After my kids all grew up and moved out on their own I had this problem. After 20 years of grocery shopping for four people I had to switch to 1.
So I solved it by making something and eating it until it was gone. Otherwise I was just buying groceries to throw out three fourths of it.
I gradually learned to make smaller portions. Or make a large portions and freeze it immediately, So I wasn’t having to cook every single day.
Exactly. I don’t have any hang-ups about eating left overs. When I was single I would cook a big batch of something special and look forward to eating it over the next several days.
Right now we don’t have much problem now with leftovers. We have 8 people in the house, 5 of them boys between the ages of 5 and 16. My wife is always trying to make things that can last more than one meal, but if the kids like it, it will be gone. If there are leftovers, she will bring it out again and it is quickly gone. The only way things go to waste is if the container gets to the back of the fridge and forgotten- then the dog or the chickens get it.
I grew up in a less-than-financially-comfortable family. We were raised not to waste money or food. I don’t mind leftovers and, in fact, there are certain foods which taste better a day later than when they were made. Now that there are only two of us at home (and pain while standing a long time), I cook less and often use convenience foods but I also make large portions of food and freeze a lot of it in two-person portions. I especially use this for taco meat, sloppy joe meat, bean soup, fajitas and more. Our meals are frequently only five minutes away from ready. Last week I finally finished off the Thanksgiving turkey which had been frozen after being sliced and cooked in teriyaki sauce. We also freeze bulk batches of fresh peaches, mandarin oranges and berries for our smoothies. No need to waste a lot of food which can be frozen.
I recall during my school years eating school lunches that every Friday was “vegetable soup” which was obviously the leftover vegetables from meals earlier in the week. This was during the sixties, by the way.
As a seasoned citizen, I’ve been flying solo for a long time.
I rarely use my stove/oven but rather a Cuisinart indoor grill to cook thinly sliced frozen chicken breast or a ground sirloin hamburger.
A microwave to cook a single serving of mixed veggies.
So cooking too much is close to impossible for me.
I spend a lot of time on my boat...alone. I shop for one and cook for 4, then eat it til it’s gone or share the meal with my bachelor neighbors. I’ll make a huge pan of enchiladas then give dinner to 2 bachelor neighbors. That still leaves me with a lot...so I have them for dinner then the next morning throw some in the microwave and fry an egg and put it on top. Yummy breakfast. Then enchiladas again for dinner and they’re usually gone. I have 0 freezer space on the boat.