student cooking for one---help!

I really enjoy cooking, but I am a busy student and cook just for myself. It seems like when I do cook I'm eating whatever it is for days and am sick of it. If you have any quick, low-cal recipes that would would only have 1-2 servings, I would appreciate it!

Also, anything that would freeze well in serving size would be good, too.

Thanks for the inspiration!

I'm cooking for one now that I'm retired and everyone's flown the coop.  My method is to freeze the components of meals in one portion packages.  For instance, when I buy boneless chicken breast, I divide it up and freeze the pieces in labeled freezer bags, then I put all those small bags into a container labeled "chicken". When I cook a batch of rice or other grains, I have a serving with my meal and then measure it out, again in labeled freezer bags.  I flatten these out on a small baking sheet and freeze them flat.  That way they don't take up much room.  I buy bags of frozen vegetables so I can take out just what I need. 

Last night I made a pot of chili and measured out 1 1/2 cup servings, which are freezing flat right now. 

If you want to freeze cooked pasta, first make sure it's not over cooked, then spread it out on waxed paper to freeze.  Once it's frozen, dump it into a labeled bag.  Don't freeze it in the sauce because it will soak up all the sauce and turn to mush.

Good Luck!!

I hate leftovers and eating the same thing over and over. 

wow----you're a freezer champ! There isn't too much effort to make a huge batch of rice as compared to a small one, so that would work great! Less pots and pans to wash over time, too, which is really nice.

Thanks!

Burritos  are good, the can of beans (get refried VEGETARIAN) will last you a couple of days in the fridge if you are willing to have SOME left overs.
Chicken salads would also be good; you can add salsa, nuts, beans, olives, or anything else you like with a low cal dressing.
You can also make your own soups, sandwiches, turkey burgers, turkey hot dogs, or heat up a sweet potato. You can make those one at a time, but the stuff will last you a while.

I love turkey burgers. I usually just make 4 out of a lb and eat them over 4 meals, but I guess I could just freeze them one at a time.

Canned beans are pretty caloric for me because I will try to make a 2-serving soup but each can has 3.5 servings. Do those freeze well?

I have two things here: black beans with rice and Thai Tuna burgers, a recipe I got out of a magazine.

Black beans and rice are soooo easy.  You get a lot, but you don't feel bad if you have to throw some away because it costs you almost pennies per meal.  Start some rice in a rice cooker, if you have it.  Saute onion in olive oil in a separate pan.  Add a can of black beans (look for cans without seasonings already added), simmer.  Add a little bit of each of these to taste: ground cumin, dried oregano, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes.  Simmer until the juice with the beans has thickened a bit and spread over the rice to serve.  MMMMM!  I like my homemade recipe better than a lot of black beans I've had in restaurants. 

Thai tuna burgers - makes 4 burgers, so you don't get burned out...  You could probably half the recipe, too.  They are quick to make, after you get your cilantro chopped.
2 cans tuna, drained
1 egg, beaten
1/3 c. dry bread crumbs
2 tbsp finely chopped fresh cilantro
2 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp freshly grated ginger root
1/8 tsp coursely ground black pepper
1 1/2 tsp vegetable oil
4 buns, toasted
sweet red chili sauce (such as Taste of Thai)
1 cup alfalfa sprouts

Combine tuna, egg, bread crumbs, cilantro, soy sauce, ginger and pepper in large bowl.  Shape into 3 1/2" patties.  Coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray; add oil and heat over medium heat.  Add patties and cook three minutes on each side or until golden brown and cooked through.  Serve on buns with chili sauce and alfalfa sprouts. 

The recipe gave the following nutritional info: 316 calories, 24g protein, 31g carbs; 10g fat; 2g fiber

I just graduated from college and understand the "healthy eating for one" scenario.  One of my favorite things to do is take pretty much any meat (I've used salmon, chicken, and port chops) place it in a little pouch made from aluminum foil with some seasonings, and bake it. Clean ups easy, and the meat comes out moist and tender.  Also, to marinate meat I put some seasoning in a ziploc bag (one example I like it italian dressing and parmesan cheese with chicken) along with the meat, and then leave it in the fridge overnight.  The one I mentioned bakes in about 20 minutes, and if you put foil over the baking pan then it keeps clean up easy!  If you want other recipes, just let me know, I have a bunch.

 Also I LOVE my george foreman grill...it takes a little longer to clean up than the other suggestions, but it cooks fast and mine's just big enough for a serving for me!  I am constantly looking for new easy single serving recipes, but remember that many bigger recipes can also be measured down for a single serving. 

well if you want something sweet to cook in the microwave make ricekrispy treats!

Take 1/2 cup rice krispies, two large marshmallows and about 10 sprays of no calorie butter.(you don't even have to use the butter, I sometimes don't and it still taste good!)  Put in microwave for 30 seconds, stir, and then put in for another 30 seconds. Instant low calorie rice krispy treat-about 100 calories. 

wow...these are really good suggestions. Thanks!

I've never tried aluminum foil pouch cooking, but it sounds like a good idea. Maybe add some frozen and defrosted veggies for a complete meal.

You can actually stick the veggies in with the meat if you want and cook the whole meal together!  I've done it with chicken, fish, and pork chops...

Here's another recipe...you bake it instead of the foil pouch (although either way would work) but again if you put foil over the baking pan you can just throw away the foil and put the baking pan away!

1/4 zesty italian dressing

1/4 shredded parmesan (you could use grated instead)

Boneless chicken breasts (up to 4, so you can cook for just you OR have friends over!)

Put the chicken, dressing, and parmesan in a ziploc bag and turn it so the sauce covers the chicken.  Put in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes (I prep it the night before to make it quick and easy when I get home!) .  Set the oven to 425F and cook for 20 minutes.  I normally make peas and buttered egg noodles to go with it!  YUM!

Really Good Chili for One

1/2 a can of black beans, drained and rinsed  (refrigerate or freeze the rest)
1 cup salsa
1/2 to 1 teaspoon of cumin powder
sliced fresh jalapenos

Toppings: 
chopped fresh red onion
shredded reduced fat cheese
low fat or fat free sour cream
hot sauce

Mix the beans and salsa.  Add the cumin.  Heat it up.  Serve with your choice of toppings.

I make this super easy meal for myself all the time.

1 can diced tomatoes not drained

1/2 can black beans not drained

1/3 packet of taco seasoning

mix and microwave for about 2 minutes and stir, then 2 more minutes...I top it with a slice of my favorite cheese.

It is also very low in calories, but super filling.

I bought a book for the exercise routine in it and found it had 28 days of menus in it too. And they are all single servings. From those I learned to figure out my own combinations for stir-fry meals. I figure out what's for supper by picking the vegetables and adding up their calorie counts and  add some chicken or lean pork. About 4 or 5 ounces of meat. Vegetables like broccoli, zucchini, cucumber, carrots, green beans, tomatoes, mushrooms. They cook up in about 3-4 minutes. For seasoning I use basil and oregano. OR 2 teaspoons of light soy sauce and 1 teaspoon oyster sauce mixed with a tablespoon of water. Just put that in when u put the veggies in the pan.

Oh yeah, I keep the calorie count between 300 and 400. I used this website to make a chart of the vegetable, fruit, & meat calorie counts that I keep in my kitchen to reference when I am deciding what to put in the pan for supper. I use a non-stick skillet to cook in.

I just make smaller versions of regular recipes, like divide everything in the recipe by, like, 5 or so. I'm pretty good with fractions though, but understand some people might not be...

Soup is good... takes awhile, but pretty low maintanence. Chop one carrot, throw in pot of water with a bouillon cube or broth, add a chopped up potatoe, throw in some frozen veggies and spices and let it sit on low-med heat for a couple hours. yum!

Frozen egg rolls are nice. Cook a couple, a serving of rice and fry a 1/4 of a red pepper and voila!

frozen vegetables are key in my crazy student life. potatoes and rice are great too.