Does a stew count as a healthy meal?

[TheGrinchIsComingToTown]

I'm having a bit of a debate with my mum.

I've made a chicken stew - chicken breast, carrots, peas, onions, potato and gravy.

She says it doesn't count as being "healthy", because of the potatoes. I think it does, because it's got a ton of veg and protein in it.

Basically just that. In the winter my healthy meal staples are stews and soups, but now I feel like they're not actually that good 😅

Sounds rank tbh, boiled meat

@TheGrinchIsComingToTown just stop callint it stew 😂 I am with you but you will have to defend it to death.
Final result, looks the same. The process? Well, even I am surprised at parboilimg before slow-cooker😂
Every coumtry (and peoplekn different areas within) are touchy about their "masterpieces" 😉

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Of course

And potatoes are perfectly healthy

@TheGrinchIsComingToTown do you always get so angry about food, or only at Grinchmas?

(FWIW I wouldn’t call what you’re making a stew and it does sound like a lot of effort for something that won’t taste half as good as an actual stew! Stew is meant to involve cuts of meat and root veg that benefit from long slow cooking, plus delicious liquids such as stock, wine, beer, tinned tomatoes etc. Gravy granules are an abomination!)

There's some weird ideas about what's healthy these days...

Potatoes are great- full of fibre, vitamin C and a good source of carbs. Theyre unprocessed, natural and definitely healthy for you in a stew. Much better than pasta or rice.

No, there are so many more healthy vegetables and beans.

There are many uber nice people, doesn't make everyone else a twat😉

That doesn’t make the OP’s meal unhealthy though.

A lot of them are though 😁

You have no idea how good it tastes.

Asked if it was healthy and instead Mumsnet has decided myself and my mum can't cook.

It would drive me bonkers if you were cooking in my kitchen and created what shoulds be a one pot dish using the slow cooker, a saucepan for veg on stove and baking tray in oven. Particularly if this was supposed to be part of meal prep and it could just cook away in slow cooker on side all day.

But you weren't seeing to come over and cook so it's your own business 😂and congratulations on your weight loss as you say you must be doing something right there!

Your mum seems to have some quite disordered thinking around food so I would just smile, nod and then eat your avocado eggs in peace.

One pot.

The veg is boiled in the stew pot. The pan isn't dirtied - the chicken is cooked in foil. The pot goes into slow cook in the oven.

Of course it's healthy!
Potatoes aren't inherently unhealthy.. they just have the potential to be regarding the way they are cooked. They can actually be really filling and nutritious.. such as when they are in a home made stew! Or baked etc
It's actually good to eat something filling. Means you are less likely to snack on crap!!

They ineed are 😁 But doesn't mean potato is a twat😁
One can sustain them of potato, protein and one morw veg diet quite healthily when needs must

And for what it's worth when I make a stew, I also cook the neat first and I also par boil some veg on the hob!

A roll with butter and a portion of stew is definitely not unhealthy.

THANK YOU

I just don't see it as that odd!

Just to really throw the cat among the pigeons… I make a really nice pork, chorizo and butter bean stew!

Oh I absolutely love a butter bean stew!

I've got a Korean beef stew ready for tonight which I'm really looking forward to.

That sounds delicious. I’ve had really similar Spanish stews. Why would anyone object to that?

It doesn’t seem to meet the very strict criteria for a stew on this thread, that’s all! It is delicious.

Not fast boiling, simmering very slowly.

Potatoes aren't great? Why on earth not?

Carbs are the devil food of course - doesn't everyone know that?

If however you don't believe in supernatural beings and prefer science based evidence - then carbs are a key part of part of a healthy balanced meal unless your sugar system is damaged in which case potatoes can be problematic as it's quite fast release