, eggs are such a versatile ingredient, but if you don't like or are allergic to them, no use our suggesting them.
 
Where do I start. Eggs, Chicken, Lamb, Beef, Salmon,cod or haddock, if I cannot get cod.
In the vegetable, carrots, cauliflower, Broccoli, parsnips, leeks small white potato, Brussels sprouts, pasta, peppers (all colours) onions red onions, cucumber, spring onions ,tomatoes.

I have tried to use sweet potato, but it just turned into wet mush and did look very good. I have also used celery but it goes of even if it is kept in the fridge. I do use virgin coconut oil as well.

Foods that I don't understand on how to cook them, aubergine, olives(yuck!) and I would like to use red chillies to give the food that I cook a bit of a kick.

I have used fresh garlic and other spices in the dry. I have paprika and cumin, but have not used them much.

I would like to be able to do a curry of some description.

Nut is a no no as I cannot stand them for some reason.

That is all for now if I think of any other foods I shall post on here when I have thought about it.

I use a little of vegetable oil or olive oil, but there is so much misinformation regarding which oils I should be using, I find it very confusing.

I hope that is of help to you all.

Terry.
 
As I live alone I have to be a bit inventive at times.
I am lucky as I have a Ninja multicooker which is also an air fryer.
That way I can Air fry chicken, pork chops etc.
If I am using recipes I batch cook depending on what I am cooking. I have to adapt cook books anyway. I don't like hot spices.
Best of luck .
 
exclude potatoes and pasta from your diet and cook the same as usual. There are practically no carbohydrates in the other products listed by you
 
I forget the fruit part of the list.
Strawberry, satsumas, orange's and apples.
Grapes, green and red.
If I could find whole meal pasta I would use that but it is difficult to find in the supermarkets. I only have pasta twice a month at the most.

Terry.
 
Fruits, especially grapes, contain a lot of carbohydrates, besides carbohydrates that are quickly digested. You can only leave strawberries.
Freshly squeezed juices also increase BG very quickly
Meat, fish, vegetables, eggs, cheese practically do not contain carbs, but cereals, fruits, bread are high-carbohydrate products.
 
I have yet to find a substitute for bread as all other forms upset my stomach. Here I have tried wraps , but most supermarkets only sell the in packs of 8 and the rest go to waste.
 
I usually prefer my 90 second bread made with ground almonds (almond flour) but as you don't eat nuts the coconut version may be better for you.

90-Second Bread

This 90-second bread is so versatile. It has a lovely spongy texture that readily soaks up butter, sugar-free honey, or jam.
healthyrecipesblogs.com

I add a teaspoon of full fat cream cheese to mine to cut the eggy taste, but make it without first?

There are several fairly simple recipes for coconut flour including low carb pancakes.
 
I know you asked for a book but another option for you might be a website called onedishkitchen.com has a selection of low carb dishes in single servings. Good luck with your efforts. Can be tough but so worth it.
 
MommaE said:
I know you asked for a book but another option for you might be a website called onedishkitchen.com has a selection of low carb dishes in single servings. Good luck with your efforts. Can be tough but so worth it.
Click to expand...
I am looking at the website that was in your thread. There are some very intresting meals on there.

Thank You.
 
Last edited:
I get lovely curry recipes from headbanger’s kitchen on YouTub. His portions are usually for 2.

Btw it doesn’t matter what colour the rice, pasta or bread is, be it white, brown or wholewheat, the carbs are still too high and should be avoided. Grapes are really bad as well
 
I took a phone call on Tuesday from my freinds wife as she has to go to "Heathrow Airport" next week, and I explained that I was stuggling to find books that contained recipes for single people. There was a pause and she had book that she got her two boys to use when they went to university that might be of use.
She dropped the book of on Wedensday, and I have be reading through it to see how the recipes are like.
This the book in questioin. Miguel Barclay's Complete One Pound Meals (2 books in 1) - Over 160 Recipes from the Original £1

I hope that is of help to other people that live on there own.

Terry.
 
I feel like giving up, It is getting harder to get people to understand that I live on my own and do not have room for a freezer, I was not taught to cook by my mother as each time I asked if she could teach me she said NO, and so everything that I have learnt since 1996 to cook is when my mother decide to down size so I have had to develop my own way of cooking meals.

I have just received a text message, yesterday
"Dear Mr Macavoy,

Our records indicate that you may benefit from a referral to our Low Carb programme. This lifestyle programme has been developed to help improve diabetic control and aid weight loss in patients. If you would like to speak to a specialist practitioner about how this could help your health, please use the link below and we can make the referral for you."

No doubt this would be over the phone consultation, done over the phone as usual. I do my best to buy food that I feel is a good fit by checking the traffic light system on the packaging. but I do not know or understand as there are some foods that I no longer buy/use.

I hate wasting food. I do not have the room to store fresh food, I found shopping a challenge to make sure that I buy what I think is right food for me to cook. I have a limited budget to spend on grocery shopping and with the current cost of living crisis and I am semi-retired.

I just wish that the medical profession keeps on push me to make changes that, I have reduced the number of potatoes as I no longer have them every day, I put extra vegetables in my meals, I have a pork casserole in the slow cooker at the moment. Containing the chopped leeks, carrots, parsnips, sprouts, cauliflower, red pepper, broccoli, onion.

I have had tried to cook a sweet potato, but it just ends as a soggy mess. I don't drink much in the way of alcohol, with exception of special occasions.

I do eat brown bread, but here again I have to be careful as some brown breads make me constipated or if it is dense, don't even ask about wholegrain pasta. I have fish twice a week. ( Salmon and Cod.)

I have also reduced the number of biscuits have per day. I have worked hard to make lifestyle changes, but I have trouble convincing other people to understand my personal circumstance, I have a ongoing issue with my nose and have not been an athletic person but I do gently walk every other day. (weather permitting).

I have a slow cooker and a air fryer which I use as much as possible and I have the right foods in. I have not tried to cook the following foods, courgettes, aubergine, asparagus, as I don't have clue on how two cook them.

I am getting very bored with having to cook the same meals week in and week out.

The three very things that are important that should be taken in to consideration are
1. I live on my own.
2 No family support network.
3 Limited cooking skills.

Terry.
 
I think all of us at some point have been given the standard answers by the medical professionals because that’s what they are told tell us. It’s not an easy situation to be in with cost of living how it is and that you don’t have the means to freeze or store leftovers.. But it might be worth speaking to them, if they are the specialists they will have spoken to other people before in the same situation as yourself, they might have useful information and be able to assist with your dilemma. Sometimes when we actually get to speak to the right people within healthcare it can make all the difference, I have found that myself just this year with my diabetic journey. It is easy to get stuck in a rut with what you eat, I am one of those that once I find something that works for me I tend to just stay with it. See if there are any diabetic courses you can attend your go surgery should have details of any that you could attend. you will meet people going through the same as you and also get chance to speak to possibly, a diabetic nurse and dietitian and have a meaningful conversation.
 
Terry, sorry you feel this way. I would try to concentrate of what the people on here say rather than listen to 'experts' who will tell you it is OK to have a 'bit of bread' or 'whatever you fancy' now and again until you get it under control. My Dad (who was only 'diabetic' because he was fat was send on a course at Preston called DESMONDS and I can only describe it as pathetic and I was so mad I wanted to cry. They were telling people to eat wholemeal bread and pasta, baked potatoes, the lot. You have to be really strict if you want it to work. Is there nowhere nearby that does nice cooked chicken? On a stall in Chorley you can get as little or as much as you like, I buy the cooked chicken thighs, they are lovely and you could warm one up thoroughly in your little air fryer, they only cost me £1.25 each and you can get a single portion salad at most supermarkets that will do 2 meals and no waste. Christmas for us is a healthly time of year - loads of lean turkey, loads of veggies, no potatoes, try mashed caulie instead, I got a big bag of frozen florets this week from Sainsburys for just £1. Then there's cheese with a couple of cheesy oatcakes and NO GRAPES. Good luck and reach out on here. xxxx
 
Oh, by the way my husband was finally prescribed Metformin yesterday after doing diet only for 9 years - just a tablet a day to begin with. He told the health worker we had been invited to relatives and they were cooking meat and potato pie, she said to have it 'for once, it won't do you any harm'
 
It is difficult when visiting people. Perhaps he could leave some of the pastry uneaten, but enjoy the meat and most of the potato?
 
ElenaP said:
It is difficult when visiting people. Perhaps he could leave some of the pastry uneaten, but enjoy the meat and most of the potato?
Click to expand...
Thanks ElenaP. I have 'requested' the filling with whatever veg is served! xx
 
Terry have a look at this site. As well as information on what to eat and buy, they have simple recipes, including 3 versions of a mug cake cooked in the microwave for a single person treat in seconds.
They also have books for sale
https://www.ketofitnessclub.com/blogs/starter-information/build-a-plate
They also have a Facebook group where others post what they've cooked..
And may I suggest looking forward to the opportunity to learn to cook ? Just because it didn't happen in the past doesnt mean it can't happen in the future.
 
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