Our One-Pound Story: How It Really Started
People always ask me how I came up with this whole “One Pound Dinner” thing.
It didn’t start with a plan. It started with my twin sister, Judy, and a pack of chicken.
We were both fresh out of college, broke, living together in a tiny apartment with a fridge that barely closed. Cooking wasn’t some romantic, Instagram-worthy event back then. It was survival. We had to make meals stretch, but we also didn’t want to live off cereal and microwave noodles.
One night, Judy pulled out a pound of chicken and said,
“Let’s just cook this and see how far we can go.”
That one pound of chicken turned into dinner for two, no leftovers, no waste, and shockingly? No regrets. It was enough.
So the next night, we did it again. One pound of ground beef, some frozen peas, rice, spices, boom. Dinner.
We didn’t measure macros. We didn’t track calories. We just cooked what made sense.
And it kept making sense.
From Our Kitchen to Mine
Years later, when I got married and moved into my own home, I didn’t leave that habit behind.
I brought it with me, the one-pound rule, the “figure it out with what you have” spirit, the simplicity of it all.
My husband wasn’t much of a cook at first. He was used to takeout and food that came in boxes. But I told him,
“You don’t need to be a chef. Just start with one pound of something and build around it.”
So he tried. One pound of chicken. One skillet. Some broccoli and garlic.
He didn’t burn the house down, and even better? He liked it.
We started meal prepping together. Trying new combos. Saving money. Eating better without overthinking every bite.
How This Became a Website
He was actually the one who said,
“You should share this. People would love this.”
I laughed at first. Who wants to hear about my weird obsession with one-pound meals?
But I kept hearing friends and family say the same thing:
“I never know how much to cook.”
“Meal prep stresses me out.”
“I just want something that’s easy and doesn’t leave a bunch of leftovers.”
That’s when it hit me.
This wasn’t just a habit. It was a system, and one that could help a lot of people.
So I started OnePoundDinner.com, with nothing but a folder full of scribbled recipes, photos on my phone, and a deep love for food that makes sense.
Now, I get to share what Judy and I started all those years ago:
Simple meals. Balanced portions. No stress.
What You’ll Find Here
This site is for anyone who wants to eat better without turning food into a full-time job.
You’ll find:
– Real recipes built around one pound of meat or veg
– Easy meals for solo eaters, couples, or families
– Smart portions that don’t require a calculator
– Simple, clean ingredients, nothing fancy unless you want it
– No diet talk. No food guilt. Just food that fits your life
I didn’t create this because I had all the answers.
I created this because I needed it.
And now I get to share it with you.
Thanks for being here, really.
Let’s keep dinner simple, delicious, and just enough.
One pound at a time.