To eat ready meals each night?

[Buckinbronco]

DH has taken over food shopping as I'm too busy. We have 2 DCs who eat at nursery and we get home at gone 7.30. DH answer is to buy 5 scratch meals a week. They taste ok and take 5 mins to Bung in a pan and hardly any washing up.
Their nutritional content looks fine- low fat sugar and salt. They're normal meals like curry and pad Thai.

I am probably over thinking this but I am Just not sure about eating packaged food every week night night.
But, I have a tendency to take the hard way out of everything and worry and this is easy. Peasy. And I can't find anything wrong with the food...aibu?

It's these: m.tesco.com/h5/groceries/r/www.tesco.com/groceries/product/details/?id=286931301

[PurpleDaisies]

They aren't coming up for me on that link.

I wouldn't want to eat pre made meals every night (there is a place for them, just not on a daily basis). Why don't you look for easy meals you can make in bulk using fresh ingredients and freeze them? The food topic on here is really good.

[Buckinbronco]

mealsfromscratch.co.uk/menu/

They're not microwave meals, someone (a machine) just chops up and measures out all the ingredients and puts them in q plastic box then you tip them into a frying pan

[greatscott81]

Pre-packaged food tends to be much higher in salt and sugar than anything you could prepare from scratch. It will also prove to be more expensive, less filling and far less nutritious. Could you cook a big batch of bolognese, casseroles, soup etc to split during the week? Alternatively, since the weather is so lovely you could be having lovely pre-poached fish or chicken salads and all you'd have to do is boil some new potatoes (which really wouldn't take very long). I know I'd feel quite sluggish and unhealthy if I lived off ready meals/packaged food for too long. Could you not shop online and do it together?

[Buckinbronco]

Bulk cooking has never really worked for me and I don't want to do it on the weekends. Assume DH doesn't want to either since he's scratch meal man

[SaucyJack]

I find ready meals fine as a snack or a starter.

After a couple of days I'd be wondering where my real dinner was tho.

[Buckinbronco]

^^ those ones are not higher in salt and sugar in fact they're lower in the recipes I've quickly googled. That's probably because the portions aren't that big though

[Buckinbronco]

They are pricey but he reckons £30 for 2 adults to have dinner 5 days a week is fine.

[Summerdays11]

We just buy a joint of meat and shove In slow cooker - - Frozens peas take 2 min - that's what we do

[Summerdays11]

But if you like the take a always go with it

[Buckinbronco]

Yes to where my real dinner is. I think that's my thing. But do I want to fanny around cooking or get beautiful sleep faster? Hmmmm

[Buckinbronco]

Slow cooker doesn't work for me either it always tastes crap

[greatscott81]

Low fat tends to mean a higher sugar content but I couldn't see the link so can't be specific to the products you're eating. If it works for you and you're happy with the nutritional content then what's the problem? We all have to do things to make life easier sometimes!

[ALemonyPea]

They look fine, fresh meat, veg and whatever else. If it's quick and convenient, then why not?

[Xmasbaby11]

I've never heard of a scratch meal. Or sounds fine! Dc are 2 and 4 and in nursery. Evening meals are a nightmare - anything to make them easier!

[Buckinbronco]

Salads and fish is nice. I am constantly throwing away liquified salad leaves though but maybe time for a new start
I don't want to online shop with him, he's supposed to be doing it so I don't have to (one less thing )

[Buckinbronco]

Woop. Maybe I just need some encouragement to let go of my pre conceptions.

[StealthPolarBear]

So fresh ingredients, ready prepared? It's fine and I don't see why it wouldn't be.

[SaveSomeSpendSome]

I eat loads of m&s meals.

I dont feel malnourished!

[Crispbutty]

they are not really ready meals as such, just prepared ready to cook, but there isnt much variety on that site.. I would be bored with that in a week

[ExitPursuedByBear]

I'd rather eat beans on toast or scrambled eggs. Or an omelette.

[arethereanyleftatall]

I think 'ready meals' have moved on in the past few meals.

It isn't tasteless, 99p per meal, high salt/fat/rubbish stuff any more.

I think these scratch meals are fine, can't see your link, but I know what you mean. I use the 'cook' range. Straight freezer to microwave, really nice pad thai's etc. And, according to the listed ingredients, they use exactly the same ingredients as you would at home.

[arethereanyleftatall]

Past few years I meant.

[foursillybeans]

Can you make your own ready meals at the weekend and batch freeze? Currys, bolognese, pasta sauces, marinaded meat for stir frys, shepards pies ready to go in the oven. It's not as time consuming as you would think. I don't mean send all weekend cooking. Just a hour or two but cook a big batch of maybe tomato and herb sauce then freeze in two person bags or plastic tubs volia dinner for one night for the next 6 weeks. Gradually half your weekly meals will be covered at least.

[Buckinbronco]

I'd prob rather have eggs but DH wouldn't. Fair point about the choice, there is enough for a different one every week but maybe after a bit... I'll just go along with it and see how it goes and eat loads of fruit for lunch