Cooking (and Eating) for One

This is a guest post by Joan Stommen who is a new friend and fellow grandmother. Joan’s grands call her Gramcracker and she blogs at Gramcrackercrumbs.com

Please welcome Joan to NanaHood and leave her a comment!

Cooking for One

During 47 years of marriage, I grew accustomed to my husband food shopping, preparing and serving me wonderful meals. “Thanks, but no thanks” he would say to my offers of help at meal time; preferring the solitude and relaxation that cooking brought him. As a kid, my mom would wave me out of the kitchen; insisting I help with three younger siblings rather than be in her way.

Becoming a widow last year brought many changes; learning how to feed myself was the hardest.

I survived the first few months with neighbors bringing salads and casseroles, dinner invitations and gift cards for local restaurants. In between, I ate protein bars, telling myself it was okay after hours at the gym. But I knew better and decided to practice what I’d preached to students and gleaned from fitness trainers and dieticians. Here’s what I’ve accomplished so far:

• Staying alive AND healthy meant eating clean, green and whole.

Fresh from the garden, I baked the potato in the microwave and just sliced the tomatoes and zucchini for colorful meals. When the twins came over, I sliced the potato into ‘chips’ first for finger food; and not bothering to heat the veggies, sNaPpEd the green beans and pulled apart the ‘little trees’ of broccoli and ate them raw. Great fun!

• Little preparation is important to me as I don’t care to cook…but I can make things in the crock pot!

I used skinless, boneless chicken breasts, low-sodium, fat-free chicken broth, carrots, zucchini and lemon slices for flavor. With only one kidney, I stay away from salt. I’ve learned to add the veggies about ½ way through the slow cooking process so they’ll hold more nutrients.

• Another staple for me are hard boiled eggs. Quick to eat on the way out the door for work; and added protein to an easy dinner salad.

Spinach leaves for iron, avocado, granola, walnuts and a couple eggs sliced up. Usually I only eat the egg whites but an occasional yoke is healthy too.

• I use only Ezekiel bread now and put pure honey, ground cinnamon or peanut butter on my morning toast.

I’ve pretty much lost my taste for sweets and rolls; but never pass on the chance for a chocolate frosted donut or bite of someone’s cheesecake!

• Back when microwaves were becoming standard in most kitchens, Mom cautioned me to never stand in front of them.

So I didn’t; nor have I ever liked the soggy taste and texture of things heated this way. But I recalled my husband baking sweet potatoes this way….and they were good. So I put a small potato in the spud bag, click the button that says baked potato and go wait in the other room! I’ve never liked condiments, sauces or butter, so I eat mine plain. The cotton spud bag helps retain moisture, making the potato fluffier and tastier.

I’m a work in progress. I’ve learned to use the small George Forman grill for ‘cooking’ hot dogs and burgers when the grandkids are over. I tend to over-cook them, but one of them keeps watch right next to me now, ready to say “it’s done!” I’m getting more confident with their support.

One minute they lament “Grandpa did it better” when it comes to pancake shapes; the next, they’re cheering” you did it, Grandma!” for making jello successfully.

Thank you Joan, for your article and your friendship! 

Joan Stommen
I am a teacher, mom and grandmother of five. I retired after 33 years in education to help care for my mother AND my daughter’s twins! I write about families, education, fitness, aging gracefully and the bits and pieces of my life. Becoming a widow has given me another platform on which to share my thoughts and feelings. Over the years I’ve written for newspapers, taught writing skills to college students, classroom teachers and children of all ages. My blog posts have been featured on More Magazine’s online site as well as other blogs. I enjoy Zumba, hiking, scrapbooking, reading, subbing and learning to cook! In addition to drafting my parents’ love story and my memoirs, I’m looking for a writing coach position.

FYI- from Teresa at NanaHood

Because it’s October and I’m trying to share information about cancer all month I wanted to add a Cancer Fighting Grocery List for you. If you aren’t buying these items when you shop, try adding more of them to your menu!