How to Cook Dinner for Yourself
I have heard it said on more than one occasion, "Dinner for one is no fun." Let me beg to differ. You cannot have strong, loving relationships with others until you have a strong, loving relationship with yourself first. And the most basic way to care for and nurture the relationship with yourself is too cook a healthy meal all for you. Cooking for yourself if is the ultimate act of self-care. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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How to Cook Dinner for Yourself
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1
Commit to a glorious evening. Get excited the way you would for a romantic night on the town. Remember, cooking a delicious meal for yourself is a treat, not torture.
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Make a mantra for the night. Repeat a positive affirmation as you begin your preparations. Choose one: I am beautiful, I am worthy, I am healthy, I am relaxed, I am vibrant, I am strong. Or create a saying of your own.
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3
Choose your feast. Peruse a cookbook. Search the Web. Your meal does not need to be complicated, but it does need to be fresh and healthy. I'm not talking about throwing a frozen tv dinner into the microwave. Choose an old standby that you are love to cook or be creative and find a new recipe that makes you salivate.
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Set the mood. Put on music. Light candles. Set your table with your favorite settings. Pour a glass of wine. Turn off the television. Turn off your phone. Commit to spending a couple hours with your full attention on yourself.
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Enjoy the process. Find fun in chopping. Connect to your breath as you measure ingredients. Dance while you stir.
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Daydream as everything cooks. Let the aromas take you away. What are you dreaming of these days? A trip to Italy? A new career? Romance? Let your desires go to the fantasylands you've been avoiding over the course of your practical day-to-day routine.
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Savor. Eat slowly. Put down your fork between bites. It should take you at least 30 minutes to finish your meal, and hopefully longer. Continue your day dreams, keep tabs on the quality of your breath, talk to yourself about your day the way you would want your best friend to check in over a lovely dinner.
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Give thanks. When you finish your meal acknowledge your delicious creation. Acknowledge your patience. Acknowledge your bravery. It can be scary to spend even a couple hours preparing a meal and dining alone. Caring for yourself with awareness and love is not easy, but you have done it. Congratulations.
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Clean the kitchen so as to be prepared for your next self-TLC cooking date.
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Repeat at least once every month.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Photo by Olive
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Comments
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ehudsonj
Jul 13, 2008
This is a good argument for the person who as indicated above, doesn't like to dine alone. However, what is worse, is the person who won't even cook for themselves for the same reason and just doesn't eat! This is all too often a sad situation for our older generation, especially if they have lost their life-long partner some time ago - They won't cook, they won't eat and they end up sickly. Sadly. being a few thousand miles away from my mother, and this we found was the case too late - She ended up in a nursing home where they gently forced her to eat and get back to a more normal weight. Don't let eating by oneself be a sad event - help yourself or help an aged relative to see the fun in cooking a nice meal for one's self. -
ehudsonj
Jul 13, 2008
This is a good argument for the person who as indicated above, doesn't like to dine alone. However, what is worse, is the person who won't even cook for themselves for the same reason and just doesn't eat! This is all too often a sad situation for our older generation, especially if they have lost their life-long partner some time ago - They won't cook, they won't eat and they end up sickly. Sadly. being a few thousand miles away from my mother, and this we found was the case too late - She ended up in a nursing home where they gently forced her to eat and get back to a more normal weight. Don't let eating by oneself be a sad event - help yourself or help an aged relative to see the fun in cooking a nice meal for one's self.
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HardworkinJudy
Jul 12, 2008
This is so true. We must first learn to love ourselves.
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HardworkinJudy
Jul 12, 2008
This is so true. We must first learn to love ourselves.
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Willboywonder
Jul 12, 2008
This is great. As someone who enjoys my kitchen, I think this is a fabulous post. I cook often, and I encourage all reading this to take heed. Even for those who are focused on healthy eating or losing weight, you should still focus on the art of cooking. For me, whether I am eating alone or with someone, I try to make it special. I employ some nice soft jazz or easy listening music and burn some scented candles. It makes the experience so much better.
