<p>Get a paperback copy of the Better Homes and Gardens New cookbook (I think the 14th edition is current). You can find it online, in bookstores and Walmart/Target et al. This is the best cookbook I have found for telling you how to do everything. There are instructions on hard boiling eggs, pictures of various types of foods, such as meat cuts, pasta and cheeses. Some recipes are labeled easy, etc. and you can learn substitutions.</p>
<p>Another thing to do- experiment. Add ingredients to packaged mixes. “Baked” potatoes are easiest when pierced (with a fork) and microwaved. Many packaged fish portions have times to cook- use fewer minutes and check for doneness (just white, too much time and it gets tough/dried out). Ground beef is easy- crumbled like for sloppy joes- done when brown. Even experienced cooks have to do some trial and error to optimize meat cooking- if you’re not used to cooking any food there is a learning curve. </p>
<p>The microwave oven is the single person’s best friend. Vegetables are easy to cook by putting the amount you want in a covered bowl, cooking a couple of minutes and adding time (frozen bags work well). Spice to taste. Also be aware of things continuing to cook after you remove them from a microwave or conventional oven and that electric stove burners stay hot after turned off, therefore continuing to cook foods.</p>
<p>It doesn’t matter how conventional your meals are- just so you get the proper amounts of the needed food groups. Eggs can be supper, sandwiches breakfast. You can discard egg yolks if you want the protein but not the fat.</p>
<p>Remember to store foods in covered nonmetal containers (don’t just put the part can in the refrigerator). Also- you can portion out cooked pasta, rice, spaghetti sauce and other leftovers and freeze them. Consult a cookbook or look at frozen foods to see what can successfully be frozen- if it’s in a TV dinner, it can be frozen (no fresh tomatoes, that was tried commercially in the '60’s). Look at ground, dried spices for their fresh equivalent- garlic powder for example instead of cloves (never buy garlic salt, use them separately). They last a long time.</p>