Instructions: What I think ultimately works best is to prepare recipes that serve 4 and then freeze the leftovers in single sized servings.

But Im not always that organized. So, I take advantage of the more healthy packaged foods and produce that stores well (carrots, potatoes, etc) and add to them. I use a lot of frozen veggies, frozen fruit (in smoothies!), canned chili, canned broths and soups, and even a few frozen entrees.

Some of my standard dishes (all consumed in front of the computer, of course):
I cook double the amount of rice or pasta I need. And then I use the leftovers in a different dish the next day or so. I find that leftover rice is good for quick, microwaved rice "pudding" and it also works well for "fried" rice. Pasta reheats well, and I often use it as a base for frozen veggies, stir-fried.

Frozen veggies come in handy when Im cooking for just myself. I often will add a handful or two to some prepared broth or soup. Ditto with adding a handful or rice or macaroni shells.

Make up a batch of macaroni and cheese. Eat it plain on day one. Add canned chili or canned beans and canned tomatoes for a totally different dish on day two. Or how about some frozen peas and/or broccoli tossed in?

Baked beans are good with mac n cheese, too.

Baked potatoes -either white or sweet - make a great base for any commercially prepared chilis, soups, or stews. Often Ill just top the potato with some salsa and whatever frozen veggies I can find to reheat.

Or how about some oven-fried sweet potato chips served with some reheated frozen veggies? This is one of my favorite by-myself meals.

Veggie burgers or veggie hot dogs make great eat-alone feasts. But I find I rarely have any buns for them. So, mix them up in your beans or pasta sauce. Or use tortillas as "buns". Little pita breads make great "covers"

for the burgers or dogs. They also make good pizza crusts.

And, of course, there are those frozen tv dinners. Actually, some of em arent too bad. I like the Lean Cuisine veggie lasagna. And Amys makes some great entrees (try her Mexicali pie)...but be careful because some of her foods are
*not* lowfat.

As for the pyramid...drinking a two fruit smoothie easily satisfies that requirement. Tossing veggies in a cup of soup or in some pasta sauce can take care of half the days requirement. And if you do that twice a day, youve met your goal.

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