I even eat when the kids aren't here

I will freely admit that I am a person who loves cooking for other people, and I don't really feel the same spark when I'm cooking for myself alone. I share custody of my kids with their dads, which means that half the week, I have minimal incentive to cook a proper meal unless my boyfriend comes over... and even then, much of the time we content ourselves with leftovers and snacks. When I'm on my own, my eating patterns are erratic; breakfast may be steak tartare, dinner may be peanut butter toast, all eaten whenever I get hungry, without concern for mealtimes or the nutrition pyramid.

When I'm alone, anything that can be cooked in the toaster oven is my friend. One of my favorite easy meals is nothing more than a bunch of brussels sprouts and a piece of bacon. I halve the sprouts and put them in a small baking pan, sprinkle them with salt and pepper, and then lay the bacon on top. It goes in the toaster oven at 400 for 20 minutes; I take it out and toss it a bit halfway through to make sure everything gets a nice coating of bacon grease.

I also like to add a sweet potato to the equation; I'll roast 3 or 4 at once and have them in the fridge, ready to go. They're simple to roast; 45 minutes at 350, then let them cool and they'll slip right out of their skins. Chopped into large bite-sized chunks and roasted with the bacon and brussels sprouts, sweet potato takes on a creamy, caramelized flavor. Sprinkle with a bit of shredded parmesan cheese and it's a filling meal, or it would make a pretty side dish with or without the bacon.