To think cold food is just as nutritious and filling as hot?

[TropicofCapricorn]

People seem to think that hot food for meals is inherently better than cold?

If I served my daughter cold chicken pesto pasta and some salad for dinner, some people look at me "aren't you giving her a proper meal?". Bit of id given her the pasta hit and with peas or something, they wouldn't bat an eyelid.

You see it on MN too, somehow people think a hot meal is more filling?

Is there any truth in that?

I'm of the opinion a cheese sandwich is the same nutritionally and as filling as a cheese toastie.

God yes!! The obsession with hot meals!! I eat loads of “cold” meals that are just as nutritious as hot ones but because it’s cold, somehow it doesn’t count. I think a hot meal can be nice if you are feeling cold, like camping or been outside all day in winter or maybe if you can’t afford to heat your house but can afford to cook a meal. But there is absolutely no NEED for eating hot meals daily (or even multiple times a day!) for most people.

I do eat other stuff as well ! I was just really addressing the hot and cold food issue.
I have yoghurt and fruit at lunch time and I'm afraid my treat after my evening salad is usually a bowl of ice cream. I was keeping quiet about the ice cream.

I don't think a cheese sandwich, cold or toasted is a particularly nutritious meal, nor do I think that chicken, pesto pasta, hot or cold, is really that great, unless it's a small portion of pasta, heavy on the chicken and served with lots of variety of different veg.

Hot or cold doesn't really come into it.

I mean a cold plate full of crudites including a big variety of different veg plus a piece of cold smoked mackerel is a more healthy meal than a hot plate of sausage roll and chips.

Generally I'd say pasta salads made to be served cold tend to contain far less protein and far few veg than hot pasta bakes, so that may be where that comes from.

Only on Mumsnet would chicken, pasta and organic pesto be considered a bad meal. 🤣🤣 And clearly missed the salad it was served with. Honestly.

The chicken pesto pasta was actually served warm the day before, so will have had exactly the same amount of protein in it thanks.

I never said a cheese sandwich was the most nutritious meal, I am saying it the same as a cheese toastie in terms of nutrition.

Not the point whether you would like cold meals or not.

It's that the cold food isn't nutritionally void for being cold.

But you agreed with another poster that it isn’t satisfying…

Yes, but that's bullshit.

I prefer food to be served hot in general. It’s not so much about the nutrition levels, but it is my preference. I don’t mind a mixed salad on the side to accompany a hot meal, but a cold pasta salad or cold meat and salad I prefer to avoid.

In terms of nutrition, yes, same calories and same vitamins etc whether it's hot or cold.

Psychologically, hot meals can often be more satisfying I think. And certainly help you stay warmer in cold weather.

'Satisfaction' and 'nutrition' are two different things. Food can provide you with plenty of calories, vitamins and minerals without leaving you feeling satisfied. Satisfaction is mostly psychological. Nutrition is physical.

TCM and Ayurveda aren't scientifically valid.

Nutritionally its fine to eat cold food, but I find hot food more cheering than cold. I would much rather eat a toastie than a sandwich. But each to their own.

I would imagine that nutritionally a cold meal is the same as the same meal that’s been heated up.

I just prefer warm food. If it’s winter and I’d been in a cold office all day and I came home to a cold meal I’d feel very sad.

I did read somewhere that cold food can dull its taste. Not sure if that’s only certain types of food. It always comes up in the chocolate stored in the fridge vs chocolate stored in the cupboard debate.

Hot food in the winter, cold food in the summer. Those are the rules surely?

I hate cold lunches in the winter, don't satisfy me nearly as much!

I voted YABU because you’ve got a strawman argument going.

No one thinks that the nutrition is different between the same food hot versus cold. They simply like it hot as a matter of preference, which is fine.

Ayurvedic principles are deeply embedded in our understanding of the human body. It's medicines do not have side effects and for centuries have proven to be effective in curing ailments or reducing side effects of heavy treatments. It cannot be solely relied upon for serious medical issues but certainly can be used in conjunction or as part of rehabilitative treatment. Similarly, it is extremely beneficial in maintaining general good health.

Of course it is. There are a few things where their nutritional value changes depending on whether they're cooked or not, but that can go either way, and for the most part, the nutrition will be the same.

Who is lurking in your house telling you off about your cooking, OP? Is it an imaginary judge or a real person? Although honestly in both cases, you don't need to defend yourself. Do as you please.

Lady Catherine will never know!

Yes, I also wanted to know who it was who was judging the OP.
Are they real or imaginary?

Yea! I think some of us are sensitive to hot vs cold food and additionally some foods are better hot than cold. Also, we are conditioned by society to believe some foods should be served cold/hot. I love cold macaroni cheese from a can but thinking about it hot makes me heave. My Chinese friend asked me to please not serve water from my jug in the fridge as in her culture it should be served at room temperature.

Yes they do! Already in this thread people have asserted hit food is better...

Food isn't simply about nutrition but a whole aesthetic and emotional experience. We eat with all our senses. Warmth is a part of that. It never matters if food looks appetising but we go to great trouble to make it look so, why bother? I am asian and cold food signifies a lack of care. I dont mind eating cold food myself but couldnt serve something cold to others.

I don't want to come to your summer BBQS, mmmm cold hot dogs ;)

I know a couple of people who think that cold food doesn't count as a 'proper meal'. They were both brought up in households where very traditional meals were served, i.e. meat and 2 veg,and anything that strayed from this wasn't regarded as 'proper food'. I recall one of these people being scandalised by the fact that I was having sandwiches for my dinner!