| Friends with...Food
Posted: 4/23/2008 11:04:11 AM | With the societal drive towards individuality and autonomy matching up with the proliferation of bulk warehouse stores like Costco, what do you people do with all that food?
So living with parents is bad, and having kids as a single parent is also bad. Having roommates...also not so good. So here we are, all living alone. Buying individual portions negates any benefits of economies of scale. Either that, or we end up eating the same fricking thing for weeks. Sure I could give it to the food bank, but that would completely be stupid cuz I might as well just buy it from a boutique grocer if I wanted less food for the same amount of money.
What I really seek, and I wonder if anyone else has come to the same conclusion, is someone to eat with. Eating alone can be a chore and a bore. What would be cool is a plain and simple, no strings attached, food buddy. Someone you can take turns preparing food with. Someone to split the cost and the food bought in bulk at Costco.
Not a date, not romance, just pure and simple economics. Kinda like a marriage,minus the fighting and drama. Some one to just eat, help wash the dishes and leave. Maybe stick around for a DVD if there's nothing else to do.
Has anyone else come to this same conclusion? | |
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| Friends with...Food
Posted: 4/23/2008 11:25:22 AM | | I haven't had time to think about it. I'm trying to find room in my pantry for the rest of this family sized tub of velveeta shells and cheese. | |
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| Friends with...Food
Posted: 4/23/2008 11:31:10 AM | ^^^^^^^^
I'm sorrry, that struck me so funny, I'm crying...
Man, I dunno OP, that food buddy thingie sounds way to close to a husband type thingie.
First there is meal prep, cooking and eating, then you got dish washing going on there and then your talking about maybe watching a DVD...but specifically stated no romance or sex...yup, sounds like a husband to me... | |
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| Friends with...Food
Posted: 4/23/2008 11:43:45 AM | | Ok ok the clincher is that both parties have to live in separate houses so as not to inadvertently end up married by accident. | |
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| Friends with...Food
Posted: 4/23/2008 11:50:37 AM | | I think you are referring to a friend. I eat at friends house and they eat at mine. When I am bored I stay and watch a movie with my friends if they have a movie I want to watch. | |
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| Friends with...Food
Posted: 4/23/2008 11:54:11 AM | OP,
It stills sounds a bit intimate. Cooking together, eating together, washing dishes together but NOT sleeping together...yup, sounds like marriage. What's more is, I had a boss once who didn't live in the same house with her hubby as she commuted back and forth from Rochester to NYC but only on the weekends...
It does sound like a good idea, however, I think over time one of the two people will develop a food dependency, which is when the relationship will start to rot. 
I do love cooking and feeding people, so how about a group instead of this daily, one-on-one bit. My friends and I, used to do a rotating, themed, pot-luck. That might be a good way to go. Everybody has to  | |
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| Friends with...Food
Posted: 4/23/2008 11:58:23 AM | A food buddy with options for more?
Hmmm very non threatening. It has possibilities. | |
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| Friends with...Food
Posted: 4/23/2008 12:03:34 PM | Well Lois, if you didn't live so far away, I'd join that group.
So what do the rest of you single people do with all that food?
Everyone needs food right?
Friends are cool but it'd be good to always have someone to share food costs with. Do the rest of the single males exist on pizza and takeout food? | |
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| Friends with...Food
Posted: 4/23/2008 12:19:25 PM | Hey Sammi - what you are describing, is a CO-OP. It's where people get together to purchase large amounts of food stuffs for an economical bulk price, and split the cost depending on who got what amount of what.
Check the net and see if any food co-ops are in your area.......................... | |
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| Friends with...Food
Posted: 4/23/2008 12:24:24 PM | You know...when my kids were young and I just recently divorced and on my own for the first time AND extremely poor, some of
my friends and neighbors started a food exchange.
One would cook a large batch of spaghetti sauce, another would do a stew...one would bake a couple of lasagnas and another would do shepherds pies.....then we'd all split each dish in equal portions and go back home with several meals that we could freeze and serve later.
For those of us who had kids and went to school, those meals were a life saver. Plus it saved us money as you could buy the ingredients to make your one recipe in bulk or on sale.
And as we often got together to cook those dishes, it was a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon with your friends. And you learned some great new recipes along the way and got to taste different food that you might never have otherwise.
An all around win win situation if you ask me. I know that there are still people who do that - specially those who live
in a Co-Op or who live in small towns. It's definitely something that college students or single people could do.
Just invite a bunch of friends over and spend the afternoon cooking up a storm - then you can have dinner together ( use paper plates lol!) and you can all go home with a few days worth of meals without having to spend any more time cooking them:)
JMO
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| Friends with...Food
Posted: 4/23/2008 12:25:50 PM | My sister shops at Costco so I ride with her sometimes. At times she makes a box of half of what she bought and gives it to me for me and/or my sober home. I don't see how this saves her money but I am learning to accept things.
Me? I didn't find it economical even when I did have kids at home. hhehehehehe. I'm an excellent shopper and can do economy better at my local grocer and Trader Joes. Costco as an economy store is often a dupe.
However, not for economy but event appreciation, I have a girl friend whose husband is not "into" dining events. No fun to cook for. So, every other month she hosts a party for several of us female friends (sorry no guys). We buy the food and she does the decorating and preparation. Gormet and splendor. Most fun.
Just my experience.
Gandi | |
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| Friends with...Food
Posted: 4/23/2008 4:30:01 PM | OP, I'm sure Karl Marx would've just loved to fix up any daughters or sisters he would've had with you. Down with those Capitalist pigs, whose buying patterns "negates any benefits of economies of scale."
Indeed. Tell that special someone you really care by splitting that SmartOnes 4-pack. Afterall, no one likes serial daters errr eaters. | |
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| Friends with...Food
Posted: 4/23/2008 6:07:57 PM | Why just food?
48 packs of toilet paper, paper towels, soap
gallons of laundry detergent, condiments, toothpaste, shaving cream, shampoo...
Ya - firing up the barbecue or oven for just one all the time seems wasteful.
And movies (DVDs ) are always good shared.
And separate domiciles is definitely they way to go too.
Gee... That Sam always has the best ideas | |
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| Friends with...Food
Posted: 4/23/2008 6:45:28 PM | | I started a Sunday morning breakfast group about a year ago. Everyone brings something and we have a blast, but we also keep in good shape. My x was a compulsive eater but very trim go figure. I just got so tired of cleaning up after her, she was as my neighbors and friends called her a real pig haha. So i,m much more careful about my groceries now. Food friends hmmm it scares me, I never want to get caught between a hungry woman and a sandwiche ever again ouch. haha cheers | |
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| Friends with...Food
Posted: 4/23/2008 7:41:40 PM | I'm single and I shop once a month at Sam's. There are lots of things I can buy in bulk that will last or that I will go through fast enough. The staples I keep on hand from there are eggs, half and half, butter, sour cream, roast beef, black forest ham, cheddar, pepperoni, canned chicken, hormel bacon crumbles and fresh boneless skinless chicken breasts (now that tyson makes individually wrapped 4oz portions). I get my mushrooms, peppers, asparagus and spinach there since I always go through those fast enough before they go bad. I also buy things like my blue-emu ointment and my atkins shakes and nutrition bars. I've done the math, even with the $40 membership fee I save a lot more than that in just one trip than if I were to go to the regular stores for the same items. Then there are the things like holiday dinners where I save on the Christmas ham or the 4th of July ribs and pork roasts.
I cook for one every night, it's healthier that way. If I eat processed junk from the store instead of cooking then all I never feel healthy. I am losing weight consistently even though I shop at a bulk warehouse. | |
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| Friends with...Food
Posted: 4/24/2008 9:00:14 AM | | ngat73, I was trying to send you a message but your profile does not accept messages from females. I would like to talk with you as I find we have many things in common and it would be nice to actually speak to another female who seems to be in the same predicament as I am in. I don't know if I have the same restrictions like you so if you would reply back to me at purplelotusllc@gmail.com. I would really like to exchange experiences and ideas with you. I hope to hear from you. - Jenni | |
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| Friends with...Food
Posted: 4/24/2008 9:55:49 AM | | Well, wow! That is the quirkiest thing I've heard here yet, but.. kinda.. cool, in it's own quirky way. | |
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| Friends with...Food
Posted: 4/24/2008 1:23:04 PM | One of the best investments I ever made, was in an apartment-size deep freeze. (Sometimes, you can get one
for free, via freecycle!)
I do one major shopping at the end of the month, meat, canned tomatoes, toilet paper (if on sale).
Shampoo, bar soap, Vitman E skin creme (dry skin, LOL), dish soap & many other sundries, I get from the dollar store.
When I make a roast, with home-style gravy & roast potatoes (yumm!), I package up the rest & into the deep freeze
it goes. Healthy, nutritious TV-style dinners, whenever I want/need. Works well for lasagna, stews (my advice: don't
freeze the potatoes, just add them fresh) , mac & cheese casserole (mine has 3 cheeses & sometimes ham!). I am
sure it would work for many other things, that I just haven't thought of.
I eat well & spend about $100 month (sundries included).
But yes Sam, it can get lonely eating alone. I sometimes invite a friend over, it's more fun to cook for 2 (or more). | |
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| Friends with...Food
Posted: 4/24/2008 1:32:19 PM | I cook every other night and with some of my meals I get one or two portions left over. I just freeze them, then with the other ones I have left over, I can alternate what I'm eating. Good for lunches, or nights I'm too tired/lazy/busy to cook.
Also, recently moving out on my own, I'm still learning how to shop for one person. Getting better at cooking in smaller portions though. I do find some meals don't turn out unless you make full batches though. (Which is where I'm getting 2-3 servings from) | |
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| Friends with...Food
Posted: 4/24/2008 1:50:02 PM | OP invite us all up for a cook out....I've never been North of NY.
Do you not have CO -OP'S up there? | |
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| Friends with...Food
Posted: 4/24/2008 2:07:42 PM | For me the sadest part of being single is grocery shopping.
I used to have a mission, a list...a weekly agenda....
Then divorce and empty nest hit at the same time.
But I am adapting and I think I like it.
But it's not economical. So it's better to just stop on the way home and pick something up. Which is NOT healthy and not economical.
So....this friend with food thing sounds like a good idea. I have a friend that cooks for me occasionally, but I don't always like what he cooks...then what?
I'm a picky eater and he makes me try new stuff. Most of the time I hate it.
I'd like to share mac'n cheese and an old western movie with someone ever'now and then and broccoli ain't invited !
As for me I HATE TO COOK. I cooked seven days a week for 22 years...but heck...I gotta eat. | |
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| Friends with...Food
Posted: 4/24/2008 2:11:59 PM | | Wine, coffee, ciggys, if theres any budget left for food its a bonus ! It keep the figure slim ! :p | |
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| Friends with...Food
Posted: 4/24/2008 3:13:58 PM | | I think you said it yourself. FRIENDS WITH FOOD. Before I recently moved I had a female friend and we shared food about two times a week. It was nothing we ever planned it was just the way it worked out. Either she would call me up during the day or soon after my scheduled time to get off work and ask me if I was into having dinner with her and visa versa. It was pretty cool becuse I cooked dishes she didnt know how to cook. And she cooked dishes I would have never dreamed of cooking...Let say it was always a feast, not to mention alot of fun...Sometimes I might even sleep on her couch if we happened to have had anything to drink. Being as I dont drink and drive that too was pretty cool. What I am saying is a freind is a friend and friends are supposed to help each other. Good friends do this regardless to sex. And without expectations. Surprise one of your friends and invite them over for dinner sometime durng the week I am sure they will be glad that they dont have to cook. And will probably sooner or later feel like its thier turn to treat you..... | |
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| Friends with...Food
Posted: 4/24/2008 4:07:03 PM | Shoot - my 24 year old son still lives with me. We barely see each other. It's all good. I have my space he has his. Better than roomies cause we love each other.
Now. If he would just keep his space clean......... | |
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