Eating alone?

Does anyone else feel guilty after prepairing a meal for two [because it's easier than 1] to sit and eat alone, like were being selfish or something? And rather than enjoying together with some one, just wrap up the leftovers for lunch another time?

Nope. I have never been married and I like leftovers. I'll make a big pot of chili and eat it for a week.

Nope...

No.

And further more, I often will go to a restaurant, and eat alone.

Going to a restaurant is quite different, it's just money not time to spend for someone else.

What difference does it make?
Why feel guilt for not spending time with someone you don't have?

I guess it's because I have been a caregiver so much of my life. Single father with teens and dying parents etc.

I've eaten dinner alone for the past 3 years. No big deal.

Most of my life my responsibilities have centered around others. Taking care of just myself was new when I was 50. Pluss the clean up time. I'd rather feel helpful than selfish.

I'm not talking about logic. I'm talking about feelings which are not logical.

It's not the eating, it's the work prepairing that seems so selfish.

Food has to be prepared.

I always say I cook for one; one week at a time. Partially it is because cooking can take a lot of time but it takes about the same amount of time whether you're cooking 1 serving or 10 so 10 is more efficient. And though it may be a bit oddly cobbled together, there's usually enough food at my house that unexpected guests would not leave hungry.

I'm more likely to feel guilty about spending too much time or unnecessary money on myself. Going out to eat somewhere that it costs me a week's food budget for one meal seems selfish and wasteful to me and I end up feeling rather selfish if I do that. I'm learning to spend money on myself, but it's not something I find easy yet.

On the other hand, it's always nice to be invited over to someone's house for dinner, so if you wanted to try to start a dinner club or something of friends who took turns making dinner for each other, well that would be a good use of negative feelings whether logical and justified or not.

Note to self: Leftovers always available at cinder's house.

Some people call their refrigerators "Resurrection City" because they put stuff in there and take it out three months later covered with new life. I never have understood those people. There is perfectly good food in the fridge and they let it go bad?!

First world problems

Well leftovers are my favorite meal. Unfortunately for you, I love my leftovers so much that I have a special plan for their (brief) lives; one that doesn't involve them being cat food. So you'll probably have to eat something cooked fresh if you show up unannounced.

Haha.

I cooked for one for several years, then I cooked for more than one for several years before returning to the former state. At least I appreciate what I cook.

I'll bring a can opener.

I know what you mean. I always know exactly what leftovers are in the fridge, where in the fridge they are and usually I know for which meal I will use each of them.