Why do people buy ready meals

For many busy individuals, cutting out all cooking time in the week as well as the reduced need to shop for groceries or plan meals can support a healthy, consistent diet. Variety can be a barrier, as consuming ready-made meals regularly may limit flavour options which can result in menu fatigue over time.

Energy content can greatly differ from calories kJ a meal, so having an understanding your individual needs before purchasing is important. Furthermore, some ready-made meals may not contain adequate portions of specific components to meet your needs, like carbohydrates for example.

Inadequate carbohydrate intake could negatively impact how much energy you have in the petrol tank to actively exercise and think clearly at work. Or they may not have enough vegetables to contribute to your daily fibre and nutrient needs. To make sure ready-made meals are both tasty and able to be preserved, manufacturers will often add generous amounts of salt.

Note: Content may be edited for style and length. Science News. Journal Reference : Melissa L. Horning, Jayne A. Fulkerson, Sarah E. Friend, Mary Story. ScienceDaily, 6 January Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior. Parents purchase frozen dinners for more than convenience.

The focus on quality continued into the 21st Century. The increasing number of people eating out also had an impact. This has helped make ready meals aspirational again, says Fort. Supermarkets are sexing them up and promising a fine dining experience.

Ranges now on offer include the likes of Tesco's "restaurant collection" and a Waitrose range created by three-Michelin starred chef Heston Blumenthal. And the recession has only helped boost sales as cash-strapped consumers have cut back on restaurant meals to stay in instead.

But the nutritional content of such food has attracted negative publicity. A study published in the British Medical Journal in December found that not even one of supermarket ready meals it analysed fully complied with nutritional guidelines set by the World Health Organization. Another study by the University of Glasgow branded ready meals as "nutritionally chaotic". Regardless, the market keeps on growing. But some people were never fans and never will be.

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Freezers helped fuel the appetite for convenience foods. Before mashed potato arrived in the ready meal aisle, it came in a tin. Ready meals that echo gastropub fare are now popular.