The best ready meals? Cook? Potage? Anywhere else?

[anxiouswaiting]

I'm finding things tough at the moment juggling work, studies and family life, my mental health is suffering. Thinking about what little things I can do to lighten the load and I'd like to try having some sort of ready meal type food 4 or 5 days a week.

Needs to be healthy meals though, not sugar and salt laden like you pick up off the supermarket shelf.

I've tried Potage which were quite nice, been looking at the Cook website and they sound lovely. Anyone tried them?

It doesn't have to be full meals, I want mains that I can shove with a bag of salad, jacket potato, chips or some frozen veg.

Anyone have any recommendations please?

P.s Yes I have tried batch cooking but my work pattern and workload is so big at the moment I just need something simple and minimal effort but still tasty and healthy so that I can actually get some downtime.

I like the Charlie Bigham range

Can't go wrong with Cook!

Can't go wrong with Cook!

Cook is my go-to when the going gets tough!

I find M&S good for the sort of meal you describe. I pick up some pre-cooked chicken or fish, bad of salad and preferred carb to make a relatively healthy but easy meal. Or their fish cakes with a bag of microwave pre-prepared veg. Or stir fry veg and noodles. Or their fresh filled pasta and sauce. Quite a lot to choose from and most of it takes minutes to cook.

If you are happy to assemble a couple of bits (bag of salad/pouch of microwaveable rice) then I’d recommend the Waitrose Easy to Cook range.
I used them quite a bit when I broke my wrist and they literally need chucking in the oven. I’d recommend the Portabello mushroom gratin, chicken with asparagus and prosciutto, garlic and herb chicken breasts, Middle Eastern schnitzel and the mango and pineapple gammon. Quite a few of them come into the 3 for £10 offer too which makes them pretty reasonable.

Cook is lovely and a lot of the dishes are available in different sizes so it can suit a range of households / appetites!

A friend recommends "parsley box" as they do not need a freezer/fridge.
Also, have a look at Wiltshire Farm Foods - my DF loved them.

Thank you everyone, I will give Cook a go then I think and will look into the other suggestions too, will be worth trying them all and seeing what suits us and tastes best

I get 4-5 meals a week from cook and it's really lightened the burden for me. Their meals are all delicious and a great range.

I get 4-5 meals a week from cook and it's really lightened the burden for me. Their meals are all delicious and a great range.

When I'm bad I get meals on wheels from the council, the food they use is mostly from Apetito who also do Wiltshire farm foods. I have to say having someone knock on the door with hot food and a pudding motivates me to get out of bed.

They are not restaurant quality but they are balanced, I find supermarket meals are meat and potatoes and then you have to add the veg.

A friend recommends "parsley box" as they do not need a freezer/fridge. I tried them and I wasn't impressed but my dad found them OK.

There is a local company too, a woman who was cooking for her elderly mother decided to branch out and cooks 'homemade' food for the freezer so have a look at your local area.

It's probably best to, as you say, try a few out.

Oh and I've just remembered, both the meals on wheals and the local place also deliver sandwiches.