As our lives get busier, the internet gets fancier and food becomes more readily available, you can get just about anything delivered to your door with the click of a button. But are your “healthy” meals doing more harm than good? Let’s dive into the pros and cons.
Ready-Made Meals
Fresh or Frozen, ready-made meals are meals that have been pre-cooked and sealed for our convenience. The keyword is convenience.
Ready-made meals are great for anyone with a busy schedule. For people, whose goals are to eat relatively healthy (when compared to fast food), following a bulking diet or trying to gain weight, don’t like cooking, or have limited cooking space such as student living, travelling, etc.
As new companies emerge consumers are getting a wider variety of meal options, and the quality of the meals is increasing. Ready-made meals are a great alternative to fast food.
Frozen, bulk prepared meals generally contain lots of preservatives and added sugar to increase the taste and shelf life. When buying frozen meals be on the lookout for meals that are higher in carbohydrates such as pasta or rice, and lower in vegetables and protein, aiming to find meals with an even balance of each.
Fresh ready-made meals are a great go-to option, they generally have more vegetables and protein, than their frozen counterparts and are higher in quality.
We recommend:
Meal Kits
Meal kits and grocery delivery has become increasingly popular. Allowing consumers to chose full meals and recipes, then have the ingredients delivered to your door. Giving clients the ability to learn, cook, and prepare meals without going to the grocery store.
When starting a new nutrition plan, these recipes are adjustable to suit, however, the modifications will come down to you. You can find and build meals that are delicious and healthy. Most recipes come with pre-packed sauce or seasoning that contain sugar. When you are choosing recipes be sure to look at the ingredients list in advance and make your own seasoning.
Understanding your own goals will help determine which meals to chose from. Websites such as Hello Fresh & Marlee Spoon have lots of recipes and great ideas for you to get inspiration from to create your own meals if the subscription service is out of budget.
Our Tips
- Always read the food/ingredients labels. Look for added sugar, thickeners, preservatives, and numbers. If you can’t pronounce it, don’t eat it.
- Chose meals and recipes with a balance of Protein, Carbohydrates & Vegetables.
- Consult with your coach if you aren’t sure which meals to choose from.
If you would like a more specific strategy tailored to your nutritional needs, contact us by booking your FREE nutrition help call below and speak with one of our coaches.