Every now and then I see why people rely on ready meals

[JoshandJamie]

I don't often buy ready meals. Very rarely in fact. But there are times like tonight when I just think, dammit, they would be a lot easier. I made roast butternut risotto - not a difficult thing to make, but you have to peel the butternut, deseed it, chop it up, roast it for a good 45 mins. Then start on the risotto, chopping up onion, garlic, then adding all the other bits and, stirring, stirring, stirring, grating cheese.

And then into bowls ....and gone in less than 5 minutes.

Or, I could have bought something, stuck it in the microwave and achieved a similar result with an extra hour plus to myself. Sigh

yes it is ungrateful, but whne you have binned lasagne for approx 3 years (DH wolfs it down, my dd's will eat approx 1 square inch) then you give up trying tbh. They like the M&S one, so they getthe M&S one about once a month.

IMHO it is about things in moderation, they get McDonalds sometimes, we make chicken nuggets, they get ready made pizzas, and sometimes as a treat (for me not them) they get ready meals. Life is a balance and as a full time working mum I am going to walk on the side of ease

i really like that m&s lasagne as well, it's lovely and red winy. although a bit salty i now find, cos i've been cooking for the baby so i really notice salt now. bloomin' babies... spoil everything.

now i know this is ludicrous... but if you are looking for the QUICKEST ready-made food ever you should investigate M&S's fajitas pack. you get herbed chicken, roasted peppers, onions and mushrooms plus 5 or so fajitas, some sour cream and salsa for a fiver and it is ready from the microwave in 2 minutes. grate some cheese over it and you're laughing.

it's not the unhealthiest thing in the world by a long chalk, sometimes dh and i have them when the alternative is ringing out for a (more expensive, more oily) curry or somesuch. i was very surprised by how tasty they are, and dd likes the chicken, fajita and peppers.

FFS ready meals won't kill you. Ready meals won't kill the DCs either. And all the more wanky cookery advisers who "never' eat ready meals because they've got the au pair to do the cooking and or live somewhere that does a super-fresh organic vegan healthy takeway - and they can afford it - well they can all get stuffed. Bet they lapse and have a fishfinger butty once in a while anyway.

Oh, and by the way, when it comes to not slagging off smug stupid snake-oil selling shitfaces, is there any MN prohibition against having a go at dietary experts???