How the Suddenly Single Male Can Eat Healthy and Quickly

You are the suddenly single male, a recycled bachelor, and you're hungry.

Simple solution. You pick up the phone and call the closest pizza joint.

But wait. You pry open your wallet and it's pretty skimpy on the Jacksons and Hamiltons, and there's not a Franklin to be seen. You're keeping company with George and a few of his buddies named George.

George ain't going to pay for the pizza.

You're broke.

The other guys, Jackson, Hamilton and Franklin are busy paying the rent on your new bachelor pad and making your car payment. Now there is the child support and the day at the zoo when you can see your kids.

You end the call and decide that pizza at twenty dollars is a bit much for this evening.

The fridge is empty, and you need help. Your growling stomach tells you so.

Way back when prior to hiring lawyers and getting the divorce papers signed, you didn't worry too much about eating. The food magically appeared on the dinner table. For lunch you had the dough to eat out.

Now you have to think about how to eat.

It's time to learn Quick Healthy Eats 101.

Quick, because you're not going to be starring on the Food Network anytime soon. Healthy because you want to get back into trim and find that next hot babe that you know is just waiting for you out in Newly Single Over 40 Land.

There are some Quick Eats that you can prepare in 15-minutes or less, but first make friends with the items in the frozen food aisle, the low fat low sodium soups, dried and canned beans, pasta and prepared pasta sauces and fresh and frozen fruits. These are the basics that will keep you alive and making those support payments for the next 15 years.

These basics are easily combinable into flexible and fast meals. You win on two fronts: speed and economy. This can leave you free time and some extra change to maybe search online for your next mate. No matter how you slice the whole wheat bread, the way to a bachelor's heart is still through the stomach, even if you the single male are making that way happen yourself.

Some Quick Bites:

Bean Tacos: Dump a healthy amount of refried beans, tomatoes, lettuce and shredded cheese into a whole wheat tortilla, and salud!

Salad: it's in the bag. Plastic bags that is. When you're cruising the greens, grab a bag or two of mixed bag salads, or even spinach. Add some chunks of chicken or beans, some chopped veggies, and a little bit of dressing, and you've got the first course.

Mediterranean Salad: a tomato, half a green pepper, 1/4 cup of mint, a medium-size cucumber, 1/2 cup of finely chopped parsley, half teaspoon salt, 1/8 cup of lemon juice. Make sure everything is chopped, mix it all together, turn on the TV.

Turkey Sandwich: don't overlook this Thanksgiving favorite just because it's near Easter. Put 2-3 ounces of turkey breast, lettuce, tomato and mustard to some whole wheat bread, and gobble it down.

Veggie Sandwich: So easy a fifth grader has done it for years. Take hummus on a whole wheat tortilla, add some veggies, and a few slivers of cheese.

Tuna Melt: zip that can of tuna soaked in water open and scoop about about a half. Add tomatoes and a slice of cheese to whole-grain crackers or bread. Don't forget to heat. It is a tuna melt, after all.

Pizza Muffin: you can have your pizza and make it yourself, sort of. Spread some tomato sauce on half an English muffin, top with mushrooms and some of your favorite veggies, and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.

Peanut Butter Mash Sandwich: Elvis could eat this, so why not you? Spread smooth peanut butter on whole-grain toast and mash a ripe banana on the sandwich. You can now leave the building.

Spaghetti: Easy and quick. Heat some sauce, marinara preferred, add it to pasta. Dress it up with some complimentary veggies, mushrooms, and, what the heck, some spicy sausage --if it's Friday.

Veggie Omelets: Take egg whites, mushrooms, green bell pepper and other veggies and toss in the frying pan.

Pancakes: a real time saver. Dump some fresh fruit in and you've got your fruit fix in first thing in the morning and you can cheat the rest of the day.

Follow this simple plan and you and your wallet will be in great shape. Suddenly Franklin will be your best friend, popping up in your wallet when you didn't expect it.

Hanging around with Franklin is more attractive than doing time with George and George and George.

Your new match date will think so, I'm sure.