Have you ever wondered what do working women, bachelors, and people in their golden years have in common? Well! They all want to eat healthy, nutritious food that can be prepared in a jiffy. Yes! One thing that most working women face daily is a shortage of time! They find themselves struggling to meet deadlines throughout the day and by the time they come home after a tiring day, the idea of cooking a lavish dinner gives them the jitters. Similarly, bachelor and aged people may find it difficult to cook proper food. Hey! This should not prevent them from enjoying delicious food, especially with so many ready-to-cook food options available in the market nowadays. There is something to suit every taste bud and these convenience foods are even relished by those who are good chefs but need some change from the daily routine. Instant soups, snacks and dishes that that cater to all tastes can be easily stored at home and heated before eating. A lot of time is saved and they seem very convenient when you come back after a long tiring day. Cuddling up in front of your TV with a quick meal seems very inviting and convenient.
A very obvious question that comes to mind is that whether the use of these ready-to-cook options should be encouraged or not?
Let’s see the pros and cons of convenience foods before forming an opinion about them.
Advantages of Eating Ready to Cook Foods
Saves Time – This is one of the most obvious reasons for using ready-to-cook foods as they can be prepared in minutes without putting in much effort. A lot of time and energy goes into cooking a meal and let’s not forget the time and energy spent in buying groceries from the market. Cleaning up afterward may also seem tedious at times. All these things are easily avoided by opening a ready-to-cook sachet and following simple instructions to serve a delicious recipe that is loved by everyone.
Convenient – Some people may have to work at unconventional times and find it burdensome to take out time to cook a meal. Having a few ready-to-cook meals in your refrigerator is quite convenient at such times as you can just heat and eat it wherever you are and at whatever time you want.Youngsters living away from their families or students living in a hostel find these ready-to-cook options handy and a convenientalternate to home-cooked food. They do not have to go hungry in case the mess or restaurants are closed.
Stress-Free – Deciding on what to cook every night is more frustrating than actual cooking. Furthermore, catering to the taste of different family members can be stressful especially if you are living in a joint family. It is not possible to cook separate dishes to suit everyone’s taste. There may be children in the family who are fussy eaters or elders who have some specific dietary requirements. You can take care of everyone’s needs by keeping ready-to-cook meals at home. This way you can serve a variety of dishes without having to cook multiple meals.
Value for Money – Preparing meals at home may inadvertently cause food wastage especially if you are cooking for just one or two people. You may have to buy some ingredients in bulk that may not be completely used and end up being wasted. Ready to eat meals come in handy packs that serve two or more people and can be used according to the need. This saves a lot of money too.
Convenient during Travel – Ready-to-cook options are easily carried while traveling, whether it is a family vacation or a trekking trip with friends. Simply find a place to heat it and a delicious meal is ready to relish.
Disadvantages of eating ready to Eat Foods
With so many advantages of ready-to-cook meals, there are some areas of concern as well. These should be kept in mind while buying convenience foods.
Processed Foods – Ready-to-cook foods are processed and preserved which essentially kills their nutritional value. While it is fine to eat them occasionally, regular use of such foods is not considered healthy.
Saturated Fats – These foods generally contain saturated fats that are unhealthy and may lead to obesity and cardiovascular diseases. The added flavors and colors are also an area of concern.
Preservatives and coloring agents – Ready-to-cook meals have a long shelf-life. This is because many preservatives have been added to them which may have some harmful effect on your body if consumed regularly. Some synthetic coloring agents and preservatives are known to cause chronic diseases, so it is advisable to read the ingredients on the packet before buying.
Excess Sugar – Some convenience foods like dressings, spreads and doughnuts are loaded with sugar and are addictive. Once you taste them, you crave for more as no doubt these are delicious. Needless to say, sugar has zero nutritional value, it just adds to your calorie intake which may be harmful in the long run. Obesity and Diabetes are common among people who eat excess sweets.
Excess Salt – Most ready-to-cook foods contain excess salt than is actually recommended. While you take care to add salt in a limited amount when you cook at home, you don’t have a choice with ready-to-cook options. Extra salt causes various problems like high blood pressure, Cholesterol, kidney stones, etc. Therefore, it is advisable to eat such foods in a limited amount.
Expensive – Not all ready-to-cook options are cheap. Some products are addictive and quite expensive. Regular use may cause a hole in your pocket.
Hence, we can conclude that ready-to-cook food products are very handy in situations where you are unable to cook due to various reasons, like not being well, shortage of time, or simply when you feel like a change. You don’t need to worry about the health implications as you are not consuming it continuously for a long duration. However, it is best to avoid such readily available food products daily as they may be harmful for your overall health. .