America Is Falling Out of Love With TV Dinners

ascrit

Check it out:
http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/03/america-is-falling-out-of-love-with-tv-dinners/284403/

A number of factors appear to be working against the frozen food aisle—including the rise of dieting, consciousness of better portioning, and Americans’ growing boredom with ready-made frozen meals. But there are four reasons in particular which seem to stand out, according to the research firm Mintel: Americans say they are strapped for cash; they feel frozen food is no longer cost-effective; they prefer to cook for themselves; and they are increasingly skeptical of the health claims of frozen meals—40 percent of U.S. adults think frozen dinners offer no nutritional value.

Thoughts??

Dmkolls

Actually, I'm shocked that it's 40% that starting to realize that they offer no nutritional value. I thought it would be less. So many people in my office building bring in frozen lean cuisines and WW meals like it's going out of style.

sunflowerhippi

I find it true.

I used to have one everyday for lunch as I never thought I had "time" to cook something at work. (I am a nanny of triplets) so I would just microwave something and be done, but then it turned to two meals a day as I wasn't getting enough calories or protien and I had enough. $5-10 a day in lunch is $25-50 a week. I can buy a family pack and freeze them of fish, chicken, and pork for that and fresh veggies and cook it in about 30 minutes no problem. Cheaper on the grocery bill, and better for me.

melsinct

Actually, I'm shocked that it's 40% that starting to realize that they offer no nutritional value. I thought it would be less. So many people in my office building bring in frozen lean cuisines and WW meals like it's going out of style.

Same here. The microwave line at lunch time usually consists of a sea of Lean Cuisines, Hot Pockets, etc.

avasano

Now, if people could just keep from eating while watching TV, it would be even better.

cwolfman13

I don't know how people stomach that ****. Food is supposed to be delicious and awesome...why people would choose to suck down what amounts to pure **** is beyond me...

Now, if people could just keep from eating while watching TV, it would be even better.

Why?

BlueBombers

I'm not surprised....those things are disgusting.

jstout365

I'm not too surprised. Have you seen how little the portions are for the 300 calorie meals? And then factor in the sodium content....I can't do it. I make my lunches on Sunday and pack them up for the week. Same as grab and go, just fresher and with the ingredients I like. If I have left overs from dinner one night, I'll pack it up for lunch the next day.

Oh and I LOVE the commercials that tout the protein levels in the Lean Cuisine Protein meals. 13 grams, WOW! SO MUCH PROTEIN. :huh: :noway: I guess 13 g is an increase for some people. I would personally need two meals to hit my average lunch protein.

JoRocka

I just feel like they aren't filling AT ALL- a can of soup does more for me than a frozen meal.

I'm not above eating them in a pinch- but I just feel so hungry after wards- even a can of dinosaurs leaves me more full!

Josalinn

I love frozen meals. I make them myself and put them in divided containers, and then freeze them.

avasano

I don't know how people stomach that ****. Food is supposed to be delicious and awesome...why people would choose to suck down what amounts to pure **** is beyond me...

Now, if people could just keep from eating while watching TV, it would be even better.

Why?

Because people pay no attention to how much they eat or the quality of food when they focus on watching TV while eating. Also it is great to have a real dinner using the lost art of conversation.

cwolfman13

I don't know how people stomach that ****. Food is supposed to be delicious and awesome...why people would choose to suck down what amounts to pure **** is beyond me...

Now, if people could just keep from eating while watching TV, it would be even better.

Why?

Because people pay no attention to how much they eat or the quality of food when they focus on watching TV while eating. Also it is great to have a real dinner using the lost art of conversation.

just for arguments sake, how is it any different if I put my food on a plate and take it in to watch t.v. vs putting my food on a plate and sitting at a table? They are the same portions...so who cares? Unless you're talking about sitting down with a bag of chips or something...I'm talking about having dinner...the quality and quantity of my dinner is pre-determined in preparation and has nothing to do with whether I eat it at a table or on the couch.

As for the conversation aspect, I get that...and we do at least 3 or 4 meals at the table per week as a family...but generally, due to schedule my wife and I don't eat until 8:30/9:00 or so in the evening...and we're pretty much done conversing by then and just want to eat and relax. i don't see anything wrong with that and it most certainly doesn't make me fat or anything.

ascrit

I don't know how people stomach that ****. Food is supposed to be delicious and awesome...why people would choose to suck down what amounts to pure **** is beyond me...

Now, if people could just keep from eating while watching TV, it would be even better.

Why?

Because people pay no attention to how much they eat or the quality of food when they focus on watching TV while eating. Also it is great to have a real dinner using the lost art of conversation.

just for arguments sake, how is it any different if I put my food on a plate and take it in to watch t.v. vs putting my food on a plate and sitting at a table? They are the same portions...so who cares? Unless you're talking about sitting down with a bag of chips or something...I'm talking about having dinner...the quality and quantity of my dinner is pre-determined in preparation and has nothing to do with whether I eat it at a table or on the couch.

As for the conversation aspect, I get that...and we do at least 3 or 4 meals at the table per week as a family...but generally, due to schedule my wife and I don't eat until 8:30/9:00 or so in the evening...and we're pretty much done conversing by then and just want to eat and relax. i don't see anything wrong with that and it most certainly doesn't make me fat or anything.

Not to speak for avasano but I think the point she is trying to make is that often times people just sit in front of the TV and shovel food in their mouth without thinking about what they are eating. But if they were actually paying attention they would come to realize that their food choices are actually lacking in some way and would then be inspired to make better choices.

cwolfman13

I don't know how people stomach that ****. Food is supposed to be delicious and awesome...why people would choose to suck down what amounts to pure **** is beyond me...

Now, if people could just keep from eating while watching TV, it would be even better.

Why?

Because people pay no attention to how much they eat or the quality of food when they focus on watching TV while eating. Also it is great to have a real dinner using the lost art of conversation.

just for arguments sake, how is it any different if I put my food on a plate and take it in to watch t.v. vs putting my food on a plate and sitting at a table? They are the same portions...so who cares? Unless you're talking about sitting down with a bag of chips or something...I'm talking about having dinner...the quality and quantity of my dinner is pre-determined in preparation and has nothing to do with whether I eat it at a table or on the couch.

As for the conversation aspect, I get that...and we do at least 3 or 4 meals at the table per week as a family...but generally, due to schedule my wife and I don't eat until 8:30/9:00 or so in the evening...and we're pretty much done conversing by then and just want to eat and relax. i don't see anything wrong with that and it most certainly doesn't make me fat or anything.

Not to speak for avasano but I think the point she is trying to make is that often times people just sit in front of the TV and shovel food in their mouth without thinking about what they are eating. But if they were actually paying attention they would come to realize that their food choices are actually lacking in some way and would then be inspired to make better choices.

fair enough...i'm probably not normal. i watch about 30 minutes of t.v. per day tops and that's usually while i'm eating my dinner in the evening while I relax and let the day melt away.

avasano

I don't know how people stomach that ****. Food is supposed to be delicious and awesome...why people would choose to suck down what amounts to pure **** is beyond me...

Now, if people could just keep from eating while watching TV, it would be even better.

Why?

Because people pay no attention to how much they eat or the quality of food when they focus on watching TV while eating. Also it is great to have a real dinner using the lost art of conversation.

just for arguments sake, how is it any different if I put my food on a plate and take it in to watch t.v. vs putting my food on a plate and sitting at a table? They are the same portions...so who cares? Unless you're talking about sitting down with a bag of chips or something...I'm talking about having dinner...the quality and quantity of my dinner is pre-determined in preparation and has nothing to do with whether I eat it at a table or on the couch.

As for the conversation aspect, I get that...and we do at least 3 or 4 meals at the table per week as a family...but generally, due to schedule my wife and I don't eat until 8:30/9:00 or so in the evening...and we're pretty much done conversing by then and just want to eat and relax. i don't see anything wrong with that and it most certainly doesn't make me fat or anything.

Not to speak for avasano but I think the point she is trying to make is that often times people just sit in front of the TV and shovel food in their mouth without thinking about what they are eating. But if they were actually paying attention they would come to realize that their food choices are actually lacking in some way and would then be inspired to make better choices.

That is exactly what I was saying. ;D

MelodyandBarbells

I love frozen meals. I make them myself and put them in divided containers, and then freeze them.

I LOL'd. HARD :laugh:

And yes, TV dinners are tiny. Maybe if I had had the idea to double up on the servings I might still eat them today. It just made no sense to need a whole 'nother meal after supposedly eating. Grr!!

And come on! Is the food really that ****ty???

Kisame29

I guess I'm in the minority, but I find some lean cuisine dishes to be very tasty and filling. Maybe I am just bad at cooking though haha. Still, I think they can be very helpful if you are bad at controlling portion sizes. The only real issue that I have with them is the high sodium content, but they're still a lot better than eating out at a fast food place.