ARE READY MEALS BAD FOR YOU?

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ARE READY MEALS BAD FOR YOU?

Added 1354 days ago. 1 November 2022

Ready meals are often thought as being high in salt, fat and lacking nutrients, leading to the question 'Are Ready Meals Healthy?' But there are thankfully plenty of ready meals which provide sufficient goodness from a dietary perspective, whilst also tasting delicious.

Ready meals are often thought of as being high in salt, saturated fat or sugar, and lacking the nutrients you might get from a freshly cooked meal. Because of this they’ve gained a reputation as being unhealthy.

However, this isn’t always the case. When it comes to health, some ready meals are better than others. It depends on the ingredients, portion size, nutritional content and how the meal fits into your overall diet.

At Wiltshire Farm Foods, we believe ready meals can be convenient, enjoyable and thoughtfully prepared. Our meals are created with care by chefs and checked with nutrition in mind, with clear nutritional information available online and in our brochures so you can choose meals that suit your needs.

Are ready meals really that bad for you?

Ready meals are not all the same. Some can be high in salt, saturated fat or sugar, while others are carefully developed to offer a more balanced, portion-controlled meal.

Cooking from scratch can be a great way to control exactly what goes into your food, but it isn’t always practical. For many people, especially older adults, shopping, preparing ingredients, standing at the cooker or cleaning up afterwards can become tiring or difficult.

That’s where ready meals can help. They provide a simple, safe and convenient way to enjoy a hot meal with minimal preparation. For people who live alone, have reduced mobility, are recovering from illness, or simply want an easier mealtime, ready meals can make eating regularly feel much more manageable.

The key is choosing ready meals that are clearly labelled and suit your nutritional needs.

Frozen ready meals are not automatically bad for you. What matters most is what the meal contains, how it has been prepared, the portion size and how it fits into your overall diet.

Frozen meals can also be very practical. They can be stored until needed, helping reduce waste and making it easier to keep a choice of meals at home.

For older people, this can be particularly reassuring, as there is always something ready in the freezer for days when cooking feels difficult.

Why do ready meals have a bad reputation?

Ready meals have gained a mixed reputation over the years, and some of the concerns are understandable. Not every ready meal is created with nutrition as a priority, so it’s worth knowing what to look out for.

Some ready meals can be high in salt

Salt is one of the main things people worry about when it comes to ready meals. If you’re trying to reduce your salt intake, it’s a good idea to compare meals and check the salt content before you buy.

At Wiltshire Farm Foods, our nutritional information is clearly shown to help customers find meals that suit their preferences and dietary needs.

Some can be high in saturated fat

Saturated fat can also vary between ready meals. While you don’t need to avoid every meal containing saturated fat, checking the label can help you compare dishes and make informed choices across the day or week.

Some may be low in vegetables or fibre

A balanced diet should include a variety of food groups, including fruit and vegetables, starchy carbohydrates, protein foods and dairy or alternatives.

Some ready meals may contain fewer vegetables or fibre-rich ingredients than you would like. Choosing meals with vegetables, beans, pulses or wholegrain-style ingredients can help, and you can always add an extra side of vegetables if needed.

Portion size can vary

Portion size matters too. Ready meals may look similar, but calories, salt, fat and protein can vary. Checking the nutritional information per portion can help you choose a meal that feels satisfying and appropriate for your appetite.

This can be especially useful for older people, as appetite can change with age.

Can ready meals be healthy?

Ready meals can form part of a healthy, balanced diet when they are chosen carefully.

A healthier ready meal is usually one that offers a sensible portion size, includes a source of protein, contains vegetables or fibre-rich ingredients, and provides clear information on salt, sugar, fat and saturated fat.

See our ready meals

What makes a ready meal a healthier choice?

When choosing a ready meal, it can help to look for:

Clear nutritional information
A suitable portion size
A source of protein, such as meat, fish, eggs, beans or pulses
Vegetables or fibre-rich ingredients
Lower salt, sugar or saturated fat options where needed
Meals that suit your dietary requirements

Eating well is about balance over time. You don’t need every meal to be perfect, but it helps to choose a variety of dishes that support your overall diet.

Are ready meals suitable for older people?

Ready meals can be a particularly helpful option for older people, especially when everyday cooking becomes more challenging.

Cooking from scratch can be enjoyable, but it can also take time, energy and planning. Tasks like carrying shopping bags, chopping ingredients, lifting pans or standing for long periods can become more difficult with age.

With Wiltshire Farm Foods, meals are delivered frozen to the door, ready to be stored in the freezer and cooked when needed. Delivery is free, there is no subscription, and customers can order what they want, when they want.

This can offer reassurance not only for customers, but also for family members and carers who want to know their loved one has easy meals available at home.

Nutrition and enjoyment matter as we age

As we get older, eating well remains important, but appetite, taste and smell can change. That’s why meals need to be more than convenient, they should also be enjoyable, familiar and easy to prepare.

A warm, comforting meal can make a real difference to the day, especially when it helps someone maintain independence at home.

How Wiltshire Farm Foods makes ready meals with nutrition in mind

At Wiltshire Farm Foods, we know that ready meals need to be more than quick and convenient. They need to taste good, be easy to prepare and help customers make choices that suit their needs.

About our food

Developed with chefs and nutrition expertise

Our meals are created by chefs and checked with nutrition in mind, so customers can enjoy food that is both tasty and thoughtfully prepared.

This means our meals are developed not just for flavour, but also with an understanding of how important good nutrition is to everyday wellbeing.

Clear nutritional information

We provide clearly marked nutritional information online and in our brochures, so customers can see what each meal contains before ordering.

This makes it easier to compare meals, check ingredients and choose dishes that suit your preferences, appetite or dietary requirements.

Food safety and quality checks

Food safety is also a key part of what we do. Before ingredients arrive in our kitchen, we work closely with suppliers to help ensure quality and traceability.

We also carry out extensive testing, including sampling every batch of food, so customers can feel confident about the meals they receive.

Ready meals vs home cooking: which is healthier?

There is no single answer, because both can have benefits.

Cooking from scratch gives you control over ingredients, seasoning and portion size. If you enjoy cooking and have the time, energy and ingredients available, it can be a great way to eat well.

Ready meals, on the other hand, offer convenience, consistency and less preparation. They can be especially useful for people who find shopping or cooking difficult, or for anyone who wants a simple way to enjoy a hot meal without preparing everything from scratch.

For many people, the healthiest option is the one that helps them eat regular, enjoyable meals.

Our brochure

FAQs About Ready Meals and Health

Is it OK to eat ready meals every day?

It depends on the meals you choose and what the rest of your diet looks like. Aim for variety across the week and choose meals that suit your nutritional needs.

Are frozen ready meals healthy?

Frozen ready meals can be healthy, depending on what they contain. Being frozen does not automatically make a meal unhealthy.

Do Wiltshire Farm Foods offer meals for special diets?

Yes. Wiltshire Farm Foods offers a range of meals for different dietary needs, including gluten free, free from, lactose free and reduced sugar options.

“We recognise the importance of ensuring traceability and food safety company-wide,” explains our Group Technical Manager, Iain Mortimer; “That’s why we operate a testing process, which involves sampling every single batch of food, so that if any bacteria

As a company we test around 120,000 food samples each year. We’re also one of the few home delivery ready meal providers that has independently accredited testing laboratories onsite. So it’s safe to say we’re not taking any risks when it comes to food safety for our customers.

This commitment to food safety, together with our passion for developing nutritious, delicious meals, means our ready meals are anything but bad for you. Why not give them a try? Take a look at our brand new Spring & Summer menu and see for yourself!