kyska Posted August 16, 2013 Report Share Posted August 16, 2013 Just watching a food programme on Beeb1. Microwave food, 3 billion a year spent on them by the UK population, the British Medical Journal did a study of most manufacturers of the said meal and None met the minimum nutritional requirements that are recommended, that's disgusting. The spin was, that they are designed for people who 'simply don't have time to cook anymore'. Who, on earth, doesn't have time to whack a lasagne together, to cook some potato wedges and a piece of fish, or a 20 minute wait for a roast chicken leg with salad? I'm no old whizzened beardy being nostalgic about old times, I'm a busy nurse, with two kids and a Dr as a Mrs, we manage to cook well, cheaply (mostly) and healthily. I'm astounded by the diets of some of these people, am I alone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleeh Posted August 16, 2013 Report Share Posted August 16, 2013 I don't have time to cook, then tidy away, every single night.Fortunately for me, the missus does! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junctiontwo Posted August 16, 2013 Report Share Posted August 16, 2013 I haven't eaten a microwave meal for years & years as it's well known that they're all full of cr*p. Quick, healthy & easy meals appear laborious when you read about them, but in practice you can be sitting down to a tasty dinner with no rubbish & few calories in 20-30 mins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ack-ack Posted August 16, 2013 Report Share Posted August 16, 2013 As much as i love to cook, its no fun cooking for one and then washing up for one. Unless ive brought something nice of the beach i generally just eat tuna and sweetcorn sandwiches. Sometimes i have sweetcorn and tuna just to break the monotony. I've resisted the urge to go down the ping meal route though i can see why folk do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junctiontwo Posted August 16, 2013 Report Share Posted August 16, 2013 Unless ive brought something nice of the beach i generally just eat tuna and sweetcorn sandwiches. Sometimes i have sweetcorn and tuna just to break the monotony. :lol: :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinkella Posted August 16, 2013 Report Share Posted August 16, 2013 I like to know what's in my food, so I cook from scratch, its not hard, its not time consuming and yes sometimes I think it would be easier banging a frozen pizza in the over, but I would end up being fat again! so that's why I do cook from scratch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyska Posted August 16, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2013 I like to know what's in my food, so I cook from scratch, its not hard, its not time consuming and yes sometimes I think it would be easier banging a frozen pizza in the over, but I would end up being fat again! so that's why I do cook from scratch A pizza with salad is a great once a week meal, it's the fruitless, salt loaded microwave meals that are horrific. My main point is, who doesn't have time to cook? I find it incredulous that people don't have time to feed themselves properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unapalomablanca Posted August 16, 2013 Report Share Posted August 16, 2013 Just watching a food programme on Beeb1. Microwave food, 3 billion a year spent on them by the UK population, the British Medical Journal did a study of most manufacturers of the said meal and None met the minimum nutritional requirements that are recommended, that's disgusting. The spin was, that they are designed for people who 'simply don't have time to cook anymore'. Who, on earth, doesn't have time to whack a lasagne together, to cook some potato wedges and a piece of fish, or a 20 minute wait for a roast chicken leg with salad? I'm no old whizzened beardy being nostalgic about old times, I'm a busy nurse, with two kids and a Dr as a Mrs, we manage to cook well, cheaply (mostly) and healthily. I'm astounded by the diets of some of these people, am I alone? I hate microwave food. Always have done. I also rarely eat out unless I know its that old thing called 'fresh'. The vast majority of these ghastly 'eating houses' sell microwaved meals at a ridiculous price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ack-ack Posted August 16, 2013 Report Share Posted August 16, 2013 My main point is, who doesn't have time to cook? I find it incredulous that people don't have time to feed themselves properly. Blokes that live alone, work long hours, have two dogs, and have a landrover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinkella Posted August 16, 2013 Report Share Posted August 16, 2013 (edited) A pizza with salad is a great once a week meal, it's the fruitless, salt loaded microwave meals that are horrific. My main point is, who doesn't have time to cook? I find it incredulous that people don't have time to feed themselves properly. Once a week can turn into 3 times a week, I know from experience, so I avoid it all together, A routine keeps me in check for cooking my meals and the old mans of course. Ok I have the occasional takeaway as a so called Saturday night treat, but I always feel naff afterwards. When I lived alone I ate convenience food all too often. Having someone to cook for makes it easier I would think for most of us, Edited August 16, 2013 by Pinkella Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kes Posted August 16, 2013 Report Share Posted August 16, 2013 Used to eat ready meals 20 years ago but as most have said, cooking fresh is soooo much better. With beans, peas cabbage from the garden, onions and toms too we are overflowing with easy cook fresh stuff. Just neck a chicken and dig some spuds, pick a few veg, exceptional - if I do say so myself. Anything take away is fat with fat sauce and everyone knows how they feel after it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ack-ack Posted August 16, 2013 Report Share Posted August 16, 2013 Anything take away is fat with fat sauce and everyone knows how they feel after it. Yeah! Like an F15 baby!!! Winning! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyska Posted August 16, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2013 Blokes that live alone, work long hours, have two dogs, and have a landrover. I think you're playing advocate, but you have more time than me I think. I guess people need to find the fun of cooking, I was single for a long time, it was difficult being a one of three males in a year of 112 nurses, I'm feeling sorry for myself, but I still cooked. Maybe I just enjoy cooking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ack-ack Posted August 16, 2013 Report Share Posted August 16, 2013 (edited) I think you're playing advocate, but you have more time than me I think. I guess people need to find the fun of cooking, I was single for a long time, it was difficult being a one of three males in a year of 112 nurses, I'm feeling sorry for myself, but I still cooked. Maybe I just enjoy cooking. There is a hint of devils avocado chap but there have been times when i've succumbed to the lure of the ready meal. Far too easy but it did give me more time fishing! Hope you don't think i've hijacked your thread, the thread police are out tonight and they are not amused! Edit- i love cooking but hate washing up. When the lass is round i do push the boat out knowing i needn't even get a sniff of fairy! Edited August 16, 2013 by ack-ack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted August 16, 2013 Report Share Posted August 16, 2013 After living in our current house for 15 years we finally built a veg garden this year-its cost a fair bit in wood and soil but with an over wintering of horse plop next years crop should work out almost free. The difference in taste is amazing and, along with our own chickens eggs, has made mealtimes a joy. No more tasteless microwave meals here thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
novice cushie shooter Posted August 17, 2013 Report Share Posted August 17, 2013 As mentioned earlier i like to know whats in my food. Only bought a microwave last week too. It will be used for heating up baby food and reheating frozen home-made meals. People are misled by advertising and hiding crucial information. Take the whole horse meat saga as the perfect example. Either way not had a microwave meal since i was 16 and knew no better and couldnt be bothered cooking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackpowder Posted August 17, 2013 Report Share Posted August 17, 2013 Even if living alone home made food is very worth while. A simple and delicious meal of poaching a smoked haddock fillet in milk and butter, poaching an egg in the liquor to sit on top and a couple of baked spuds started off in the microwave and finished in the oven. On the table in 20 minutes. The likes of fish, pigeon and game pies can be made in a batch when time permits having eating one fresh and freezing the others for busy times. Same goes for stews , mince and soups etc . Its the way to go. Blackpowder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted August 17, 2013 Report Share Posted August 17, 2013 I grew up in a house where every meal was freshly made. When we were left to fend for ourselves it would be heating up food which mum had previously freshly cooked and chilled or froze. My kids are 16 and 17 and never had a microwave meal. We have busy lives but food is always cooked from scratch. We also have a house rule that we sit round a table every day and eat as a family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gimlet Posted August 17, 2013 Report Share Posted August 17, 2013 I'm a bloke who lives alone but I cook from fresh every day. I get through stacks of roasts (especially venison), stews, stir-frys, home-ground veg and salads, week days and weekends and I haven't even got a dish washer. The thought of preparing and cooking fresh food and washing up afterwards is worse than actually doing it. Just get in the routine. I have to watch the time and think about what I'm going to have if I want to go out shooting at last light, but I don't plan ahead. Its not that complicated. One thing about living alone is large on-the-bone roasting joints, which are the best tasting, aren't feasible because they'll get wasted. But otherwise i can't see any great disadvantage. As for pizza, make your own. Buy decent ready made bases, or get keen and make your own dough (far tastier). Once you've got the base its the easiest thing in the world. Takes minutes. It can be as healthy as you like - in fact it can be the perfectly balanced meal. You decide whats goes on it, you can easiliy avoid fat and grease and the only limit is your imagination. Good lunch box fillers too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phaedra1106 Posted August 17, 2013 Report Share Posted August 17, 2013 (edited) We do too many takeaways, 1 Chinese, 1 Chip Shop and maybe 1 pizza or Indian a week :( It's not easy getting an Autistic young adult to eat, he has a range of foods he's comfortable with and others he won't go near due to shape, colour, taste, smell, appearance or God knows what else. However, every week I make a fresh lamb hotpot and a chicken casserole in the slow cooker, mince and dumplings go down well or a freshly made shepherds pie. Also do him plenty of meals using chicken breast and always give him vegetables. He's finally got some help of Social Care Direct in the form of a 2Hr "Learn to cook" course once a week, so far he's not been impressed by either what they've made or the quality, they have a budget of £10 a week for ingredients, and that can be for up to 10 students!. As I have to pay over £8 a session for him to go it would be cheaper and healthier to take him to Asda or Tesco and buy £8 worth of decent food and teach him myself!. Next weeks offering is potato and leek soup, unsurprisingly he wants to know what he can take from home to cook instead!. Edited August 17, 2013 by phaedra1106 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperfection Posted August 17, 2013 Report Share Posted August 17, 2013 My main point is, who doesn't have time to cook? I find it incredulous that people don't have time to feed themselves properly. I went through a stage of not genuinley having time to cook.My evening meal consisted of a sandwich or toast. Imagine leaving the house at 5.30am then getting home at 9.00pm. Just enough time to have a sandwich,shower and then bed-all to be repeated the day after etc. (i dont do this work anymore i might add) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted August 17, 2013 Report Share Posted August 17, 2013 Binned the microwave years ago, though we have discussed getting one to cut down on the time it takes to roast spuds/carbon footprint etc, and it amazes me how many ready meals are only microwaveble. However I can see that for some people it can be the only real option due to their lifestyle/job(s). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeds chimp Posted August 17, 2013 Report Share Posted August 17, 2013 I love cooking ....best is Steak and onion pie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokinggun Posted August 17, 2013 Report Share Posted August 17, 2013 I eat a microwave meal nearly every day at work for dinner as I like a hot meal and I think they taste nice although not very big and they are cheaper than nipping out for a hot dinner. For tea I usually have something quick like beans on toast or pork pie and beans etc, as I get in late and am to tired to mess about with cooking and due to my circumstances am alone in the week and then when the wife gets home weekend we often would rather spend some time together than mess about cooking a big meal so take away it is. Hopefully our situation will change next year and we will be together in the week so we will eat home cooked meals more often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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