Woe be the cook without company. In a world of recipes written for nearly every conceivable audience, there are precious few preparations that address the single diner (about one in four of us). Families have secured their niche within the culinary literature, as have couples and even parties of eight to 12, but scour cookbooks and food magazines for the words "serves one," and at best you might find instructions for whipping up a smoothie.

Many single Americans, when faced with the headache of scaling down recipes intended for a group or glutting the fridge with leftovers ultimately bound for the trash bin, simply opt for meals of convenience: takeout fare, frozen dinners, fast food. And that's unfortunate, says Julia Child, who thinks that cooking for herself is essential to her well-being. "When you are alone you can feel depressed and deprived," she says. "That's when you need to treat yourself nicely."

Given a suitable recipe, cooking for one can be a richly rewarding experience. Chopping, slicing, and dicing are great ways to relieve stress, and the smell of food cooking in the kitchen is a wonderfully rejuvenating sensation. And what could be better at the end of a long day than to sit down to a wholesome meal?

Even if nobody else is around to enjoy the results of your effort, unique advantages stem from cooking solo. One of the most delicious is customizing your choices. Like your food spicy? Turn up the heat. Want an extra teaspoon of garlic in your salsa or a pinch more tarragon on your tuna? Go for it. Who's to stop you? As Child says, "Take chances and experiment."

Maybe we can help your culinary creativeness with a full week of meals designed especially for America's millions of singles. All seven suppers are flavorful, low in fat, and economical. Best of all, they're just for you.