What to Buy when Cooking for One!

[@bettyadkisson1681]

While I was at the store I picked up frozen mixed veggies and cheesy California blend steamer I will make grilled chicken tenders and a chicken mixed veggies and rice burrito bowls.

[@purplesapphire3542]

This will help me incorporate more veggies into my diet.

[@Julie_Hartigan]

I’m so glad it helped! I have lots more fun, veggie forward recipes & cooking tips videos for when you’re cooking for one here on my website too: juliehartigan.com/cooking-for-1/

[@evannegregory5509]

My husband recently passed away so this is just what I needed!

[@Julie_Hartigan]

Hi Evanne - I'm so sorry to hear about your husband (sending so much love) - I'm really glad these tips have helped you! I have a lot of SP friendly recipe and a free cookbook w SP on my website CookingwJulie.com - reach out anytime for more ideas too

[@evannegregory5509]

Thank you so much🙏

[@vegasrunaway]

The pre packed/precut, single servings are more expensive and have so much extra packaging… I feel guilty using them. If I have time, I buy regular or even bulk items and divide them myself. Of course, I don’t always have the time or the patience for it. 🙄

[@Julie_Hartigan]

I totally hear you on that! Farmers Markets are always my fave - always looking for ways for pp cooking for 1 or 2 to get to enjoy lots of different veggies! 🥳

[@yolandavenable2900]

I know this is old, but so glad I ran across your page. It's just me and I've wasted so much food. I don't mind paying extra sometimes for small packaged precut items. I do buy frozen peppers and onions from Trader Joe's. Great video!

[@Julie_Hartigan]

Thanks so much for saying hi & so glad it was helpful! I have lots of Healthy Cooking for 1 resources on my website here for you too ❤️ juliehartigan.com/cooking-for-1/

[@mariareinertson7243]

Loved all the different fresh veggie ideas and individual servings for Greek yogurt , frozen cooked rice, roasted red peppers . I had to cook for my four sons who are all out of the house now . It's just myself now , so learning to cook for one can be difficult for me :)

[@Julie_Hartigan]

Maria Reinertson hi! I am so glad you found it helpful!!! It’s definitely a challenge - & can only imagine after cooking for 4 hungry boys! I’m doing a series of Healthy Easy Meals for One videos too (posting soon) & share lots of those on my Instagram @cookingwjulie & website CookingwJulie.com - thanks for saying hi here!

[@freedominabudget]

Awesome tips! Cooking for two can be a challenge for my husband and I!

[@Julie_Hartigan]

Freedom In A Budget I’m so glad this was helpful!

[@shartmann2008]

shallots make you feel like a real cook. :) I like to slice them up in ramen....and a poached egg!

[@Julie_Hartigan]

Love that! ❤️

[@glendaw5221]

Loved the tips!! Was the background music distracting to anyone besides me? Maybe it’s my ears!!

[@Julie_Hartigan]

So glad the tips were helpful! Thanks for your feedback on the music too - good to know!

[@gail4101]

Thank you! The music drove me nuts the whole video…felt like it was a race to see who would be the loudest! Great tidbits but overshadowed by music…

[@gloriayouchisonbrown7734]

Julie, what a great video, and lots of great tips for one

[@Julie_Hartigan]

Hi! Thank you - I’m so glad it was helpful! I have lots more cooking for 1 recipes, tips & resources on my website too at juliehartigan.com/cooking-for-1/

[@Sheywh12]

Thanks I’m a newly widow Who cooked for family her whole life now Cooking for myself has been a challenge and buying groceries has been even harder Since I have a stocked cabinet for feeding Him and my Mom and neither of them with me no longer It’s been a challenge learning to not buy in bulk after over 30 something years buying and cooking and freezing in bulk Thanks for the tips! Sheila

[@Julie_Hartigan]

Hey Sheila -(just replied to your other comment but wanted to reply here too) I'm so sad to hear about your loss and honestly you should feel proud of yourself for finding ways to adjust to a new shopping and cooking style after all those years. Change is HARD and remembering to take care of yourself with healthy eating is so important as life goes on. I appreciate your comments so much and am just so happy these videos & tips are helping you! XO Julie

[@Sheywh12]

@@Julie_Hartigan Thank you so much 😊 I’m still struggling with the cooking thing but have high hopes things will change soon I lost my Mom in October and I just haven’t had a appetite from all the loss.. Prayers your doing good and the family is too..Take Care Sheila

[@MySonsMother]

Excellent idea that’s right up my alley. I love doing this.

[@pbear49]

A lot of great tips. I've learned trial and error. I agree with the Frozen fruit, I've thrown out and wasted a lot can't eat a whole quart. Also the tip about shallots, cherry tomatoes and peppers, saves on a lot of waste.

[@Julie_Hartigan]

I’m so glad it was helpful! ❤️

[@HeronCoyote1234]

In winter, look for Campari tomatoes. They’re larger than cherry tomatoes but smaller than your standard tomatoes. And, best of all, they actually taste good in the winter!

[@bettyadkisson1681]

I'm slowly clearing out the freezers too be able too make up freezer meals that can be cooked in the air frier. I had one air frier and my brother gifted me one for my birthday niece can make meat in one and sides in the other one.

[@barbaradietrick5407]

Julie, Excellent ideas for me, you are the smartest idea giver for me- cooking for one!! Thanks, Barbara Dietrick

[@Julie_Hartigan]

I am so glad you found it helpful!!! (& thanks for watching & saying hi here too ❤️)

[@virginiablasi7109]

So good. I cook for one and do pretty well but it was very helpful to hear your ideas!

[@Julie_Hartigan]

Oh awesome! I'm so happy the tips helped you! I have lots of other healthy recipes on my website CookingwJulie.com or reach out anytime for more easy ideas!

[@lashortyislabonita623]

Great tips.. I'm cooking for one and find it hard to use all the groceries I buy before they spoil..

[@Julie_Hartigan]

I’m so glad it helped!!! ❤️ it’s a challenge for so ooo many people that I created an entire cookbook w meal plans/shop lists/cooking videos to help w that - you can check it out here: juliehartigan.com/healthy-made-easy/

[@kimnied7023]

Love this video, thank you!! Definitely a few items I've been missing.

[@Julie_Hartigan]

Oh awesome!!! I’m so glad it was helpful! Reach out anytime for fast recipes ideas for 1 - I’ll also be sharing lots of them in my weekly newsletter all summer long (you can sign up to get it at CookingWJulie.com)

[@janinebate1272]

Ive just found your excellent youtube channel! I love the tip about using small shallot onions and little cherry tomatoes - such a simple idea but it had never occurred to me until now! 😊

[@Julie_Hartigan]

I am so glad the videos have been helpful!!! ❤️ I’ve got lots of recipes & tips on my site too & a whole Cooking for 1 Page filled w lots of meal plans & free cookbooks too: juliehartigan.com/cooking-for-1/

[@ronitafarren2375]

Excellent advice for cooking for one.

[@Julie_Hartigan]

Thanks Ronita! I'm so glad it was helpful with ideas for cooking for one - I also have a free mini cookbook on my website called "10 Fun Healthy Meals for One in Under 20 Minutes" you can grab if you like. SO many women in my online community find cooking for 1 to be challenging (and I'm an Empty Nester myself!) so I try to create lots of recipes and ideas to help. You can grab the cookbook here! juliehartigan.com/free-meals-for-one/

[@bellsTheorem1138]

The other issue with cooking in small portions is the amount of packaging involved. Hard to avoid.

[@Julie_Hartigan]

Agree completely - Farmers Markets or open produce/bulk bin sections in markets can help bc we can use reusable bags or containers but it is so hard to avoid packaging. Buying meat in bulk & dividing or keeping in the freezer or buying big bags of frozen fruit/veg you can scoop out of is another way. Hope those ideas help!

[@vi9763]

And very expensive when buying individual portions, but if you end up throwing food away you really aren't saving 😊

[@robotclark]

some very helpful tips. thanks

[@Julie_Hartigan]

Hi! I’m so glad they were helpful!!! There’s a free cookbook on my website you would love that’s “10 Fun Healthy Meals for One in Under 20 Mins” to help w easy ideas for you too: juliehartigan.com/free-meals-for-one/

[@makemoneycrafting]

great tips ! I cook for 3

[@Julie_Hartigan]

I am so glad you found it helpful!!!

[@HeronCoyote1234]

IMO, frozen corn, and frozen baby peas are much tastier and firmer than canned corn and peas.

[@michaelakenworthy6317]

Great video however, just as a bit of constructive feedback, please could you drop the volume of the background music (or even better, lose it altogether) as it’s so distracting and makes it difficult to listen to you properly.

[@conniejohnson5791]

All of it

[@Julie_Hartigan]

I’m so glad it was helpful!!! ❤️

[@andrewedwards2838]

I hear background music. I don't hear you.

[@Julie_Hartigan]

Thanks for the feedback! Definitely still getting our video editing down over here...

[@kellycanela1350]

This is a great video!

[@Julie_Hartigan]

Thank you!!! ❤️ So glad it was helpful! I’ve got lots of fast healthy, low SP meals for 1 here too & on my site CookingwJulie.com - have a great weekend!

[@TheSongBirdRainStar]

This is extremely helpful! Thank you so much for the information! Also you look like Nichole Richie ( I mean that as a compliment 😍)

[@Julie_Hartigan]

I’m so glad it’s helpful!! & you are too sweet ❤️) Hope you have a fun weekend & a great Thanksgiving too!

[@Teisharocz]

I don't know, there's an awful lot of one-time plastic on that table. Maybe a trip to the farmer's market would be more beneficial.

[@Julie_Hartigan]

I’m SO with you on Farmers Markets! Plus buying fresh & in season makes things last longer when cooking for 1 - also a focus on veggies you can enjoy raw or cooked to make sure they get used up! Reducing food waste is a challenge for so many

[@JB-hz4pu]

Your background music is annoyingly loud.

[@atitasho]

Lots of plastic;(

[@DVNelson]

chicken sausage is freaking disgusting....

[@dinahquillen9380]

Ground up animals do not appeal to me.

[@dinahquillen9380]

👏👏👏

[@WakeMeUpInVegas]

And? Don’t eat it then. All the more for those of us who do. 🤣

[@MySonsMother]

You have such potential for making a successful KZbin career, but, you’re not. Why?

[@pibotelecom]

My new go to will be picking up smaller quantity of protein from the deli. I am so tired of making one dish and eating it twice a day for the week. I always end up throwing away the last two to three portions. Meanwhile by just working on my dinner for eight all week, other things have gone bad and need to be thrown out. I hope to avoid waste in the future.

[@Julie_Hartigan]

Oh I feel you! Cooking for 1 definitely has its own challenges - I have a free cookbook you might like called “10 Fun Healthy Meals for One” plus a video on how to take some grilled or rotisserie chicken & a short list from the store to make 3 fun different meals - where you use everything up! You can find them here: juliehartigan.com/cooking-for-1/

[@tamelamecum7511]

My budget is so tight. Small packaging costs so much more than bigger containers. How much do you budget for groceries a week?

[@Julie_Hartigan]

That’s so true! If it’s better to buy bigger then def make sure to get veggies & things you can cook or freeze (accounting for the food we throw out as a cost is important too) That’s also why I love the snack sizes when I can - frozen fruit & veggies in bulk are great too. In all honesty I don’t have a set grocery budget but these days I might start one!

[@tamelamecum7511]

@@Julie_Hartigan Thank you for the reply. I’ll figure out what works for me. ☺️

[@mollygriffith2185]

I really think the key is frozen!!

[@Julie_Hartigan]

Oh for sure - also multi-purposing fresh ingredients in different ways to use them up without getting bored! I’ve got a bunch of free resources for Cooking for One here including a cookbook & video on how to turn a short shop list into three different 10 min meals (where you use everything up) juliehartigan.com/cooking-for-1/

[@garettfreeman53]

Makes me want to start cooking again

[@Julie_Hartigan]

Just not the meatloaf ok? 😜

[@GM-cd2dr]

These are actually so helpful! Great tips!

[@Julie_Hartigan]

I’m so glad they’re helpful!!! LMK which tips you’ve tried too 🥳