Ready Meals

My MIL and DM both found the M&S range of small complete meals were just right. Living on their own they would never prepare such meals for themselves: they mostly comprise meat and 2 veg. Mum particularly enjoyed a baked gammon in white sauce and MIL liked the Roast lamb dinner. No complaints there. Good value. No waste at all. Good old M&S!

I love ready meals. Waitrose, M and S, and Co-op. They are a good way of counting calories too if you are dieting. And they usually contain all the food groups. Though the addition of a bit of extra veg is good.

I am a north east Gran and I have never been asked to be a tester but there again I probably keep M&S afloat by the amount I spend on food in the store.
We do buy food that ha s to be cooked from scratch but if I am having guests then convenience is paramount. 10 for dinner on Sunday and I will cheat like crazy.

We lived on M&S ready meals when we went away the other week and they were delicious. My one complaint is that we did end up adding more vegetables to them.

Nothing wrong with ready meals IMHO.

My father surprised me by enjoying them, he said the portions suited him, as long as he had a 'big pudding'.

I like M&S single meals. I CBA to cook roast and two veg just for myself. Their roast lamb meal is good. Their curries are the best around and I love their smoked salmon.

I like some of the Chinese dishes but definitely their fish and chips. I have never tried meat and 2 veg there nor eg spag bol because I would prefer to cook the latter for myself.

I keep a supply of M&S or Waitrose meals - they're very useful for work and for when I'm too lazy to cook.

I called into Marks last night hoping to bag a few 'yellow label' bargains but no such luck!

Is it just me that thinks M & S food is really expensive? I saw the thread and thought it must just be me so I went to take a look at M & S food online and I haven't changed my opinion.

The variety does look good and its nice that people can find healthy tasty meals in their price range but on the whole I find it too expensive.

tanith I agree, but if one is selective, one can buy bargains. Provided one is not doing the weekly shop there, I find it works out okay price wise most of the time.

Charleygirl thats a good way to shop , I suppose I was thinking about it from the weekly shop point of view..

We have tried ready meals from several different sources, some that are delivered (like Oakhouse and Wiltshire Farm Foods) and some that we shop for - like Waitrose.

On the whole I would agree that M&S definitely have the edge. We tend to share a meal between two as we find them rather too large for our appetites. They are in the long run good value I think, partly because it is hard to buy small quantities, and partly because of the cooking costs.

They are ideal for us as we live in a very rural place.

I dont think that M & S meals are expensive, not given the quality of the ingredients. I frequently buy their cottage pie, at around £4, and with loads of added veg it is a cost effective meal for 3 of us. I would be hard pushed to make one from scratch for that price, even without the cost of my labour. When they have 3 for £5 on their Italian meals for one, I buy a few for the freezer for when someone is going to eating at a different time.

With Mr P away during the week I often resort to ready meals, usually Waitrose with their 3 for £6 option. I do sometimes do "proper" cooking, as I'm very fond of liver (especially the calves liver in Lidl) but cheat a bit by using Waitrose frozen mash. It looks like sticks of chalk. It is better then their "fresh" prepared mash, which I find too sloppy. With the frozen I just take out enough for me, pop it in the oven. I then steam a whole bag of spinach and gently fry the liver in a little butter. Yummy, healthy supper!

I also try to invite a friend round for supper once a week, as it does make me cook a proper meal. Although I did cheat a bit on Wednesday, I did a home made pasta dish with salad and bought garlic bread.

That Waitrose ready washed and cook in the bag spinach is fantastic!

Tanith yes M&S food can be expensive but there are bargains to be had!

I don't know anyone who does their full weekly shop there, no matter how wealthy they are, as the range is limited for a family shop. But the choice of lovely 'eatables' is second to none ..... nothing like a smoked salmon mousse, chicken liver pate, or dressed lobster to lift the spirits!

As for ready meals in general - I think they're great and very convenient if you choose well from a good source.

jings have you tried Waitrose frozen spinach? It's very cheap!

"Is it just me that thinks M & S food is really expensive?"

No, Waitrose and M&S are both expensive places to buy, and ready meals are an expensive way to eat.

Typical Waitrose ready meal: £4.68/1000kcal
Typical Tesco ready meal: £3.65/1000kcal
Average cost of my dinners: £1.54/1000kcal

Somebody tell me that this is an April fool. £30 for a ready meal!!

Another vote here for M&S food although not often the ready meals unless on Dine in for£10, but the meats and fish at 3 for £10 are very good value and good quality.

Yes Riverwalk. we do have that as a regular thing. So convenient!

crun this is more like for like comparison

Jingl and Galen, how were the 5:2 ready meals, which you ordered from a GN advert, on special offer?

I don't buy ready meals as I love cooking and they're expensive. I reckon most my main meals cost about £1 - £2. Also, like all processed food, ready meals are heavy on salt, fat and sugar.
I cook from scratch and always make enough for several meals, the extra being reheated next day or frozen. My freezer is full of home-frozen vegetables, soup and complete meals. I don't make elaborate stuff, it's mostly vegetarian and made quickly because I'm greedy!

Didn't get 'em in the end. I seem to remember lethargy set in, and then the moment passed. Doubt if they were as nice as M and S and Waitrose though.