If I were to live off Cook ready meals.....

[PackedintheUK]

Would it be so bad?

For the 30 odd years since I left home I've been a cook from scratch, very limited processed food, lots of veg kind of person. That's certainly how I fed my children.

However DH died this year and that has coincided with 2 DC hitting adulthood and rarely being at home for meals.

So, I've gone from cooking a family dinner every night to cooking for one and of course often I don't, I'm finding I'm living on cheese on toast and cereal, like DSs!

If I treat myself to some higher end ready meals how do they compare to home cooked food that I'm not making nutritionally?

I think it’s fine as long as you have plenty of vegetables…..

Sorry you're feeling that way OP.

Agree with Gorgonzola that you'll need to add some veg alongside. The biggest thing I'd be concerned about is salt content so perhaps take a look at that.

Depending where you live some farm shops do home made food too that can be absolutely delicious and often a little more straightforward.

If broadly you like cooking but you don't want to cook every night maybe look at a bit of batch cooking to break it up - some bolognese/lasagna, casserole/stew, chilli, pasta sauce etc. That's how I got through my student days and living on my own after uni.

They also do vegetable side dishes - I like the broccoli

Perhaps your best bet is to bye the ready salads and cook some protein to go with them? I do think ready meals vary in 'goodness', e.g a pad thai with half a plate of stir fried veg (bought 'raw' in the chilled section and cooked) is a good and very tasty option but a shitty chilled cottage pie not as good.

I think they'd be fine occasionally, but I don't think they'd be good to have every day.

When I've only cooked for myself, I have made good use of the freezer as much as possible. Plenty of things can be made from scratch and frozen.

I love 'cook' meals. So delicious!

You could maybe batch cook sometimes as a fun activity if you like cooking (I like cooking, try new recipes) then it won't feel such a waste as cooking a whole meal for one person. Freeze the meals and defrost. Soup works well and lots if other dishes. Or you could cook for friends/ family/ neighbors/ elderly and keep some aside for yourself.

‘Cook’ meals are pretty good, we’ve lived on them for a good month or so after our babies were born! Add fresh veg or salad as others have said and you’re fine. Expensive though long term.

Sorry, posted too soon.

I also wanted to say I’m sorry to hear about your DH. I think if eating a ready meal each day makes your life a little easier, do it!

Cook meals are awful. The salt content is really high and all the ones I've tried haven't been pleasant.

Actually the salt content isn’t high on all of them!
I think they are fine.. serve with a few veg and enjoy!

they are basically home made then frozen meals, just cooked by someone else!

They're not made in someone's home. They're made in a factory. By factory workers.

Maybe I just got unlucky. I've tried Cook meals 3 times and twice they were so salty they were inedible. And I really like salt.

What about one of those Gousto type boxes where every ingredient is provided and v little waste/ planning needed. You could buy boxes for more than one person and freeze the additional portions

I can't be bothered to cook for just me.
Talking to a nutritionist made me realise if I view food as nutrition - essential fuel - rather than meals or "food", I am more likely to eat well(ish). So rather than cereal, I have cereal, bung in mixed seeds and raisins and chop a pear into it. Or get a bought pea salad, add a pack of steamed broccoli and some smoked salmon. Then I can go to bed thinking well I've had my nutrients.

So in short, when I gave up cooking and replaced with ready meals my energy and general health slowly and steadily declined. Don't do it!

I’ve been to the Cook kitchen (it’s nothing like a factory, it’s like a large scale hotel kitchen). The chefs are so fussy about what they cook, rejecting imperfect veg or meats they decide are too fatty. They put a lot of effort into sourcing the very best of ingredients - to the extent my concern would be about the impact on their profit margin.

I wouldn’t advocate Cook for every meal but for comfort and convenience it’s one of the best.

I'v not had cook ready meals but I eat Charlie bigham ready meals on average 3 times a week and I think they're pretty equivalent. I do put my own sides with the meals, veggies or naans with the curry etc. I'm sure home cooked is better but actually if the alternative is cheese on toast or cereal every night these ready meals are the better option.

Sorry you lost your DH.

Sorry to hear about your loss.

I think broadly they're very good in terms of ready meals but as pp have suggested.
I too would focus on easy meals you can throw together with cook as more of an occasional
Piece of fish and prepped veggies etc
Stir fry is my go to for cooking for just me or pasta and a sauce. I like arribata. I make a big batch and freeze.

We had them this year, they were good but quite rich. As pp's said, maybe split them in half and then add some veg /salad?

Sorry about your DH

I'm sorry about your DH
I would second trying Gousto meals - I haven't used them for a few years, so I'm not sure if their quality has gone down - but they used to be great.
You get a variety of meals without having to think about it

What about having jacket potatoes for dinner with different fillings? Cheap and filling.

I’m so sorry for your loss

Please don't.
I find them really tasteless & joyless.
I do sort of know where you're coming from. As it's difficult to know what to cook when the numbers change.
We've gone down from 6-3 and I now batch cook and freeze half for a later meal.Could you do something like this? You could freeze some family sized meals and some solo ones. So far I've made chilli, Bolognese, humus, lentil curry, soups & whole mini cottage pies. Plus I also cook dried pulses & freeze them in silicone pouches along with the meals. They're very useful for various Ottolenghi inspired recipes & soups.
I also freeze individual portions of brown rice in the silicone pouches too.

Easy meals for one are steak with fried onions & peppers, chicken breast cooked in garlicky olive oil with salad, salad nicoise with green beans, Caesar salad & beetroot & goats cheese salad. Plus any fish that can be pan fried or baked in foil packages. With a portion of homemade soup or some good bread that would make a decent meal for one. 

There's some decent fresh pasta in the supermarkets now. All you need is a swirl of garlicky olive oil on top. Asian noodle soup is easy & delicious. You can chuck whatever meat/veg. you have in it.

@PackedintheUK, sorry for your loss. I can fully sympathise, I am 74, and was widowed 10 years ago, so know only too well how cooking for one becomes a chore.
I do eat the Cook dishes quite frequently, but am limited by being a low carb eater, and have IBS, so quite restrictive in choice. I like the Cook dishes as I can choose which veg I accompany them with. I don’t eat potatoes, rice or pasta, which so often are included with ready meals.
The Cook dishes appear to be made with very good ingredients, I have never found them to be salty. I now do an online order for delivery about every 6 weeks, delivery is free over £40.

A few ‘cheat’ tips - I buy deli meat (usually organic from Waitrose) such as topside of beef. A good substitute for a roast meal - just do your usual veg, make gravy, and heat the beef slices through in the gravy, easy and quick with no waste. You can do the same with chicken - either slices of roast chicken or breast. Can be frozen in the packs, ready to use when you want.
For lamb, aside from chops, I buy a rack, cut it in half (freeze one half), and roast the other for 20-30 minutes according to your preference, makes a nice roast for one.

You may discover some tips of your own!

I recommend them a lot, but I buy Gousto boxes every fortnight. When DH was away for 3 months with work, I carried on with it and ate a meal in the evening and the leftovers for lunch.

I also keep all the recipe cards and make them again when I don't have a box - it makes meal plannings much easier as well.

If you wanted to try a box, I'm shamelessly posting a referral link - you get 60% off your first box and then 30% off any additional boxes for your first month. And in the interests of full disclosure, I get £30 credit for my next box too. You can order one off boxes, it's not all about a regular subscription. Maybe a way to break out of the rut?

cook.gousto.co.uk/raf?promo_code=ALLIS33205208&utm_source=androidapp