What can help - if you are new to cooking for yourself

Planning a menu, shopping and cooking can be a challenge. As you get more used to it, you will become more interested and skilled – who knows what you will move on to!

Practical tips:

  • Try to think about three days ahead at a time – keep it simple to start with
  • Write down what you will have for each meal and snack over the three days.
  • Write down all the ingredients that you will need for each meal and snack.
    Check the store cupboard and fridge for the ingredients.
  • Make a list of what you need, go shopping or ask someone to get it for you.

A slow cooker is a great investment for cooking easy, warming comfort food. You can keep the leftovers for the next day or put in the freezer for another day (remember to label and date it first, though!).

There are lots of easy recipes available, for example: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/slow-cooker

There are more tips and ideas in our booklet, ‘Eating well in later life,’ which can be downloaded from our resources page or you can request a hard copy by contacting us.

We’ve also put together some of our favourite recipes. We’ll update these regularly with new suggestions so check back or sign up to our mailing list to receive updates.

Recipes

Fortifying foods

When you just can’t be bothered

Vitamins in later life

Eating while in hospital