Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Fasting / 5:2 diet

Talk about intermittent fasting and 5:2, including what’s worked for others. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Original poster

Low calorie ready meals - your recommendations?

19 replies

frankietwospots · 31/07/2013 09:20

Hi all,

I'm on week 4 of the 5:2 and am quite enjoying it, mainly because it fits in well with my two busy office days so I hardly miss the fact that I'm not eating much. I'm a bit of a lazy arse when it comes to cooking in the evening (mainly because I get home late and it's then bathtime and bedtime for my DS who is 19 months so I haven't got time...) and so I tend to rely on M&S low cal ready meals for my evening meal. I was wondering if other 5:2ers had found any good low cal meals that you would recommend? I really like the M&S Hot Smoked Salmon Potato Salad (270 cals) and the M&S Count On US Vegetarian Mousakka (280 cals). Thanks!

OP posts:
monster54 · 31/07/2013 10:50

Sainsburys 'oh my goodness' range.

In the fresh department, lots of lovely meals decent size as well for 300 - 500 cals!!

Talkinpeace · 31/07/2013 13:08

tubs of fresh soup .....

also a 2 egg omelette with onions and herbs and a teeny bit of REALLY strong salami and a side salad is around 350

fussychica · 02/08/2013 18:08

Waitrose have several low calorie meals in their Easy Cook range. I particularly like the chicken marinated in lemon & pepper (156 cals) and salmon in filo parcels with sweet chilli (214 cals).

invicta · 02/08/2013 18:10

Some ready meals are high in salt, so,aren't all,that healthy.

Talkinpeace · 02/08/2013 18:14

Waitrose ones are pretty good, but yes, it can be a REAL problem.
Then again I'm tight so prefer home cooked food.

LeGavrOrf · 02/08/2013 18:17

Don't laugh, but the weight watchers ready meals are pretty good. They are
Probably full of questionable ingredients but they are pretty tasty.

Ocean Pie is 200 calories, chilli and wedges 250, salmon and broccoli melt 250, they also have various others.

mumblechum1 · 02/08/2013 18:18

Sainsbo's Good for You range, esp. the chicken biryani which is huge, delicious and about 350 cals.

LeGavrOrf · 02/08/2013 18:18

And lots of soups are low calories, the skinny soup range is around 200 ish for a great big tub of soup, which is really filling.

ReeBee · 02/08/2013 18:18

Was just going to say tubs of fresh soup or the M&S salmon and potato salad (they've just put the calories up from 240 to 270 though, I'm sure!).

Plain stirfry is easy to cook (no noodles, just veg). Or prawn salad.

IrisWildthyme · 02/08/2013 18:23

Innocent veg pots are usually between 200 and 300 calories (though not amazingly filling, I usually make up to 400 cals with some extra quorn or something). There's another brand that some health-food shops stock, on a similar theme and pot-shape-and-size to innocent veg pots which I think are nicer, but I can't remember the brand name.

Talkinpeace · 02/08/2013 18:23

soup is one of THE BEST low calorie meals to go for
because in Michael Mosely's first TV programme about food 10 Things You Need to Know about Losing Weight soups are digested more slowly and thoroughly than the component veg etc so you stay feeling full for longer

PeasandCucumbers · 03/08/2013 07:01

I have only completed my first week so definitely no expert but on both of my fast days I have had an innocent veg pot for my dinner. The mex veg was 321 I think and the Indian one was 319. I do find one of these filling and as I am veggie anyway I don't miss the meat plus as far as ready meals go I think they are fairly good for you.

Saying this I am planning on being more organised this week as I think I could get more volume for my calories if I planned better

hugoagogo · 03/08/2013 20:04

There's a kind of frozen curry called amy's I think; a pea and panneer curry, some rice and a little chick pea dahl. It is delish, veggie, easy and 370 cals. Grin

fussychica · 04/08/2013 09:31

Anything over 250 calories wouldn't make it onto my fast day menu as with milk for tea and coffee (80 cals) and a very light breakfast or lunch (140) I would break my 500. I like to go under 250 then I can have some fruit for dessert/snack without going over.

Talkinpeace · 04/08/2013 14:38

whereas because I save all my calories (other than milk in tea) for supper, a 400 cal face stuff happens

Rhythmisadancer · 05/08/2013 09:09

Bag of stir fry veg from the supermarket, tiny bit of oil, frozen cube of garlic & ginger from the Indian shop, and gallons of soy sauce and Tabasco. This makes a massive supper, and it's about 200 cals. I'm getting a bit addicted to this and look forward to it all day on fast days!

fussychica · 05/08/2013 14:44

Tried a stir fry with Zero noodles - not bad but a 2 quid a bag not great value. Would have them again though as I enjoy a stir fry too.

Wish I could go all day - but get to about 2pm and I really want my poached egg on toast or Ryvita & cottage cheese.

Gilbertus · 05/08/2013 16:10

Just bought 2 Innocent noodle pots at around 200 cals each.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page