Provenance
Understanding where our food has come from is important, and it applies to ready meals too. Does the company tell you where its meals are made and prepared? If not, this can be a warning sign about the quality.
You should also check for information about where the ingredients and meat are from. Look out for meals using sustainable, ethically sourced produce including British and Irish beef and sustainably caught fish.
Read more about
our commitment to quality ingredients here.
No artificial ingredients
Good ready meals should not contain food additives like artificial flavours and colours. Check that the food is free from ingredients like Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils and Genetically Modified Organisms too.
Sides and vegetables
Some microwave ready meals don’t come as a full meal, meaning you’ll be left cooking your sides and vegetables separately. For best value, choose a product that contains everything you need to make a meal.
If vegetables aren’t included, many of us will end up skipping them and then we can lose out on important nutrients like vitamins, minerals and fibre. And the meal may not feel as filling, leaving us reaching for snacks later.
The
best microwave meals will usually contain at least one of your five a day – this should be marked on the packaging or in the description.