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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How big are ready meal portions these days?!

125 replies

IntoValhalla · 21/05/2019 19:39

So firstly, I’m being lazy and having a ready meal lasagne because today has been a mad rush and I simply can’t be arsed to cook.
Anyone else really surprised at just how massive the portions are in supermarket ready meals?! I’ve got a lasagne for one and it’s huge Confused
I know it’s not a healthy option by any means - pretty much everything was red on the little “traffic light system” nutritional info label, but I’m surprised that at this size it’s labelled “serves one” Blush and I’m someone with a...let’s say “healthy” appetite!

OP posts:
Original poster
IntoValhalla · 21/05/2019 20:13

I’ve had one of the little baby cans (150ml) of full sugar coke with it which contains 16g of sugar in that little tiny can Shock
Jesus I need to start checking food labels more often!
To be fair to myself, DH will be back at the end of the week, so I’ll be back to cooking healthy, family dinners most nights a week anyway - but two toddlers, a shitty nights sleep and pregnancy meaning no wine for me have meant that a ping dinner was the most amount of effort I was willing to put in tonight

OP posts:
BarnabasTheMaineCoon · 21/05/2019 20:13

Newsflash: you're not compelled to eat the entire thing in one sitting.

Passthecherrycoke · 21/05/2019 20:13

I think 654 calories is fine for lunch or supper, with the other meal smaller because you won’t be as hungry.

Original poster
IntoValhalla · 21/05/2019 20:15

Barnabus definitely not eating it all! I’ve eaten just over half of it and I am defeated. It’s really tasty, so it would be pretty easy to be a pig and just eat it for the sake of it, but then I’ll no doubt end up with the pregnancy delight that is heartburn. And I cannot be doing with that if I can avoid it!

OP posts:
Bugsymalonemumof2 · 21/05/2019 20:15

I 9 times out of 10 will have two ready meals if I'm relying on it as a main meal

bobstersmum · 21/05/2019 20:16

Nah I'd want chips or salad with that!
My mum is like this she'll say oooh that's far too much for me, then eat it anyway.

SongforSal · 21/05/2019 20:16

Am I the only one that would whack a side salad and some garlic bread to that?...Or maybe chips and peas? Yum.

Aprillygirl · 21/05/2019 20:17

I'd need chips with that Blush

Dungeondragon15 · 21/05/2019 20:17

I have never thought that the portions are large. If anything they are quite small as that means they can keep the costs down and make more profit. 645 calories is not much for the main evening meal! I would probably eat about 700 or 800.

Original poster
IntoValhalla · 21/05/2019 20:17

Mixed bag of responses which I wasn’t expecting!

OP posts:
SpecterLitt · 21/05/2019 20:17

Most are small portions, but you can bulk up your meal with some garlic bread and a salad. I think most ready meals are unsatisfying though, they just barely ever hit that spot, you know?

cccameron · 21/05/2019 20:17

Eh? Ready meals are really small, that tray looks tiny. They also tend to be quite low in calories, probably because unless you get something like an m&s bistro one there nothing in them.. I don't eat ready meals often but I'd have a bigger portion of homemade with garlic bread and salad, and I'm a size 8 so not like I'm overeating. What would you normally eat?

Original poster
IntoValhalla · 21/05/2019 20:18

I did have a bit of cheesy garlic bread that was lurking in the freezer to dip in it too.

OP posts:
RiddleyW · 21/05/2019 20:19

12g of that is saturated fat (60% of an adult’s daily recommendation!)

60% of daily fat in your main meal seems ok to me - I wouldn’t expect it evenly split over three meals

Original poster
IntoValhalla · 21/05/2019 20:20

cccameron I’m 5’4” and a size 8 when I’m not pregnant.
If I’d made homemade lasagne, I’d have probably half of what’s in the photo of this ready meal, with some salad and a couple of slices of garlic baguette.

OP posts:
Dungeondragon15 · 21/05/2019 20:21

I did have a bit of cheesy garlic bread that was lurking in the freezer to dip in it too.

So you think that the main meal is too large and full of saturated fat but then you add something that is probably very high in saturated fat and calories?

cccameron · 21/05/2019 20:21

it says 400g - which does seem a lot for one person, considering I use a 500g pack of beef mince to make a lasagne for 4 people

It's a ready meal. That 400g is mostly pasta, water and tomatoes

KnitterOfSocks · 21/05/2019 20:22

I would easily eat 60% of my fat allowance in one meal. But for breakfast there would be almost nothing. Either scrambled eggs with lean bacon, or cereal with skimmed milk.

Original poster
IntoValhalla · 21/05/2019 20:23

Should add that I’m by no means someone who necessarily watches what I eat or diets - in all honesty my diet can be utterly crap a lot of the time(especially breakfasts, lunches and snacks) except for the family dinners I cook mostly from scratch.

OP posts:
Oysterbabe · 21/05/2019 20:24

You're defeated after just over half? So about 400 calories for your main meal of the day? That doesn't sound like much to me.

Original poster
IntoValhalla · 21/05/2019 20:24

Dungeon Yeah - there was one lonely slice in the top of the freezer, and I knew I wouldn’t eat the whole lasagne.

OP posts:
InspectorClouseauMNdivision · 21/05/2019 20:24

I've just checked the portion of chilli I have in a freezer.
It's 2.5 laddle worth and it's 400g including the light box.
If I add rice I am another 150 on top probably.
Yet it's not massive meal

Excited101 · 21/05/2019 20:26

I think they’re tiny!

WindsweptEgret · 21/05/2019 20:26

I'd split it in half with my teenager, with salad or veg on the side. Ideally I'd want 2/3 of one.

Passthecherrycoke · 21/05/2019 20:28

You’ve got a small appetite OP, you put in your OP you had a big one!

I find this with skinny people- they always talk about eating loads but in reality are skinny because they eat very little. I’m a skinny person myself tbf, but started to realise I didn’t eat as much as many people some time ago and try not to say it now!