to ask if it is unhealthy to not have at least one hot meal every day?

[Unacceptable]

What are the physical and nutritional benefits of meals being hot/warm ones aside from during the winter months?

With the current discussions regarding poverty today I've noticed a lot of emphasis on hot meals. I completely understand that there are worries about children's wellbeing and it is way more complex than whether or not food is served hot or not, but the focus on the temperature rather than the content of meals has made me wonder.

I don't think it makes any difference at all. Hot meals I suppose are more likely to provide protein, but that can be provided from other sources.

Hot meals keep you warm too. That's about it I would think. For lots of food some of the "goodness" is actually destroyed by cooking.

I would have thought it was healthier to have raw meals rather than cooked. As when you boil veg, you lose some of the nutrients in the water.

I love hot food though so I couldn't do it.

It's just a measure - it would appear we are socially conditioned to have at least one hot meal every day. The temperature is of no nutritional value whatsoever (in fact boiling the f* out of vegetables is less health than cold raw ones!).

It also excludes school meals, so it would appear even in the heights of summer dcs are expected to have a hot meal when they come home from school even if they have had one at school for lunch!

Of course it doesnt make a difference what temperature food is served. Daily nutrition macros are what they are - protein (essential), carbs (not so much), good fats (essential).

I can't stand cold food, would rather go hungry.

Don't know if it's better for you though.

I think when people talk about 'hot meals' they usually just mean a proper balanced, nutritious meal rather than sandwiches or snacky things. The actual temperature doesn't have anything to do with it, except that people (particularly children) are more likely to eat vegetables and more varied sources of nutrients as part of a cooked/hot meal.

I read it as being instead of just a light meal/snack. Whilst in summer we may not have a hot meal everyday, I wouldn't like to not be able to afford one.

'Hot' meal is just a way of saying 'substantial', I would think, as cold food is more likely to be sandwiches etc. 'Hot meal' also depends upon you having the means to a) prepare and b) keep hot your meal - so money for the meter/oven/implements, and time and space to prepare it.

Spiritually it's always a little grim to eat cold stuff on a cold day though, isn't it? But I suspect saying somebody doesn't get a hot meal every day is shorthand for various kinds of poverty - quite an effective symbol, really.

I think hot is used as a synonym for a proper meal rather than actually referring to the temperature. It does take into account whether a family has the means to make a hot meal if they wanted to, as well as what the meal consists of.

I think "hot meal" is used instead of a "proper meal" but in my opinion it is misleading as a large bowl of plain boiled pasta is hot, or a tin of value soup is hot, but I wouldn't count either as being particulary nutritious. YANBU to think they should say what they mean.

I know that they advise OAPs to have a hot meal daily in the winter...it does help keep you warm but if you're not vulnerable and are getting all the food groups then it's probably not so important.

My mum always insisted a "proper" meal had to be hot and I've just been told she was mad on another thread

I know it makes no sense, nutritionally what's the difference between a cheese salad sandwich and pasta with cheese sauce and salad, but I always feel better cared for (even by myself) if I've had something hot. e.g soup is much more comforting than a sandwich.

I also know that's it's much easier to get "proper" food into my DC if I've cooked a meal than if it's cold. e.g a cooked meal with veg will be eaten, as will a sandwich, but the offer of fruit to go with it will be declined unless really hungry.

If you had ever lived in damp unheated accommodation and been too poor to take the bus on a rainy day, you would realise that hot food is about more than the actual nutrition. Today, in my centrally heated, double-glazed and insulated house, I am quite happy to live on salads for a few days now and then. In the days when I was working out of doors doing heavy labour in the rain and returning to a freezing house with mould creeping up the walls, I needed something to make me feel warmer. Also, plenty of cheap nutritious food needs to be cooked, so you need cooking facilities if you can't afford take-aways.

I think it's based on a, fairly old fashioned, assumption that the hot meal is the main meal of the day.

So the one that is nutritionally complete and balanced as opposed to a light lunch or snack that might be cold.

I don't think it matters, especially in the warmer weather. I often just have small snack-like meals especially on weekdays when I'm too lazy or busy to cook or heat anything, and it suits me fine.

Though tbh if I had a child I would probably feel I should be making them a 'proper' i.e. hot cooked meal every day. Not sure if that's rational though.

I agree with exexpat

I don't think it's the temperature they mean...but more the variety.

If someone told me they only ate cold meals I'd assume they lived on sandwiches, cereals and salads.

Is protein only able to be eaten cooked? I mean, you can't have uncooked meat, egg, fish or lentils.

Hot food warms me up and digests better.

In the summer we don't always have a hot meal but we do in the winter.

Living in a hot country our summer meals are generally salads, quiches and other things that are eaten cold. I consider my family to be fed properly! In the winter I cook hot dishes like stews and pies. I think it does come from the notion that a meal isn't "proper" unless it's a hot dinner.

Cold food isn't necessarily uncooked though, you can eat meat, eggs etc cold.

Cooked relates to how the ingredients are prepared e.g you would not eat pork or chicken, raw, fish (sushi) excepted.