Please tell me ready meals aren't that bad :(

2

Replies

  • katy_trail
    katy_trail Posts: 1,992 Member
    yeah it's mostly vitamins
  • Sunnyjb
    Sunnyjb Posts: 220
    Jamie Oliver, the guy who started some TV show called "Food Revolution" and is some British chef, has a great piece of advice I've tried to follow: if you can't pronounce or do not know what the ingredient is, then you don't want it in your body.
    Pronounce this without stumbling or looking up if it's good for you or not.

    Alpha-Linolenic-Acid, Asparagine, D-Categin, Isoqurctrin, Hyperoside, Ferulic-Acid, Farnesene, Neoxathin, Phosphatidyl-Choline, Reynoutrin, Sinapic-Acid, Caffeic-Acid, Chlorogenic-Acid, P-Hydroxy-Benzoic-Acid, P-Coumaric-Acid, Avicularin, Lutein, Quercitin, Rutin, Ursolic-Acid, Protocatechuic-Acid, and Silver,Vitamin A, B1, B2, and B6, Niacin, Pantothenic acid, Folic acid, Vitamin C and Vitamin E, Calcium, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorus, Pottassium, Selenium, Sodium, and Zinc,Tryptophan, Threonine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Lycine, Methionine, Cystine, Phenylalanine, Tyrosine, Valine, Argenine, Histidine, Alanine, Aspartic Acid, Glutamic Acid, Glycine, Proline, and Serine.

    I'll tell you what it is later.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    Pretty sure I drink at least three scoops of this a day
  • CoachReddy
    CoachReddy Posts: 3,949 Member
    Jamie Oliver, the guy who started some TV show called "Food Revolution" and is some British chef, has a great piece of advice I've tried to follow: if you can't pronounce or do not know what the ingredient is, then you don't want it in your body.
    Pronounce this without stumbling or looking up if it's good for you or not.

    Alpha-Linolenic-Acid, Asparagine, D-Categin, Isoqurctrin, Hyperoside, Ferulic-Acid, Farnesene, Neoxathin, Phosphatidyl-Choline, Reynoutrin, Sinapic-Acid, Caffeic-Acid, Chlorogenic-Acid, P-Hydroxy-Benzoic-Acid, P-Coumaric-Acid, Avicularin, Lutein, Quercitin, Rutin, Ursolic-Acid, Protocatechuic-Acid, and Silver,Vitamin A, B1, B2, and B6, Niacin, Pantothenic acid, Folic acid, Vitamin C and Vitamin E, Calcium, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorus, Pottassium, Selenium, Sodium, and Zinc,Tryptophan, Threonine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Lycine, Methionine, Cystine, Phenylalanine, Tyrosine, Valine, Argenine, Histidine, Alanine, Aspartic Acid, Glutamic Acid, Glycine, Proline, and Serine.

    I'll tell you what it is later.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    Pretty sure I drink at least three scoops of this a day

    weird.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,992 Member
    I basically live off them. I'm always so tired and rushed that they are just so quick and convienient. The only times I don;t eat them is when I go to a friends house who cooks, or I go out for dinner, or sometimes I will have an omlette or porridge.

    I eat fruit and yogurt for brekkie, granola bar for a snack, ham and egg salad for lunch and usually more fruit/cereal bar snack in the afternoon. So it;s not like i'm not getting my nutrients.

    I will make sure i'm always within my calories and try to pick the ones with less salt/sugar etc.

    Are they really as harmful for your health as everyone says??
    Lol, maybe you're tired and you rush because you're tired because you lack actual nutrition? I'll be the first to say it: Better learn how to cook especially if you intend to get married and have kids..............................or your family will be stuck eating ready made meals for life and trust when I say that "convenience" of meals is what is leading lots of people to get overweight in the first place.
    You can have it once in awhile, but go for more whole foods and better nutrient dense meals.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    or maybe she is just tired and rushed from "life"? im not tired, but im extremely rushed, and by the end of the day, IM DONE! 5 kids, 4 in competetive sports monday through saturday, 1 with a health condition, im a full time student, 2 dogs, 3 cats, house to care for, husband to whine at me... im lucky if i get to brush my hair, so it comes down to doing whats quickest for me. day off to prepare meals? i dont have a day off right now, im going full speed 7 days a week, and if i did have a day off, it wouldnt be cooking! i dont watch my sodium, i have no reason to at this point. i stay right around 2500 each day, i stay full, and im not 250 pounds like i was in september... some people just need to do whats easiest and quickest to fit their lifestyle!
    Doesn't sound like she's a mother of 4 and catering to them.
    Not going to debate with you on it, but it sounds like you're doing all the work. No spouse help?

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,992 Member
    Jamie Oliver, the guy who started some TV show called "Food Revolution" and is some British chef, has a great piece of advice I've tried to follow: if you can't pronounce or do not know what the ingredient is, then you don't want it in your body.
    Pronounce this without stumbling or looking up if it's good for you or not.

    Alpha-Linolenic-Acid, Asparagine, D-Categin, Isoqurctrin, Hyperoside, Ferulic-Acid, Farnesene, Neoxathin, Phosphatidyl-Choline, Reynoutrin, Sinapic-Acid, Caffeic-Acid, Chlorogenic-Acid, P-Hydroxy-Benzoic-Acid, P-Coumaric-Acid, Avicularin, Lutein, Quercitin, Rutin, Ursolic-Acid, Protocatechuic-Acid, and Silver,Vitamin A, B1, B2, and B6, Niacin, Pantothenic acid, Folic acid, Vitamin C and Vitamin E, Calcium, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorus, Pottassium, Selenium, Sodium, and Zinc,Tryptophan, Threonine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Lycine, Methionine, Cystine, Phenylalanine, Tyrosine, Valine, Argenine, Histidine, Alanine, Aspartic Acid, Glutamic Acid, Glycine, Proline, and Serine.

    I'll tell you what it is later.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    those aren't ingredients, thus it's a logical fallacy.
    Lol, that's not the point. If pronunciation is the criteria, then lots of foods would be deleted.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • NikiChicken
    NikiChicken Posts: 576 Member
    The biggest drawback, imo, is that they are somewhat lacking in quality nutrition value. There are better choices when you look at the long term. Occasional use, ok for when you really need the convenience.

    This.

    They are great in a pinch - I keep a stash at home for emergencies - but there are so many better things out there. I don't find them very filling either and they tend to leave me wanting something more. I just prefer to keep a stock of the basics at home and cook for myself rather than rely on these. It really doesn't take long to cook something a whole lot more satisfying and nutritionally sound.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    Jamie Oliver, the guy who started some TV show called "Food Revolution" and is some British chef, has a great piece of advice I've tried to follow: if you can't pronounce or do not know what the ingredient is, then you don't want it in your body.
    Pronounce this without stumbling or looking up if it's good for you or not.

    Alpha-Linolenic-Acid, Asparagine, D-Categin, Isoqurctrin, Hyperoside, Ferulic-Acid, Farnesene, Neoxathin, Phosphatidyl-Choline, Reynoutrin, Sinapic-Acid, Caffeic-Acid, Chlorogenic-Acid, P-Hydroxy-Benzoic-Acid, P-Coumaric-Acid, Avicularin, Lutein, Quercitin, Rutin, Ursolic-Acid, Protocatechuic-Acid, and Silver,Vitamin A, B1, B2, and B6, Niacin, Pantothenic acid, Folic acid, Vitamin C and Vitamin E, Calcium, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorus, Pottassium, Selenium, Sodium, and Zinc,Tryptophan, Threonine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Lycine, Methionine, Cystine, Phenylalanine, Tyrosine, Valine, Argenine, Histidine, Alanine, Aspartic Acid, Glutamic Acid, Glycine, Proline, and Serine.

    I'll tell you what it is later.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    those aren't ingredients, thus it's a logical fallacy.

    That's what I was thinking. The chemical makeup of something is not the same as ingredients.
  • CrazyTrackLady
    CrazyTrackLady Posts: 1,337 Member
    Jamie Oliver, the guy who started some TV show called "Food Revolution" and is some British chef, has a great piece of advice I've tried to follow: if you can't pronounce or do not know what the ingredient is, then you don't want it in your body.
    Pronounce this without stumbling or looking up if it's good for you or not.

    Alpha-Linolenic-Acid, Asparagine, D-Categin, Isoqurctrin, Hyperoside, Ferulic-Acid, Farnesene, Neoxathin, Phosphatidyl-Choline, Reynoutrin, Sinapic-Acid, Caffeic-Acid, Chlorogenic-Acid, P-Hydroxy-Benzoic-Acid, P-Coumaric-Acid, Avicularin, Lutein, Quercitin, Rutin, Ursolic-Acid, Protocatechuic-Acid, and Silver,Vitamin A, B1, B2, and B6, Niacin, Pantothenic acid, Folic acid, Vitamin C and Vitamin E, Calcium, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorus, Pottassium, Selenium, Sodium, and Zinc,Tryptophan, Threonine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Lycine, Methionine, Cystine, Phenylalanine, Tyrosine, Valine, Argenine, Histidine, Alanine, Aspartic Acid, Glutamic Acid, Glycine, Proline, and Serine.

    I'll tell you what it is later.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    Wow, such a strong assumption that I'm an illiterate fool. I KNOW what those are, and I CAN pronounce them. And, as has been already mentioned, they aren't ingredients so your point is moot.

    I do hope you don't eat chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream. Because, you might want to look up THOSE ingredients.
  • CoachReddy
    CoachReddy Posts: 3,949 Member
    Jamie Oliver, the guy who started some TV show called "Food Revolution" and is some British chef, has a great piece of advice I've tried to follow: if you can't pronounce or do not know what the ingredient is, then you don't want it in your body.
    Pronounce this without stumbling or looking up if it's good for you or not.

    Alpha-Linolenic-Acid, Asparagine, D-Categin, Isoqurctrin, Hyperoside, Ferulic-Acid, Farnesene, Neoxathin, Phosphatidyl-Choline, Reynoutrin, Sinapic-Acid, Caffeic-Acid, Chlorogenic-Acid, P-Hydroxy-Benzoic-Acid, P-Coumaric-Acid, Avicularin, Lutein, Quercitin, Rutin, Ursolic-Acid, Protocatechuic-Acid, and Silver,Vitamin A, B1, B2, and B6, Niacin, Pantothenic acid, Folic acid, Vitamin C and Vitamin E, Calcium, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorus, Pottassium, Selenium, Sodium, and Zinc,Tryptophan, Threonine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Lycine, Methionine, Cystine, Phenylalanine, Tyrosine, Valine, Argenine, Histidine, Alanine, Aspartic Acid, Glutamic Acid, Glycine, Proline, and Serine.

    I'll tell you what it is later.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    those aren't ingredients, thus it's a logical fallacy.
    Lol, that's not the point. If pronunciation is the criteria, then lots of foods would be deleted.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    the point is that the person you quoted was referring to ingredients. nothing you posted was an ingredient. thus it's a false equivalency you're trying to create between two completely different things.

    i can pronounce "apple" just fine.
  • sunnyhlw77
    sunnyhlw77 Posts: 204 Member
    Processed meals, whether they be frozen, dried, restaurant or whatever are all high in sodium They may be low in calories but are likely to be high is sodium. To give flavour to something they add sodium in a variety of ways, watch your lables. If you can, choose whole foods. I know that those meals are convenient but make your own convenience foods or find someone you know to make you convenience foods out of whole foods (ie: you buy the groceries etc.). When I was single, I used to be gone from home from 7:00 am until after 6:00 pm, not a lot of time, a couple weekends a month I would do batch cooking and freeze it in individual portions to take for lunches or to have for supper. The nice thing is that I could watch the sodium, fat and sugar content and overall it was cheaper than the convenience foods. I try to add as many whole foods to my diet, there are a few things I can't obviously but otherwise I like my veggies fresh, my meat local and not processed, etc. Hope this helps a little bit. Good luck!
  • melindasuefritz
    melindasuefritz Posts: 3,509 Member
    high in soduim
  • Angelina3894
    Angelina3894 Posts: 9 Member
    Are we supposed to tell you what you want to hear or the truth? I’m going to go with the truth:

    They may be low in calories, but chances are they are high in sodium and low in nutritional value. Not to mention they are typically FULL of preservatives and additives.

    I know we sometimes are in a hurry and need something quick and easy on hand, but try not to make this a regular go-to meal. There are tons of other quick options that are all-around better for you (and better tasting!).

    Good luck on your journey.

    ~Andrea

    Agreed. The nutritional value is non existent and the processing that goes into these types of foods wreaks havoc on the digestive system as well as other body functions. The Earth did not produce these ready made foods, man did, which is exactly why you shouldn't eat them. Fresh is always best, but these are just my opinions.
  • tennileb
    tennileb Posts: 265 Member
    If you believed they were good for you would you even be asking, so your gut seems to be telling you this is not good for you.

    Now this is just my opinion.

    Jamie oliver has great recipes, easy to follow and to play with. ready made meals are a meal time bandaid, they will feed you in the moment but in the long term are they really what will nourish your body. and they are expensive.

    learning to cook is daunting but it is an essential skill, ready made meals are not a sustainable solution, at lest they wouldn't be for me.

    pick one thing you would like to cook, replace one ready meal a week with real food. something you can freeze and heat when you are tired and need a meal. Ask a friend to show you how to make something you have had at their house .
  • CrazyTrackLady
    CrazyTrackLady Posts: 1,337 Member
    Jamie Oliver, the guy who started some TV show called "Food Revolution" and is some British chef, has a great piece of advice I've tried to follow: if you can't pronounce or do not know what the ingredient is, then you don't want it in your body.
    Pronounce this without stumbling or looking up if it's good for you or not.

    Alpha-Linolenic-Acid, Asparagine, D-Categin, Isoqurctrin, Hyperoside, Ferulic-Acid, Farnesene, Neoxathin, Phosphatidyl-Choline, Reynoutrin, Sinapic-Acid, Caffeic-Acid, Chlorogenic-Acid, P-Hydroxy-Benzoic-Acid, P-Coumaric-Acid, Avicularin, Lutein, Quercitin, Rutin, Ursolic-Acid, Protocatechuic-Acid, and Silver,Vitamin A, B1, B2, and B6, Niacin, Pantothenic acid, Folic acid, Vitamin C and Vitamin E, Calcium, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorus, Pottassium, Selenium, Sodium, and Zinc,Tryptophan, Threonine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Lycine, Methionine, Cystine, Phenylalanine, Tyrosine, Valine, Argenine, Histidine, Alanine, Aspartic Acid, Glutamic Acid, Glycine, Proline, and Serine.

    I'll tell you what it is later.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    those aren't ingredients, thus it's a logical fallacy.
    Lol, that's not the point. If pronunciation is the criteria, then lots of foods would be deleted.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    the point is that the person you quoted was referring to ingredients. nothing you posted was an ingredient. thus it's a false equivalency you're trying to create between two completely different things.

    i can pronounce "apple" just fine.

    Once I found out that duck feathers, human hair and lacquer bug secretions were the main ingredients in the cookie dough used in commercially processed ice cream, I started paying a little more attention to the ice cream I ate. Vanilla beans, sugar, and milk -- can't get any more basic than that, eh?
  • MayaSPapaya
    MayaSPapaya Posts: 735 Member
    They are low in calories, but they usually are packed with sodium and carbs, making it no so healthy. Once in a while they're fine, but not as an every day thing.
    Try getting a cooked chicken from your grocery store, and measuring out the serving size. I do that, and add a side salad or vegetable to it for a quick, easy meal.
  • auria17
    auria17 Posts: 94 Member
    Have you seen the sodium in those..
  • CrazyTrackLady
    CrazyTrackLady Posts: 1,337 Member
    If you believed they were good for you would you even be asking, so your gut seems to be telling you this is not good for you.

    Now this is just my opinion.

    Jamie oliver has great recipes, easy to follow and to play with. ready made meals are a meal time bandaid, they will feed you in the moment but in the long term are they really what will nourish your body. and they are expensive.

    learning to cook is daunting but it is an essential skill, ready made meals are not a sustainable solution, at lest they wouldn't be for me.


    pick one thing you would like to cook, replace one ready meal a week with real food. something you can freeze and heat when you are tired and need a meal. Ask a friend to show you how to make something you have had at their house .

    I actually don't follow any chef's personal recipe recommendations. I just know he was all about the science and truth behind what goes into some commercially processed foods. Once the light was shown on these foods, I decided to follow his advice about what to eat and what to avoid. I don't do it ALL the time, but 95% of the time, yeah. I'd rather eat the apple than the applesauce.
  • AllonsYtotheTardis
    AllonsYtotheTardis Posts: 16,947 Member
    The store bought frozen meals really aren't worth it.

    One alternative, that we do for hubby's work lunches frequently, is cook up a big batch of something on the weekend, portion it out into containers, and toss them all in the freezer. Home-made frozen dinners, ready to microwave at a moment's notice.

    Tastier, more filling, more nutritious, cheaper overall.
  • elyelyse
    elyelyse Posts: 1,454 Member
    I think it' easy for people to ignore the "low nutritional value" part because they just see lower calories, convenience and yes, probably weight loss too if you stay under your caloric range, so what's the harm right? Is it really that important to get all those other vitamins and minerals?

    YES!!!!

    FOR ME at least, getting the nutrition i need, not just the calories, is what keeps me on track. When I eat foods of low nutritional value, I stay hungry, I am NEVER satisfied no matter how much I eat. But if I have a meal with lots of protein and veggies and a good amount of healthy fats, I actually experience less hunger. I don't mean being satisfied after a meal, I mean the difference between feeling hungry 24/7 and having to fight the urge to eat more vs feeling good and not even thinking about being hungry until my belly rumbles and I think "hmm, maybe I should eat something soon".

    ETA: My decision to take the time (I'm worth it!!!) to prepare healthy meals is probably one of THE most important, significant factors in my weight loss so far.
  • ripemango
    ripemango Posts: 534 Member
    I highly recommend this strategy. Everyone of us is busy. Our freezer is now full of ready to go meals and snacks. It didn't happen overnight, but we'd make a big batch of beans in the crockpot and freeze most of it. Over time it has filled up. I have a few different kinds of soup, beans, greens, and fruits frozen into individual portions ready to grab. Frozen fruit is ideal for smoothies.

    A quick lunch I like is some of a rotisserie chicken with one of those servings of bean, cheese and some kind of veg (salad, greens, frozen to steamed broc, fresh carrots). The frozen beans act as an ice pack in my lunch bag for the entire meal until lunchtime too. gotta love that!

    I also feel like I enjoy my food so much more this way. None of the ready meals taste as good as our family's food. There is something to be said about looking forward to lunch vs ugggh, this is what I'm having today. In my mind, it just makes sense...the ready meals cost more and aren't as tasty....it just seems like the decision is just so obviously made for me.
    The store bought frozen meals really aren't worth it.

    One alternative, that we do for hubby's work lunches frequently, is cook up a big batch of something on the weekend, portion it out into containers, and toss them all in the freezer. Home-made frozen dinners, ready to microwave at a moment's notice.

    Tastier, more filling, more nutritious, cheaper overall.
  • Mcgrawhaha
    Mcgrawhaha Posts: 1,596 Member
    I basically live off them. I'm always so tired and rushed that they are just so quick and convienient. The only times I don;t eat them is when I go to a friends house who cooks, or I go out for dinner, or sometimes I will have an omlette or porridge.

    I eat fruit and yogurt for brekkie, granola bar for a snack, ham and egg salad for lunch and usually more fruit/cereal bar snack in the afternoon. So it;s not like i'm not getting my nutrients.

    I will make sure i'm always within my calories and try to pick the ones with less salt/sugar etc.

    Are they really as harmful for your health as everyone says??
    Lol, maybe you're tired and you rush because you're tired because you lack actual nutrition? I'll be the first to say it: Better learn how to cook especially if you intend to get married and have kids..............................or your family will be stuck eating ready made meals for life and trust when I say that "convenience" of meals is what is leading lots of people to get overweight in the first place.
    You can have it once in awhile, but go for more whole foods and better nutrient dense meals.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    or maybe she is just tired and rushed from "life"? im not tired, but im extremely rushed, and by the end of the day, IM DONE! 5 kids, 4 in competetive sports monday through saturday, 1 with a health condition, im a full time student, 2 dogs, 3 cats, house to care for, husband to whine at me... im lucky if i get to brush my hair, so it comes down to doing whats quickest for me. day off to prepare meals? i dont have a day off right now, im going full speed 7 days a week, and if i did have a day off, it wouldnt be cooking! i dont watch my sodium, i have no reason to at this point. i stay right around 2500 each day, i stay full, and im not 250 pounds like i was in september... some people just need to do whats easiest and quickest to fit their lifestyle!
    Doesn't sound like she's a mother of 4 and catering to them.
    Not going to debate with you on it, but it sounds like you're doing all the work. No spouse help?

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    well, mother of 5, not 4... and no, i dont have help from my husband, not by his own choice however. he works full time and is also a full time student, so i take full care of the kids, the house, the animals, along with my own schooling, managing the kids sports, and all of my sons cardiology appointments. the point of my post, was simply that maybe her life is just super hectic, and premade meals are helping her be successful. maybe she truely just does not have the time to cook, i know i dont.

    example, today... breakfast, lunch, dinner, 2 snacks, a dessert, and a protein shake... lunch and dinner are both premade diet meals, both have fresh veggies added in, and my sodium for the day is 2042mg, my protien is 84g, and on my iron, calcium, viatamin a and c, all are atleast 100% and over. you know what, ill take it... its better than what i was doing before, which was fast food daily, more than likely eating well over 4000 cals a day...
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,992 Member
    Wow, such a strong assumption that I'm an illiterate fool. I KNOW what those are, and I CAN pronounce them. And, as has been already mentioned, they aren't ingredients so your point is moot.

    I do hope you don't eat chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream. Because, you might want to look up THOSE ingredients.
    If you can pronounce those, then it's probable you can pronounce ingredients in processed foods then? And by your analogy, you should be able to consume them too. Just sayin'.

    And yes I do eat chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream. Not daily, but on occasion. Sorry to disappoint.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • sk_pirate
    sk_pirate Posts: 282 Member
    I think I only eat the frozen to microwave "meals" twice or 3x a month, we keep them in the freezer for our extremely lazy days or on days I sleep in and forget to make lunch for work. We make a point to eat all the fresh stuff first though. They're good in moderation just like everything else. Just don't be surprised to balloon up from water retention.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,992 Member
    Jamie Oliver, the guy who started some TV show called "Food Revolution" and is some British chef, has a great piece of advice I've tried to follow: if you can't pronounce or do not know what the ingredient is, then you don't want it in your body.
    Pronounce this without stumbling or looking up if it's good for you or not.

    Alpha-Linolenic-Acid, Asparagine, D-Categin, Isoqurctrin, Hyperoside, Ferulic-Acid, Farnesene, Neoxathin, Phosphatidyl-Choline, Reynoutrin, Sinapic-Acid, Caffeic-Acid, Chlorogenic-Acid, P-Hydroxy-Benzoic-Acid, P-Coumaric-Acid, Avicularin, Lutein, Quercitin, Rutin, Ursolic-Acid, Protocatechuic-Acid, and Silver,Vitamin A, B1, B2, and B6, Niacin, Pantothenic acid, Folic acid, Vitamin C and Vitamin E, Calcium, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorus, Pottassium, Selenium, Sodium, and Zinc,Tryptophan, Threonine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Lycine, Methionine, Cystine, Phenylalanine, Tyrosine, Valine, Argenine, Histidine, Alanine, Aspartic Acid, Glutamic Acid, Glycine, Proline, and Serine.

    I'll tell you what it is later.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    those aren't ingredients, thus it's a logical fallacy.
    Lol, that's not the point. If pronunciation is the criteria, then lots of foods would be deleted.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    the point is that the person you quoted was referring to ingredients. nothing you posted was an ingredient. thus it's a false equivalency you're trying to create between two completely different things.

    i can pronounce "apple" just fine.
    Again if "pronunciation" is criteria. Go back a read where I stated "pronounce".

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
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  • missADS1981
    missADS1981 Posts: 364 Member
    anything prepackaged is usually loaded with sodium.

    sodium = water retention

    water retention = bloated

    best thing i ever did was buy more fresh foods and stop buying things that come in a can or a box.
  • sharleengc
    sharleengc Posts: 792 Member
    I often use them for my lunches.

    I prefer to make lunch myself but I live so far from a grocery store that fresh items to bad before I can eat it all because I only go once a week or sometimes every other week.

    I watch sodium intake and there are a few companies/meals that I stick to because I know they work. I don't use them for breakfast or dinner though
  • joleenl
    joleenl Posts: 739 Member
    I highly recommend this strategy. Everyone of us is busy. Our freezer is now full of ready to go meals and snacks. It didn't happen overnight, but we'd make a big batch of beans in the crockpot and freeze most of it. Over time it has filled up. I have a few different kinds of soup, beans, greens, and fruits frozen into individual portions ready to grab. Frozen fruit is ideal for smoothies.

    A quick lunch I like is some of a rotisserie chicken with one of those servings of bean, cheese and some kind of veg (salad, greens, frozen to steamed broc, fresh carrots). The frozen beans act as an ice pack in my lunch bag for the entire meal until lunchtime too. gotta love that!

    I also feel like I enjoy my food so much more this way. None of the ready meals taste as good as our family's food. There is something to be said about looking forward to lunch vs ugggh, this is what I'm having today. In my mind, it just makes sense...the ready meals cost more and aren't as tasty....it just seems like the decision is just so obviously made for me.
    The store bought frozen meals really aren't worth it.

    One alternative, that we do for hubby's work lunches frequently, is cook up a big batch of something on the weekend, portion it out into containers, and toss them all in the freezer. Home-made frozen dinners, ready to microwave at a moment's notice.

    Tastier, more filling, more nutritious, cheaper overall.

    ^^ this is great advice!
  • CoachReddy
    CoachReddy Posts: 3,949 Member
    Jamie Oliver, the guy who started some TV show called "Food Revolution" and is some British chef, has a great piece of advice I've tried to follow: if you can't pronounce or do not know what the ingredient is, then you don't want it in your body.
    Pronounce this without stumbling or looking up if it's good for you or not.

    Alpha-Linolenic-Acid, Asparagine, D-Categin, Isoqurctrin, Hyperoside, Ferulic-Acid, Farnesene, Neoxathin, Phosphatidyl-Choline, Reynoutrin, Sinapic-Acid, Caffeic-Acid, Chlorogenic-Acid, P-Hydroxy-Benzoic-Acid, P-Coumaric-Acid, Avicularin, Lutein, Quercitin, Rutin, Ursolic-Acid, Protocatechuic-Acid, and Silver,Vitamin A, B1, B2, and B6, Niacin, Pantothenic acid, Folic acid, Vitamin C and Vitamin E, Calcium, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorus, Pottassium, Selenium, Sodium, and Zinc,Tryptophan, Threonine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Lycine, Methionine, Cystine, Phenylalanine, Tyrosine, Valine, Argenine, Histidine, Alanine, Aspartic Acid, Glutamic Acid, Glycine, Proline, and Serine.

    I'll tell you what it is later.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
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    those aren't ingredients, thus it's a logical fallacy.
    Lol, that's not the point. If pronunciation is the criteria, then lots of foods would be deleted.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    the point is that the person you quoted was referring to ingredients. nothing you posted was an ingredient. thus it's a false equivalency you're trying to create between two completely different things.

    i can pronounce "apple" just fine.
    Again if "pronunciation" is criteria. Go back a read where I stated "pronounce".

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    so what is the practical implication of your point?
  • JenSD6
    JenSD6 Posts: 454 Member
    I used to eat frozen meals quite often, and this is my experience:

    - They're costly compared to batch cooking leftovers
    - They have no stick to the ribs'ness and I'm usually ravenously gnawing on the corner of my desk an hour later
    - Didn't teach me anything about cooking good meals for myself

    I can get a big pot of homemade soup on the go after work in less than 10 minutes of prep time, and it's hot and cooked by the time hubby is home and wanting to eat. And we'll have leftovers for the next day's lunch.
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    Once I found out that duck feathers, human hair and lacquer bug secretions were the main ingredients in the cookie dough used in commercially processed ice cream, I started paying a little more attention to the ice cream I ate. Vanilla beans, sugar, and milk -- can't get any more basic than that, eh?

    In...

    ...to learn more about this cookie dough comprised mostly of duck feathers, human hair, and lacquer bug secretions.


    Oh, and I too am able to pronounce seemingly complicated words. I don't think that's a valid basis on which I should rely to eat them though. Perhaps we should consider a different criteria.