Everybody loves a convenient and ready-to-consume meal that is still gourmet in standard. However, the process of achieving just that is too much to do, and nobody has the time for it.
That is why this technique has been introduced to the world market as part of the innovation and advancements in the food industry.
Let’s dive into how ready-to-eat meals came about and how it is now a practice accepted by society.
What Are Ready To Eat Meals?
These are meals usually called “convenience foods” as they are precooked and packed ahead of time, so little to no cooking is needed.
Meals are either packed fresh or frozen yet can still be up to par with a standard home-cooked meal. They are characterized to be shelf-stable and can be refrigerated for certain periods. Ready to Eat Meals include:
- Precooked white or red meats (Poultry/Seafood or Pork/Beef)
- Refrigerated or vacuum sealed smoked products
- Side salads (vegetable or fruit)
- Raw vegetables and raw fruits
- Rice and Wraps Pre-assembled and ready to heat
- A few processed foods such as sausages, luncheon meats, cold cuts
In most cases, reheating these meals is enough. They are ready to be consumed.
When did Ready to Eat Meals become a trend?
This type of meal packaging was first developed for the Armed Forces.
Due to consumers’ demand for convenient and practical food preparation for everyday meals, this packaging technique is now used in every household.
Meal packaging started to trend in the market and was available to consumers early in the 90s.
These days, ready to eat meal packaging is an innovative way to preserve food for consumption. It can be done commercially or right at home.
Nutritional Value of Ready-to-Eat Meals
Individuals are more practical in choosing this meal and packaging technique because of the convenience in preparation. It’s also cheaper, and that helps control finances.
However, there are certain concerns if ready-to-eat meals are safe to eat. These meals have additional fats, salt, and other flavorings added to ensure proper preservation, thus altering the nutritional value.
You must review the suggested nutritional values when buying your ready-to-eat meals. The nutritional content of your ingredients should be valued like the following:
- 300-500 calories
- 10-18 grams of fat in total
- 1-4 grams of saturated fat
- less than 600mg total sodium
- 10-20 grams of protein
- Whole grain or with 5 grams of fiber
Safety Precautions
If you’re interested in this new trend of food packing, here are some important safety precautions you need to know about ready-to-eat meals:
Storing Requirements
Be familiar with how these meals should be stored and what temperature should be followed. This way, meal preservation will not be compromised.
Expiration Dates
A clear expiration date must be set to consume the ready-to-eat meal safely. Always check this label before reheating it before consumption.
Allergen Inclusions and Dietary Restrictions
Checking the label for ingredients is also needed to know if there are any allergy triggers in the pre-packed meal and avoid undesired reactions.
Dietary restrictions should also be known through the label on the package. This way, individuals with certain requirements set by their physician due to their health or medical history can be covered.
Conclusion
Now that ready-to-eat meals are an accepted packaging technique, further studies are being done to create an accessible and healthier option that can cater to many individuals.
Familiarize yourself with food safety instructions on how to preserve, reheat, and pack your ready-to-eat meals so you can provide them to yourself, friends, or loved ones, whether done independently or by choosing to patronize a certain meal provider.
Article Reference/s:
https://habs.uq.edu.au/article/2019/10/what-health-should-we-eat-ready-made-meals
https://www.p5pkg.com/ready-to-eat-meal-packaging/