Meat and Two Veg?

[theclassroom]

Completely random thing to post I know, so I hope it’s in the right place. Who, in 2025, still eats ‘meat and two veg’? It’s something I haven’t heard of in a very long time and when I did hear it growing up it was always from elderly people (or a joke about men’s private parts…)

I know it was a traditional way to eat in the past but I can’t imagine ever choosing to making it. I don’t love traditionally British food of any kind, besides fish and chips and maybe mashed potatoes, so I’m probably not the target audience but I’m hearing it around again.

I don’t like a Sunday roast either but it seems much better than a dinner of meat and two veg. I don’t know, the name and the food itself depresses me. 😩

So if you still eat it, what makes you choose it over the many cuisines and dishes available I guess?

Depends what you consider ‘meat and two veg’ to mean.

I grew up in the 90’s on quite a lot of mince in gravy, boiled potatoes, carrots and peas type meat and two,

I find it very comforting - but don’t eat a lot of it now. However - what has rubbed off is I do basically add two vegetables to every meal. And if in doubt - it’s definitely peas!

It's actually very healthy. Lean grilled meat, small portion of potatoes and green veg. Simple wholesome food.
Much better than ultra processed supermarket ready meal crap.

Yes. Meat and 2 veg is traditionally a piece of meat (pork chop, slice of beef etc) a veg such as peas or carrots and a potato dish (mash, roast etc).

I made pork chops in cider with a mustard mash and green beans yesterday, it was delicious.

I do. My mother does, my brothers, I would say (from what I know of how they eat) a good few of my friends do.
Tonight I've got cod in cheese sauce, baked potato, peas and carrots.
I eat it because A) I like it and B) it's cheap.

I think that the way people used to eat, is a lot better than how a lot of people eat, now, in this Country, imo. I read a post the other day, on a thread, wanting ideas for cheap meals. One poster derided offal, calling it disgusting. Meh, I would rather eat offal, than Domino's pizza myself, tbh. I like to eat a lot of stews, and roasts when the Autumn, winter season hits, along with a veg, or two😄.

Beef, pork, chicken, lamb, fish

• potatoes
• broccoli/green beans/peas/cabbage slaw/carrots/roast root veg/beetroot
• Some kind of meat juice gravy, sauce, butter, etc.

I think as long as you know how to cook each part well in different ways it's a variable, easy and tasty way to cook. It's quite common in eastern Europe, probably elsewhere too.

But yes undercooked potatoes, boiled-to-death veg, unseasoned meat and granule gravy are all extremely unappealing which is why I assume it gets a bad rap.

Exactly.

We have pasta/rice based dishes maybe 3 nights out of 7 but 3 other nights it’s nearly always some kind of meat (chicken/fish/steak/sausage) with 2/3 kinds of vegetables on the side.

At least once a week we have a full “roast dinner” (usually gammon in the slow cooker rather than a traditional roast) with potatoes, other veg and all the accompaniments.

We call it a 'Mum Dinner'. Mid 60s and referring to the generation before us.
We inadvertently end up with one in front of us occasionally 😊

We do a roast on occassion, DD doesn't like lamb and is not keen on pork. I hate beef and DH is not keen on chicken, so we need to wait until we all agree to compromise as I am not doing two meats for 3 people.

Today is meat and two veg day - chicken thighs, roasted potatoes, roasted carrots and roasted beetroot.

I would say it's on every week to every second week.

Yes, I love risotto, lasagne, pasta dishes etc but they tend to contain a lot more carb/meat and a lot less veg than the “piece of meat with actual large multiple portion size of vegetables” type meals. We mix it up for that reason - it’s the easiest way of eating loads of vegetables. Of course things like stir fry have lots of vegetables too (and often I’ll do stir fry garlic green beans etc as the “veg” side) but I think it’s easy to kid myself that sticking some peas in the risotto and having a bit of salad on the side is equivalent to loads of carrots, broccoli, squash, green beans etc.

I’m learning that I’m the strange one here but I never buy anything unless I know what recipe it’s going into. I don’t really ever eat meat as a main dish with vegetables on the side, only meat or a meat alternative and vegetables in something.

I don’t eat chicken dinners really, or many of the other dishes on here that consist of meat and vegetables separately- like chops, chicken wrapped in bacon, sausages and mash or plain fish.

We eat a lot of different foods, sushi is a favourite, ramen, curries and stews, hummus and flatbread, couscous, tapas, burritos or tacos etc but they’re all sort of combined (?) in a way.

You know that Mediterranean diet they bang on about all the time? Much of it is based on a fish or meat with two veg or a salad.

I love eating like that. Steak and salad is my favourite. I am not a fan of rice or potatoes so often eat a fish or meat with two veg. I also don't really like "sloppy" foods like casserole or curry.

I’m not insulting the food, it’s just not to my taste and I’m curious what others think. I like a salad but it has to be reallly finely chopped and seasoned, with some kind of dressing. Not as a side dish.

Again I like fish in things but not just a piece of fish with side dishes.

I didn’t for a long time as I was vegan so unless you’re eating fake meat a lot, it’s not possible. I don’t think there’s an inherent difference in healthiness or amount of veg in ‘meat and two veg’ vs more mixed together type meals - I eat so much veg when I have pasta, risotto, curry, stir fry, chilli etc and I’ve seen how small some portions of veg some people add to the side of their meat. It’s just personal preference. But now I eat fish again and I do love just grilled/fried fish fillet with some steamed potatoes and veg on the side. So easy and healthy.

I didn’t eat that much meat and two veg as a kid either really… but I did love lamb chops!

I’d say we have something like that at least once or twice a week. It’s an easy way to cater to different food preferences.

For example, I have one dc who eats any sort of protein and vegetables and another who loves potatoes. So we often have pork chops, roast potatoes and kale or salmon, rice and broccoli.

Tonight we’re having maple syrup and mustard chicken thighs, mash and roasted veg. So one will load up on chicken and veg and one will mostly eat a plate of mash. Dh and I eat everything.

Other nights we have more one pot sort of meals, like white bean chilli with tortillas or fish chowder with baguette (for example, this week), but they aren’t as flexible.

There is the argument that good food - tasty veg and quality meat - shouldn’t need dressing up

Again I like fish in things but not just a piece of fish with side dishes

But then you are not appreciating the essence of the fish. There is nothing nicer than a lightly grilled or baked piece of fish, lightly seasoned, oil and lemon, fresh from the sea. It shouldn't be disguised in something else. What a waste.

OP. You are missing out!

I like it! And I know lots of people who do. Not much beats a good roast with veg, mash and pigs and blankets. But mainly in a Sunday. Don’t eat it through the week. Then I’m more likely to have pasta, pizza, rice dishes etc…

Well yeah, like salmon, salad and potatoes, or steak, chips and peas, chicken, broccoli and potatoes? Seems pretty normal to me. I guess you wouldn't really call it that.

I think it is an old fashioned way of describing a nutritionally balanced meal. Before people knew about macros etc.

We cook a variety of things from Italian, North African, Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese etc. If we have meat such as pork or lamb chops, chicken breast/crumbed chicken, steak etc, I tend to cook far more than just 2 vegetables to go with it.

I guess/assume the 2 veg in the past was mainly due to rations or what could be grow in someone's garden?

Ham chips and peas

Boiled ham boiled potatos and peas oooo and parsley sauce

Steak jacket and corn on the cob

Lots and lots of options

I eat anything from traditional hearty British food to curry, pasta, tacos whatever.
My favourite meal is a roast dinner. In all those meals like curry I feel there is never quite enough veg for my liking.
meat and two veg used to mean meat, potatoes and a vegetable but I seldom have only two veg.
Last night I cooked some fish and made a lemon sauce with dauphinoise potatoes, green beans and cauliflower. Tonight it's slow cooked brisket with jacket potatoes and whatever veg I can find.

I never buy anything unless I know what recipe it’s going into.
I never do this. I have a fridge, freezer and pantry full of food and decide what to do on the day. Also I seldom follow recipes. Perhaps you are new to cooking?

Because it's a fast healthy simple supper after working all day - pan fried pork steak served with new potatoes, brocolli/peas/sweetcorn/leeks etc and some apple sauce

Or pan fried chicken breast with tomatoes, coconut, chillies and new potatoes.

15 mins start to finish. Each provides three or four of my 30 different veg a week. Requires one frying pan and one saucepan/steamer.

😊

My favourite fish is smoked salmon or a spicy tuna! What types of fish do you recommend to be best on its own?

Funny enough I discussed this with my husband last night. I think it was from the war time rationing that meat and 2 veg came about. I can't say I hear the term used much these days but I do like it.
Its also slang for willy and balls 🤣