Do you eat ready meals regularly?

[RedRosette2023]

Following from another thread - I heard a statistic the other day that said up to 90% of people regularly consume ready meals. As in, in a plastic container and from the microwave or oven.

I sense that MN is quite middle class so likely not representative of the whole of the country. But I was surprised by that statistic.

I genuinely can’t remember the last time I ate a ready meal. I occasionally gave eldest DC an Ella tray when they were weaning, a meal I could keep in my changing bag and have handy in case we were out over tea time. My youngest refused any pouches etc so he has never had one. He’s always just eaten what we’ve eaten and taught me baby food is totally unnecessary, albeit convenient at times.

I am coeliac so it’s possible my habits have been formed due to necessity - I would struggle to pick up a ready meal I can eat with ease. M&S do some and I think GF ones slightly more available now but I just don’t buy them.

I’m also not a SAHM Mum, I work a pressured job four days, my DH works away mostly during the week, I use hello fresh etc 3-4 days. But I always find time for a meal. My ready meal is something batch cooked out the freezer.

No judgment - just genuinely interested.

I do love a ‘up to x%’ statistic. That could actually be 5% in reality. Statistics can truly show anything people want them to.
We’re in the pre made food once or twice a month category, maybe a pizza or something. Rarely actual ‘pop and ping’ meals so to speak though.

Given that ready meals aren't cheaper, how is that relevant? Or are you suggesting that middle class people are more likely to eat ready meals?

The statistic I was quoting suggested ready meals are cheaper and so those of lower socioeconomic status more likely to consume them.

if you don’t agree please look back in the thread and take it up with the author.

Yeah I was alarmed and now I realised that’s because the statistic was so alarming and wasn’t entirely true!

Why would I take his help with the author? They are discussing Venezuela and I doubt many Mumsnet posters live there. In the UK many ready meals are not cheap and they are not particularly processed either. Have you seen the cost/ingredients of “Cook” meals for example? Many of those congratulating themselves for not eating ready meals are probably eating very processed food via meat.

@WomblingTree86 because that is the source I am referencing and so am presenting as a fact that people with a lower socioeconomic status eat more convenience foods/ready meals.

If the point you’re trying to make is that wealthier people buy more expensive and more nutritious ready meals then I wouldn’t disagree that is likely to be the case.

But that isn’t the same argument as wealthier people likely eating less ready meals in comparison to less wealthy people. You are arguing about the quality of the meals.

And why are those not eating ready meals more likely to be eating processed meat? What is your reasoning for that argument. It’s illogical.

I know it is the source you are referencing but my point is why would it be relevant? I'm sure the market is very different in Venezuela than in the UK. My point wasn’t that wealthier people are more likely to buy more expensive ready meals as while that is obviously true, in the UK the majority of ready meals are more expensive.

I didn't say they were more likely to be eating processed food than everyone who eats ready meals. My point is they aren't necessarily eating less.

I googled a random source to back up my statement. It wasn’t the one referenced in the book. Read the book, he explains it much better than me.

Many of those congratulating themselves for not eating ready meals are probably eating very processed food via meat.

I don’t agree there is a correlation between not eating ready meals and eating processed meat instead.

Those not eating ready meals might well be eating processed food from other sources. That doesn’t automatically mean their processed food intake is like for like. If I eat a whole food salad with a slice of processed ham, that’s still going to be a greater balance of whole food than the average ready meal. (Not a CB one as we seem to have established on this thread that those are not processed).

In any event that wasn’t really the topic I was looking to explore, so isn’t relevant to this thread. I was just interested in how many people ping their dinner and how that fell in the 90% statistic. It’s been established upthread (poss page 9) that actually that figure is closer to 24% and so the actual number of people pinging their dinner on a regular (most days) basis is far lower than I thought when I started this thread.

I'm not going to buy/read a whole book because you can't/don't want to explain your point.

I have explained. There is a link between socioeconomic status and ready meal/processed food consumption.

You might be eating more processed food than some people who eat an occasional ready meal though so stop being so “alarmed” on behalf of others. A pescetarian/vegetarian won’t be eating processed ham, for example and may be eating relatively non processed ready meals.

@WomblingTree86

Sorry, I will check in with you next time and ensure that whatever I feel surprised about is a worthy cause.

Ironically the surprise was unwarranted because as I’ve explained and others have pointed out the figure is closer to 24%. So it’s probably not surprising that I was surprised by a statistic that didn’t really represent what I thought it did. But again, apologies for being surprised at something you don’t think warrants it.

I didn't comment on the fact that you said you were surprised. I was commenting on the fact you said you were “alarmed” which is rather over the top and sounds very judgemental.

In my opening post I said I was surprised.

I used the word alarmed when I was recognising that stat wasn’t actually true.

So the judgment you have inferred where I have used the word alarmed has been taken out of context - I was alarmed at the statistic and given it’s turned out not to be what I thought that’s not entirely unreasonable is it? I am not alarmed by people’s habits. I am alarmed at what I thought that statistic represented.

Why were you alarmed at what you thought the statistic represented?.

Are you just intent on being offended where there is no offence to be taken?

I am not surprised that people eat ready meals. That is no great revolution to me. I didn’t wake up yesterday, learn people eat ready meals and be overcome with surprise or alarm having previously thought people didn’t consume such meals and they were merely for decoration in the shelves of supermarkets.

I was surprised that 90% of people were eating them most of the time.

Now I have learnt that figure is closer to 24% I am void of surprise.

All the surprise has gone.

Left me entirely.

I am also no longer alarmed or surprised.

So thanks to those who have added helpful contributions to the thread - it’s been an interesting topic and I have learnt something.

I hardly think my own critical thinking, ie learning something that doesn’t sit right (the 90%) figure and me thinking that doesn’t fit with my perceptions/experiences and starting a discussion about that is judgmental. It’s entirely normal and logical to hear something that sounds unlikely and question it.

So yes, alarmed/surprised at what fake news. What’s your point?

@RedRosette2023 no- my point is that not all made from scratch meals are some kind of tasty gastronomic feast- just as not all ready meals are 'equal' - I think most women have 'enough on their plate' without looking at the providence of every ingredient and chopping and fully prepping every day unless they love it and have an awful lot of time on their hands. Personally I avoid cake, sweets, chocolate , biscuits , crisps and nibbles, and anything involving pastry or meat that's been massively messed with and pulped up - I don't go to Maccy Ds, kfc, greggs etc- I don't eat anything like pot noodles or dehydrated packet pasta etc- but for me that's enough -

Alarm and surprise are not the same thing. Regularly does not mean most of the time either.

Thanks for that insight.

@Crikeyalmighty

I don’t disagree. I wouldn’t say I have an awful lot of time on my hands either. I just prioritise it. The fact some people don’t is of course their prerogative.

Oooh, another smug thread. I love cooking but work 60+ hours a week in healthcare. Do I eat ready meals? yes, probably one or two a week. As in microwave ready meals. I don't want to be cooking 5 lunches a week. A get up at 5am and don't get back until 9pm - my days are LONG.

Regularly and I don't feel bad about doing it!