Is it still good home cooked food if you use a jar?

[Hsundbfhdi]

We've had a pretty rubbish day here, I'm heavily pregnant and feeling rough and my husband is working crazy hours. Our childcare fell through so we've been trying to juggle a toddler too.

It's time to get dinner ready and I've popped open a jar of honey and mustard chicken tonight. Poured it over some chicken thighs. Will make pasta and peas to go with it.

Curious to know where people stand on how unhealthy it is to use jars? I've never really cared before, but now we've got a little one, I'm more conscious of the food I'm making. Growing up, my mum would use jars quite regularly e.g dolmio, curry, chicken tonight etc she'd also make amazing Mediterranean food from scratch too. It was a real mix.

Anyway, would you still consider this a healthy, home cooked meal? Do you think it's still better than a takeaway (I do)? I've started trying to make my own sauces when I've got time, but my husband and I both work full time, long hours, and trying to get something together after work and before baby bedtime is a real mission! So I'm still partial to a jar here and there.

Just curious for thoughts.

You've warmed the heart of a very tired and frazzled pregnant woman - thank you. It ended up being rather delicious, I must say. Even if it is poison from the 80s! 🤭

Ooooof 😂 agreeable nod

This makes me so sad and is why I’m vegan. You’re right - They have such shit lives that death is a release.

but that’s another debate.

I also think let's be a bit realistic here. Mumsnet doesn't reflect the general population here. If it did, these sauces wouldn't be on the shelves because the vast majority wouldn't buy them. But they are in rl, because millions of people do buy them.

bloody love this 😂😂😂

No it's not home cooked but it's fine

Exactly the same here!

We used to use pasta sauce jars a lot more until I realised making them myself doesn't take that much longer and tastes better as well. Never really used chicken sauce type jars though.

All these people that are scoffing at use of an oxo cube or similar- are you really making homemade stock regularly? If so please give tips!

@Hsundbfhdi Awww! Hugs! Put your feet up and no batch cooking!! 💐

Using a jar with fresh chicken and veg is superior to using a ready meal (even a posh one).

When you have time you or your OH could make some sauce and freeze it for future use. The preservatives / additives and - often - salt in jar sauces are the 'unhealthy' part.

I sometimes use tinned tomatoes (check the labels for no. and type of ingredients and salt content) then add sautéed onion or other veg. and herbs rather than using a jar of tomato sauce. Obviously it would be even healthier to make my own sauce entirely from scratch with fresh tomatoes but I choose not to spend my time doing that often.

TLDR: jars are fine, OP.

My mum used to use jars like that all the time. I never do, mostly as I find they taste very sweet now and are all a bit gloopy in texture. But pregnant with young dc and working, go for the jar! There's chicken, pasta,do plenty of veg, fine. You can't be perfect all the time, sometimes you just need filling food. Dds had chicken nuggets, rice, corm on the cob and cucumber today. Took me barely any time and covered all nutrional bases!

It’s made at home so it’s home made
its cooked at home so it’s home cooked

It’s not a healthy home cooked mea, no, but it’s better than a takeaway. I don’t use jars often but think they are fine once in a while if you particularly need a quick meal.

I'm really surprised at how many posters think there is literally nothing wrong with using processed sauces etc. I thought you'd have to have been living under a rock to have missed the growing evidence of just how catastrophic UPF and Big Food is to our health.

That is NOT the same thing as cultishly avoiding any trace of it. We cook mainly from scratch, but avoiding UPF completely, especially with children, feels like an impossible goal. But taking a pragmatic view on it and doing your best to limit processed food is different than sticking your fingers in your ears and ridiculing people with tropes about grinding your home-grown wheat.

I don't know why you'd need a jar sauce for chicken thighs with pasta and peas?I'd just toss the chicken with oil and herbs and put some grated parmesan on the pasta, a few squeezes of lemon. I'm not 100% against jar stuff, - e.g. I'll buy pesto or sundried tomatoes - but I do read the ingredients and don't buy if there is weird stuff.

It's not really cooked from scratch but it's fine.

We don't eat a lot of jars but we do have other processed food. I use lots of things like stick cubes, tinned tomatoes, coconut milk etc to make sauces and I also make white/cheese sauce for dishes. I think if you're used to homemade, a lot of jars aren't very nice taste wise either. I find them expensive too - but then I spend money on treats like nice bread, real butter, the kids' favourite fruit and veg- quality basics.

This week it's spaghetti bolognese (made from scratch)
Thai green curry (paste + coconut milk)
Shepherd's pie (made from scratch)
Chicken and chorizo ragu with couscous
All served with veg/salad

But 1-2 nights a week we have something more processed. It's just exhausting otherwise - I do all the cooking and work full time. I'm a good cook but I get sick of it. We don't buy ready meals but probably eat out / have takeaway once a month.

@pastaandpesto is your pasta homemade from absolute scratch? Tell us how! we’re all keen to listen :)

Exactly this.

On the basis of the ingredients, it's UPF so I personally wouldn't consider it home-cooked.
This doesn't mean I'm calling it poison / preaching / a raging hypocrite for buying dried pasta (ingredients: flour + water, exactly what I'd use making it at home....) or other weird defensive shit that's been asserted.
No judgement on anyone who chooses to use jars because of ease or just because they want to.

I made a whole roast chicken yesterday with various herbs, spices and olive oil. Was delicious, but didn't fancy the same again. Wanted something a bit different tonight, but didn't have the time or energy levels to match the craving!

@HungryLittleCrocodile i make everything on your list except the gravy (I use Bisto) - I make my own stuffing, yorkshire puds, pasta sauce, shepherds and cottage pies. I also make my own pizza dough and lasagne with home-made bolognaise and béchamel (I have a thermomix). I use pasta from a packet, and I buy bread (but that’s because I try to eat less carbs and if it was home-made I’d scoff it). I also make home-made fish cakes, crepes and beaded chicken. I make home-made quiche but I do buy the pastry. I make most stuff myself as I genuinely think it’s tastes better and don’t like the taste of shop bought stuff - it has an odd taste to it.

I work full time in a demanding role, albeit from home (which I appreciate makes a big difference).

No OP that’s not home-made. It’s all UPF. And no different to a ready meal.

Yes, I make pesto from scratch. I know that makes me sound like a wanker but so be it.

Dried pasta isn't UPF.

I would give yourself a break. It’s ok to use a jar sometimes. It’s all about balance

Your mockery is exactly what she’s talking about. It’s ideological.

you know it’s not about avoiding processed foods (eg pasta) - it’s about acknowledging the evidence that ultra processed foods do serious damage.

and even then, @pastaandpesto acknowledges that it’s not possible to avoid UPF altogether.

It’s absolutely fine. Don’t beat yourself up about things like this - you’ve worked all day, you’ve cooked something, you’re fed, it is fine.

I wouldn’t say it is a home cooked meal though, as to me that’s making something from scratch.

But what you’re making really is ok, and thinking it might not be is the start of the road to feeling that you’re not doing well enough. And you’re doing great.

I used to make pasta from scratch when I was a SAHM, and will do it over the summer with the kids. But it IS a faff having to dry it, and you need the space. So ship bought is fine.

BUT, shop bought pasta with a jar of sauce is literally the same as a ready meal or take-away and just can’t be said to be home-Made. In fact, I’d go as far to say the take-away has less UPF