Sue just postedon the challenges of teaching kids to cook. I don't have kids yet, but I face a different culinary dilemma: cooking for one.

These days, more people are trying to spend less on food by eating in. But is cooking for one a waste of time and money?

I've been grappling with this question ever since I moved to New York from Texas four years ago. I immediately noticed that groceries are more expensive here and, depending on where you shop, the produce not as fresh. While Ive had roommates for most of the time that Ive lived here, we have never made the effort to coordinate our schedules so that we could cook together.

Social and work commitments have also taken a toll on my efforts to eat at home. In the last few years, I have often spent $50 or more on groceries and then spent the week eating out because my plans changed unexpectedly. Ive gone to dinner with friends or a significant other at the last minute. Sometimes, Ive just gotten lazy and ordered in. After a hard day at work, cooking can feel like a hassle.

Its hard to eat healthy if you eat out all the time, though. To be sure, there are solutions. The blog noteatingoutinny.comsuggests recipes for those who want to eat at home more. Farmers markets often carry better-tasting produce, which makes cooking at home more appealing. I have friends who work at food coops to save money on groceries. Of course, they have to put in the time and effort to get the cost benefit.

Ive found that it helps to plan ahead of timeand combine forces with friends so that I consume what I buy instead of wasting it.

Juggle readers, what do you think about cooking for one? Any suggestions for quick, easy and healthy solo meals? And more generally, do you struggle to find the time to cook? Where do you grocery shop, and how much do you spend on food in a given week?