When I try to cook a pasta dish, the calorie count very quickly goes way above what I was planning for but all these supermarket brands manage to make these very tasty meals that are a regular portion but with very little calories? How? Is the calorie count reliable (especially in the UK)?
by jsscnd
10 Comments
Tiny portions
Supermarkets dont make the food, they just sell it.
Lies ? Sometimes it really does not make sense.
There’s a lot of heavily processed ingredients in those meals.
They don’t use proper milk, cream, sauce etc., They use highly processed ingredients that have been blitzed to oblivion and resemble nothing like real food. All nutrients blitzed away so you’re left with low-calorie “food”.
Due to having lipoedema, I try to eat anti-inflammatory most of the time. These ready meals, especially low calorie ones, are some of the worst things because they’re so processed. I know it’s tricky to stay within 1500 cals, I know all too well. But depending on the make/brand of the “lean cuisine” frozen meals, they can be very highly processed.
I think often, if we can manage with time and energy, it’s better to just cook a small portion of homemade pasta. At least you know there are real ingredients in it, and that the sauce isn’t made from milk that’s been processed 17 times to remove calories.
I thought the same thing. I had a little spaghetti at work today. It was good, but the portion was very small. I use these meals as a backup when I’m running late and don’t cook my lunch in the morning haha It’s enough to get me home. I think the spaghetti was 280 calories. Not bad at all.
It’s a small serving. Just be smart about what you’re buying. If it’s a small amount of calories for something that should be more, check to see how many grams/ounces the package is.
It’s partly low fat swaps in the ingredients but mostly smaller than typical portions
Their portions are just smaller. I buy the count on us all the time from M&S and find them great as a lunch for work. The chicken in mushroom sauce and braised beef and mash are unreal 🤤
Chemicals
Be careful that may have expired in September. Or tomorrow if you’re not in the USA (??)