The Granola Smuggler Eats Alone
Amended.
Bonjour! What are you guys up to this lovely Saturday?
I want to highlight a blog posting on eating alone that I enjoyed and think you’ll enjoy, too. Special K wrote the following: “It’s been said that cooking a meal for one is one of the most difficult challenges a chef encounters. They cite measuring obstacles, portion doubts, paring problems and presentation apathy. I think the challenge is almost 100% psychological. We think of eating alone as a sad experience, although research has shown otherwise.” What do you guys think? She then challenges us to prepare a “me” meal and relish our own company doing what most consider an inherently social act — eating.
I’ll be honest — I may not eat “alone” all the time in the sense that I may have company, but 95% of the time, I am eating something I prepared for myself alone while others eat their own meals. In that sense, preparing a meal for one is not a challenge for me — I find it fun (and absolutely necessary!). I never feel restricted to create a meal that yields only one serving as I prefer to eat hearty foods and like having leftovers for later. Because I’m a vegetarian and share my life with people who have eating habits very different from my own, it’s a pleasure to try new things catered specifically to my tastes and lifestyle.
In the sense of companionship, I do eat solo the majority of the time as well. Do I mind? Not at all. Because my health journey has involved forging a new relationship with food, each time I eat alone is like a chance to truly embrace the budding new relationship, to truly savor the foods and cherish the “fruits” of my cooking labors. But note — when I say “eat alone,” I mean eating alone at home. I have yet to dine alone at a full-fledged, sit-down restaurant. Even when I actually enjoyed going out to eat, I bought into the stigma that eating alone is just not something to do. I am confident that I certainly could do that today, however, I have yet to prove it. Have you guys ever eaten alone at a sit-down restaurant? Would you?
Want to take the challenge to prepare a meal for yourself and eat it alone? See Special K’s give-Away here for a chance to win a copy of Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant: Confessions of Cooking for One and Dining Alone by Jenni Ferrari-Adler (the deadline to enter has been extended).
My all-time fave “alone” meal is any kind of bean filling in some sort of tortilla or pita with some hot sauce on top! I’m one spicy vegetarian! 
Suggestions for Meals for One
- A pizza made with a pita! It’s perfectly sized for one person and you get to put whatever toppings you’d like.
- A burrito made with canned beans or chili. There are usually 2-3 servings in canned beans or chili, so you won’t have much leftover (or if you eat like me, won’t have any left…).
- A salad. It’s like a pizza, just without the dough You can choose your toppings and go wild!
- A sandwich or wrap. Easy to make, easy clean-up and no left-overs.
- Your secret faves! No one is going to judge you if for dinner you want Cheerios and Chobani!
- Suggestions?
What do you guys think about eating “alone”?
Product Review — FEED GRANOLA
Full disclosure: I sought out Feed Granola after having read about them on No Meat Athlete and they sent me samples at no cost to me.
Because I wanted to provide a more rounded review (and because it is way too dangerous to have so much granola in the house!), I sent away two of the samples of granola I received to friends of mine for their opinions to offer in addition to my own. My thoughts?
Considering that after I first dug into the Cranberry Coconut, followed by the Bittersweet-ness flavor, I knew I would have to send a couple of the other bags away to friends or you’d find me plump and laying in the fetal position in a granola-induced coma, I think it’s safe to say this granola pretty much tastes like miniature nuggets of heaven. I eat granola by itself, by the handful, so the fact that a lot of the pieces were very tiny and crumbly did not matter. The Cranberry Coconut was the best tasting granola I have ever had and I did not expect it to be as I usually go for more chocolate-bearing granola than fruit-bearing ones, but the taste of the coconut with whole almonds mixed in with cranberries was truly delectable. I was surprised at how “light” the granola tasted — defintley did not taste like more traditional granolas that have left me feeling like I just stuffed myself with a highly concentrated dose of fat and sugar. I was also pleasantly surprised at the very nice “spice” flavor. The cinnamon and other spices really rounded out the taste.
Unfortunately, and made very clear by this taste-testing extravaganza, granola is a food I really should not keep in my house. Given its generally high calorie content per serving size, and the fact that I can’t just stop at one serving, it’s just best for me not to have access to it :/
To a taste-tester friend of mine who tried the Blueberry Almond, the granola did not bode well when eaten as a cereal but was rather tasty by itself. To my other taste-tester friend who tried the Apple A Day flavor, she ate it with yogurt and loved the “dessert” taste. I think it’s arguable that me saying this granola is delicious really isn’t convincing given that granola is pretty much always going to taste great given its mainstay ingredients, right? So, I’ll add that Feed Granola is approved by nutritionists (whom specifically? Not sure!), and is “made with organic multi-grains, a combination of “energizing complex carbohydrates, muscle-building proteins, cholesterol reducing soluble fiber, and essential omega-3s.” The nutritional content per 1/4 cup for all of the referenced granola flavors, ranges from 140-160 calories a serving, up to 4.5 g of fat, 3-4 g of fiber and 4-5 g protein.
The question all readers want answered: Would I buy this product myself? Answer: A resounding yes if granola was a staple part of my lifestyle. Right now, it just isn’t.
Compare to the average granola: 150 calories, 7.45 g of fat, 2.63 g fiber, 4.53 g protein per 1/4 cup serving (and usually does not have added omegas and such an impressive ingredient list as Feed Granola).
You can buy Feed Granola from their website here, for $5.99 per 12 oz bag + way too much for FedEx Ground shipping, or buy a 6-pack for $4.58/each (total $27.51 + free shipping) on Amazon.com here or find in the store at Whole Foods Market for $5.99.
What’s your favorite brand of granola? Can you usually stick to one serving?
In the News
- Calorie Lab’s, “Women Eat Fewer Calories When Dining with Men…” (8/7/09) here — I always giggle when I think about silly girls who order side salads when they eat with dudes simply because they think it makes themselves appear more “feminine.” Crazy how we went from the Renaissance view of eating yielding curvy bodies being the sign of beauty and femininity, to starvation being feminine (and, of course, we see many variations in between depending on era, geography and culture). Trust me, what I order when out with the boyf is solely for health reasons, but I always save a belch to remind him how feminine I am (he’s so lucky to have me, eh?!). Do you gals order fewer calories worth of food when out with a dude simply to appear like a delicate and dainty flower?
Give-Away Round Up
- Win some Musselman’s Healthy Picks Applesauce here
- Win some Medora’s chips here
- Win some Chobani Greek yogurt here
- Win some Larabars here
I hope you guys have an amazing day! I won’t be blogging tomorrow, but look forward to “seeing” all of you on Monday! 
<3,
The Cranky One
Tags: Alone in the Kitchen with An Eggplant, dining alone, eating alone, Feed Granola, granola, nutritional content, Whole Foods
13 People have left comments on this post
I don’t often get to eat by myself, but I sometimes cook a different dish for myself. I think after cooking a few “meals for one” the measurements aren’t a problem anymore. Plus, I LOVE leftovers. I think it’s kind of sad that so many people think that “it’s not worth it to cook for themselves.” My aunt wouldn’t even make a salad for herself “because it was just her” for a while (until I talked some sense into her…).
I have never eaten by myself in a restaurant. I think it’s kind of silly that there is such a stigma attached to it….
The granola sounds fabulous. I try to stay away from granola too as I tend to eat WAY too much of it when I do eat it…
As far as eating with a guy and eating less goes, for me this depended a lot on the stage of the relationship…. When I was dating hubby, I went through the following stages: 1) ate very little to appear more “feminine”, 2) ate A LOT – I now felt comfortable and secure around him; we overindulged in food and ate out a lot… 3) Now: eat a reasonable amount of food and truly enjoy it. Eating out is rare.
Have a great weekend!
Because I’m living in the land of the single ladies, I actually get to eat alone alot….and I really don’t mind! I’ve also eaten at restaurants by myself. Because I love to read, I usually have a book with me at all times. So if there’s no one there to talk to, I just read.
My fav granola is Bear Naked’s Protein mix. I love it in yougurt. The calorie count is around 140 for a 1/4 of a cup. I’m usually bummed because I would love to put a lot more in my yougurt!
Cooking and eating alone is not an issue for me. I was single for YEARS and lived alone. I’ve always loved to cook and I adore making up new recipes each and every time. The only problem with that is, I never write them down so it’s always new because… well, I dont’ remember exactly.
:):) When i started living with my husband (at the time my BF), I started to cook the way I was raised to cook… leftovers AND for the masses. hahahaha!! I think it’s hard to cook for just 2 people… I was never taught how. haahahhaha! But I love leftovers, saves me from buying lunch. The hubster, not such a fan of most leftovers. Now days, I’ve learned to cook for 3, and sometimes for 3 seperate tastes. Even though I’m married, I do end up eating my meals alone, again. His schedule just doesn’t allow for him to be home for dinner most of the time. I’m ok with it. i really don’t care. It just means if I know he won’t like it, or won’t want to really eat it… I make him cook for himself and only make enough for me. 
As for restaurants, In another lifetime (aka when I was younger, single and living in another state) I used to eat alone all the time. I’d take a good book and enjoy my meal. I used to be afraid of doing things alone… and back then, if I was “afraid” of something… I did it. I would grab the bull by the horns and just do it. I miss those days, now I wouldn’t be caught dead alone in a restaurant… Why because of my own perception of who I’ve become… fear of what people think of this person is the reason. Stupid I know. I miss that girl I used to be. But I’m trying to find her again.
I often eat alone or with only two of my four kids, since the hubby and other kids eat meat and processed foods. I have never liked eating in restaurants, I know too much of what goes on in them, and they also use mostly processed foods.
I enjoy eating healthy homemade food, so I have no problem cooking or eating alone.
Like you, I eat a lone a lot… OR I eat my stuff & my hubby eats his stuff… we eat differently. I am totally fine with it as I have been cooking & eating for one, me, for years. I make different stuff for the hubby.. even with chicken, I often make his a bit different from mine. I have no trouble with cooking for one.. I guess a lot of practice makes, well not perfect sine I am a horrible cook, but I get how to do it!
As for granola, even the healthier stuff like your review.. aging, like you, I LOVE IT so I don’t bring in the house. Even that Kashi Granola cereal with the protein grams I like in it does not come in the house anymore. I just want to keep eating it!!!
Have great weekend!
the majority of my meals i make for just myself and unless my roomies or boyfriend is around i spend my time eating alone. but i dont really mind it, i like to cook and i like to eat what i want so this works for me. breakfast and lunch are eaten at work which is alone but with coworkers near by… we dont all eat at the same time. i have eaten at a restaurant alone just once, i don’t prefer it. i would rather cook for myself and save the eating out for the times with friends! i leave dining out as a social thing rather than a fill me up thing. great post!!!
Two thirds of my meals are eaten on my own. And I’ve eaten alone in restaurants hundreds of times. I take a book and settle in for a leisurely meal. I don’t do it all that often these days because I prefer to eat at home where I control what’s in my food.
I wouldn’t say I’m a huge fan of eating alone, but cooking for one is right up my alley! That way I can prepare things exactly the way I want without having to consider anyone elses tastes or opinions.
As for eating out alone … only in a fast food type situation. I would feel a bit weird in a restaurant alone, which I shouldn’t because when I do see people eating alone I don’t think anything of it, so why should I feel weird???
With a family of nine (yes, you read that right) I don’t eat alone very often! In fact, unless I get up really early, I’m not alone very often either!
I don’t think I’d like eating alone, and I don’t eat alone in restaurants. It’s probably a character flaw, but it’s how I feel.
Sometimes, when I was in process of losing my weight, I did prepare things for the family that I didn’t want to eat at that moment, but for the most part what I prepare, we all eat.
I find that when I eat alone, I usually eat ultra-healthy. I guess so much of the enjoyment of food, for me, comes from sharing it with others. So if I’m alone, it’s like, why indulge with a fancy (not quite healthy) dinner? For the same reason, I don’t think I’ve ever had a sit-down meal out by myself. But the idea of making (or ordering) a decadent meal for just yourself does sound like a fun experiment…
FEED granola is my favorite! I swear, if their sending me some to try didn’t convince a single reader to buy it, they’d still have profited, just from what I’ve bought since then! It just tastes so much more natural with the spices instead of all the sugar.
Galaxy Granola is great. I like the unsweatened vanilla kind because it’s 150 calories for 1/2 cup and and I can sweeten it myself as much or as little as I want
Gosh! Isn’t it funny when you read blogs with food in them that you want to SHARE???? Hmmm…This is divine! You’re a finalist!
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