Dude Food: What (some) single men eat

Living alone -- for both men and women -- sometimes makes cooking uninspiring. For some, it’s a challenge to make batches small enough to accommodate a solo eater. After all, nobody wants to eat chili for a month.

When it comes to single men and their eating habits, it’s easy to stereotype that the majority of their diet consists of frozen pizza, take-out and random crunchy items covered in melted cheese and over-nuked to non-perfection in the microwave. In some cases, this is true. In others, however, not so much.

OnMilwaukee.com tracked down four single guys to find out more about their eating habits and to confirm that, despite stereotypes, there is quite a bit of range.

Matthew George, 43
Photographer/Artist

I enjoy cooking, as I was raised in the family restaurant and was taught these essential life skills not just there, but at home from my grandmother and mother.

I try to eat as balanced of a diet as possible, simply out of respect for myself and my body, although there are times I indulge cravings, as most people do, I think. I eat a lot of fruit, and I make fresh soups and pasta sauces. I especially enjoy taking the time to cook a good meal -- it is a way to slow down and consider just what I was eating -- and take pride in it.

I love freshwater fish and catch and cook my own. Things like vegetable or chicken soup and chili are fun to make, simply for the health benefits and all the cooking smells. I really like roasting chicken with different herbs like Herbes de Provence. The occasional steak and potatoes are a must, and grilling is an essential in the summer.

I fall off the wagon with ice cream, though.

Chris Haworth, 35
Outdoor advertising executive for Clear Channel / political consultant

I do cook for myself, but I am far from accomplished in any way. Some of the highlights of my cooking repertoire include eggs and bacon, spaghetti, soup, macaroni 'n' cheese, frozen vegetables, frozen pizza, chicken breast (on a George Foreman Grill) or basically anything that can be microwaved.

I actually enjoy making pasta with sauce because I'll include a pre-mixed salad along with garlic bread baked in the oven. On weekends, when I have more time in the mornings, I'll crank out eggs, frozen waffles, bacon, etc.

I do eat out a lot. Usually every other night for dinner and almost every day for lunch during the work week. I get Subway, Q-doba, McDonald's, sushi from Pick 'n Save, St. Paul's Fish Company in the Milwaukee Public Market, Jimmy Johns, Chinese from Jing's and pizza from Rustico or Zaffiro's.

I will NEVER cook for a first date or even a second or a third. Bottom line is that cooking, for one, is difficult, and often, I'm pressed for time between my full-time and two part-time jobs, not to mention social / networking events. 

Daniel Childers, 40
Self-employed

I have the worst diet on the planet, and I blame it all on my microwave. I should really get rid of the thing. Or, I should just get rid of my oven. It’s a waste of space.

I eat hot dogs, corn dogs, veggie burgers, frozen burritos, frozen dinners and pre-cooked bacon that I can microwave. I eat some stuff that doesn’t need microwaving, like bowls of cereal, frozen waffles, chips and salsa and, occasionally, a banana or an apple.

I buy fresh food, like stuff to make a salad, but it usually goes bad in my fridge. I know, I’m going to die soon. (Laughing.)

Brett Andrews, 28
Radio show host, 103.7 Kiss FM

I work in the evenings, so my eating schedule is very odd. I usually wake up at 10:30 a.m. and rarely eat breakfast. I make lunch around noon, normally something frozen or a ham or turkey sandwich. Dinner is around 5:30 p.m. before work, and usually, again, something frozen or eggs.

My mom lives here in Milwaukee, and Jewish moms have an inherit need to feed their children, no matter how old they are. So twice a week, she makes dinner for me and that's normally the only time I eat a "cooked" meal.

I absolutely eat differently when I am in a relationship. I was engaged to be married about a year ago and she was an absolute food Nazi. She never let me buy or eat anything but healthy stuff. She didn't even let me drink diet soda. So, when we broke up, I went to town on all the stuff I was not "allowed" to eat when we were together, like buffalo wings, Chinese food etc. But, as you might expect, I put on some "break up" pounds.

I have eaten some unconventional food items as a single guy. For about a year during college, I ate nothing but Pick 'n Save sushi, and I lost nearly 90 pounds, but gross! I once ate a green pepper sandwich with ranch dressing. Sometimes, when I get home late after work and I'm hungry, and I have not been to the the grocery store in a while, I'll just mix and match random things in my kitchen. The other night, after work, I ate a lean pocket and an orange and some waffle fries and a bowl of Lucky Charms.