LC ready meals and dishes

[col101]

I don't always have the time and energy to cook from scratch. I noticed today M&S have started to sell a cauliflower mash which I tried and it was quite good wondered if there are any other favourite LC ready made dishes out there please?

 

[Energize]

Generally, any ready-made meals will have lots of different ingredients which would probably not be included if making at home.

Have you checked what ingredients are in this Cauliflower Mash and, more importantly, what is the amount of Carbs listed both per 100 gms and per portion? That would be the first thing I would be checking

Out of interest, how did this Cauliflower Mash affect your blood glucose levels?

 

[maglil55]

I don't always have the time and energy to cook from scratch. I noticed today M&S have started to sell a cauliflower mash which I tried and it was quite good wondered if there are any other favourite LC ready made dishes out there please?

M&S do quite a few fairly low carb chicken dishes such as their chicken in red wine in the gastropub range or there are loads in their chicken range for example chicken with mushroom and bacon. There are also lots that take very little time to cook - a rump steak with a creamy sauce and wilted spinach. Veal escalope, fish (no breadcrumbs). Another thing I do is cook extra portions and freeze it then I have meals on hand and I know what's in them for the days I can't be bothered. But check the backs on the M&S foods. Another quick thing I do having found out about Lidl High Protein Rolls and Tesco high protein farmhouse bread is to knock together a sandwich with a low carb meat and loads of salad and a dollop of Helmanns. Hope this gives you some ideas.

 

[chalup]

One of my favorite meals is a nicely marbled pork butt steak. Throw it in a pan frozen, douse it with low sugar soy sauce and sprinkle with whatever spice you like. Bake in the oven for about 45 minutes to an hour until it gets golden brown. The soy sauce makes it very tender. Goes great with some veg or salad and takes less than 5 minutes prep time.

 

[geefull]

I do fairly low carb (>80g per day) and I usually have a pack of Asda's cooked chicken breast strips in the freezer, they can go in an omelette or stir fry, a quick thaw in the microwave and they're good to go and it's easy to control the portion.
I also usually have an Asda's 'main for 2' curry in the freezer for days like that, (chicken jalfrezi is @7 g of carb for half a pack, chicken tikka about the same), We like curry made from scratch but the Asda ones are pretty good (add some of the chicken strips for an extra meaty meal ), if I know I'm going to be out late I can leave it the fridge to thaw all day and just put the oven on and throw it in whilst we have a cup of tea.

 

[Brunneria]

Mr B has a fondness for ready meals (dates from before I got my hands on him) so I often make dishes based on things he has enjoyed. But my homemade versions tend to be better quality ingredients, lower carb, and no more hassle than the ready prepared ones.

We have:
Chicken breasts baked in the oven with chorizo or pepperoni slices on top, scattered with grated cheese (40mins at 180 degrees)
the same but with boned and skinned chicken thighs (30 mins at 180 degrees)
Pork steaks baked in oven with horseradish or mustard spread over the top, added cheese, if nec (similar timing and temp, depending on thickness of steak
Chicken baked under a tin of tomatoes, with sliced onion and peppers
Baked peppers, cut in half, with a filling of pate or cream cheese, or mushroom and garlic (again 180 degrees for as long as it takes to cook the peppers)
Fish pie - pack of mixed fish, or just white fish if that is your preference, with chopped veg (you can buy it preprepared if you don't want to chop), placed in baking dish and scattered with cheese. (25-30 mins, 180 degrees)

I think some of the best 'ready meals' are the ones you prepare before going to work, and then come home to the fragrant results of the slow cooker. Delicious, and ready to serve. Soups, stews, chillis, curries, lemon chicken, whole chicken, barbecue chicken, bone broth, ham in orange juice and leeks... mouthwatering.

 

[kittypoker]

I don't always have the time and energy to cook from scratch. I noticed today M&S have started to sell a cauliflower mash which I tried and it was quite good wondered if there are any other favourite LC ready made dishes out there please?

Tesco do a decent range of chicken breasts in various sauces like bacon, leek and cheese which are tasty, low carb and not too expensive. It's cheaper and almost as easy to make something similar yourself with a handful of pre-chopped lardons and grated cheese but if you really can't be bothered, they freeze well and take about 25mins or half an hour to cook from chilled. Or get some chopped meat or fish and stick it in a Spice Tailor curry sauce. Ten minutes beginning to end and nutrition values on the packet.

 

[AndBreathe]

Generally, any ready-made meals will have lots of different ingredients which would probably not be included if making at home.

Have you checked what ingredients are in this Cauliflower Mash and, more importantly, what is the amount of Carbs listed both per 100 gms and per portion? That would be the first thing I would be checking

Out of interest, how did this Cauliflower Mash affect your blood glucose levels?

M&S usually declare nutritional values of 100gr, plus a declared portions size; for example, a half back or each item, if you're talking nibbles.

 

[col101]

Thanks for all your replies and ideas maybe it's time I got off my backside and cooked more would certainly help me to eat less salt and additives. Sounds so easy to knock up tasty dishes using try things like soy and chorizo. The marks cauliflower mash is predominantly cauliflower and around 4g carbs per 100g wt.

 

[Chook]

I don't often have ready meals as such - but I do have quickly prepared or microwave defrostable food. Big favourite in this house are cheese and ham omlettes, pre-chopped stir fry veggies (done by supermarket) with salmon or diced chicken, antipasti (cold continental meats) with cheeses and other dishes that I've cooked in the past then frozen in portions. In fact I've got rather too many of those at the moment. The freezers are jam packed full.

 

[azure]

I don't always have the time and energy to cook from scratch. I noticed today M&S have started to sell a cauliflower mash which I tried and it was quite good wondered if there are any other favourite LC ready made dishes out there please?

What's your carb limit? I've found some of the M&S meat and fish meals very good. The Co-op also do some nice options

 

[col101]

What's your carb limit? I've found some of the M&S meat and fish meals very good. The Co-op also do some nice options

Thank you i try to keep to 50-80g a day. I think it's often carb replacements I struggle to find, so things like cauliflower rice or mash to replace starchon a dish. Just got a new Coop opened recently will have to have a look around.

 

[JenniB]

Thanks for all your replies and ideas maybe it's time I got off my backside and cooked more would certainly help me to eat less salt and additives. Sounds so easy to knock up tasty dishes using try things like soy and chorizo. The marks cauliflower mash is predominantly cauliflower and around 4g carbs per 100g wt.

Hi Like you I am busy and cooking from scratch is not something I have ever done and I am now 65! Perhaps that has contributed to my diabetis (T2) - I learnt on the EXPERT course (your doc should have referred you to this course - it is excellen - 3 hrs p week for 6 weeks and so informative) that anything pre prepared is a NO NO NO for a range of reasons

 

[daisyduck]

If you cook from scratch, make loads.. I did a lovely lamb tagine the other day. I made 6 portions and froze 4 of them. I now have 4 "ready meals" for when I don't feel like cooking. We also go away in our campervan a lot and I always have loads of these at hand to take away with us.

 

[col101]

I can see that supermarket ready meals have lots of additives to preserve etc. Might be time for this old dog to learn new tricks and making a batch at a time is good advice

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[suginami]

I cook bag and freeze. Bean s or bean stews. Frozen broccoli. Chick peas. I cook then with a bit of flax oil and lots of green veg. Frozen tastes even better