BristolUK

That's certainly a possibility. But most of the ready-made meals are single servings and of a size not just for one, but a size more suitable for lunch rather than dinner.
I'm sure the OP meant this

rather than



Plus there are Tesco Metro/Express or Sainsburys 'Local' everywhere, dead handy for people popping out from their workplace (or in the morning on arrival) to pick something and then back in the office to microwave it.

I'd argue all the more reason why you would buy some ready made meals on that trip so they were available for use when the occasion arose.

When the kids were going to school, those Michelina things were perfect for lunches - along with some fruit, say - and once a month they'd be a ridiculously cheap 99c. We'd stock up and have them in the freezer, ready.

Of course we'd also have plenty of other "proper" meals cooked and leftovers could be packaged similarly for lunches too. Also freshly made wraps and stuff like that. Variation is key.

It needn't be either/or. Sometimes its just nice to be able to get something out the fridge or freezer, zap it and eat it, with no advance planning involved.

scrubbedexpat091

Ready made meals in my mind are the ready to eat no cooking/warming necessary, walk into the store get food, eat there or take home which I suppose one could freeze for future use.

Frozen meals are not what I consider ready made, and those are easy to stock up on, I buy frozen meals often, many are inexpensive, quick and easy, perfect for those like me who hate cooking and want to eat quickly.

dbd33

That's a shitload of packaging. First you have to buy a Dremel to open it and then you have to kill an ocean's worth of sharks to get rid of it. Is it really so hard to boil your own rice?

Dorothy

Have you thought about doing a free cooking class sometime? It's a good way to get out but you mightdiscover that you don't really hate cooking as much as you think. Whenever I go visit my family my sister and I always go to either Sobey's for the free classes or Fortino (don't think you have them in BC) for the inexpensive class.

scilly

I was thinking that the OP meant more like the ready-to-cook meals like we saw on our last trip to the UK in 2008 .......... friends took us out for the day, we stopped at the local grocery store, and she picked up 2 packets of pork chops marinating in a some sort of sauce in sealed plastic bags (I think lemon and something). Took them home, popped the chops (2 in each packet) in the convection oven, potatoes cooked in a pan and veggies in the microwave. Dinner on the table in 20 minutes or so!

You can buy similar fresh meats marinating in a sauce and ready to cook at our local Safeway ............ but not the variety that we saw in the UK.

But as I said ............... I'm thinking it is more the way life developed over here.

When we first arrived in Vancouver, we lived for 4 years in an apartment in one of the "village-like" areas ....... within 2 blocks of the apartment we had all the little stores you would have found on the any high street in a small town in the UK .......... the butcher, the baker, the fish shop, 3 little grocery stores, shoe shops, dress shops, post office, etc etc.

Yet few people, including ourselves, shopped every day for our evening meal ............... we went to our favourite of the grocery stores once a week, bought a roast and some other meat at the butcher, and maybe fish for Saturday night's dinner. The roast was cooked on Sunday, the other meat went into the small freezer for later in the week.

BristolUK

Yes, there's packaging but not necessarily more than non convenience stuff with styrofoam and clingwrap. A cardboard sleeve that gets recycled and a plastic or card tray ditto.

And, of course, rice is easy. Every time we have it I cook plenty for part of subsequent meals.

But it's only part of a meal. Not much good if you get back from the pub, say, and you feel the need for something nice that's not only rice. Other than a take-away, what could be nicer and easier than within 5 minutes, having a nice little plate of prawn curry and rice or a chicken tagliatelle? You might regret the heavy take-away come morning.

Sobeys does that too.
. Yep, exactly it. Sainsburys did packs of 2 Lamb shanks that came with a mix for rosemary (I think) gravy/sauce. Transfer it to casserole dish,follow the cooking instructions and you had lovely tender lamb falling off the bone, in a really nice sauce. Just add your own veg.

Here you get a couple of choices of marinated pork choppy things, perhaps some store made meatballs or some skewered meat but you're as likely to get coffee or whisky burger patties as anything else

BristolUK

Sunday today. Dinner for four is inevitably more involved than on other days.

So I don't want to be doing much for lunch. A sandwich, perhaps. Beans on toast.
Or...something a lot more interesting, five minutes from taking it out of the freezer and I'm eating it.




It's one of the few ready made meals that compares favourably

Siouxie

Perhaps you didn't see my earlier post about Lou's? Roast Turkey (with gravy), Roast Pork (with gravy), Roast Beef (with gravy) .. and others.. all precooked, chuck into a pan of boiling water (or into the microwave) and done!

Turkey Roast | Lou's BBQ
Beef Pot Roast | Lou's BBQ
Home-Style Pork Roast | Lou's BBQ

BristolUK

Yes I did.

I've even seen one or two in the stores. But I didn't think them worth it. Their bacon is a much better deal and I get that regularly

My reference to the marinated pork chops was more about what Sobeys/Safeways prepares and packs but you're right, Lou's should be included.

scrubbedexpat091

I find Lou's meats are pretty decent, easy to cook, boil in bag for about 8 minutes to warm, then serve.

Pulled Beef | Lou's BBQ

scrubbedexpat091

I am still looking into free ones (i have found lots that cost $$ but free seems to be more elusive.), but cooking today, I think the biggest issue is the very compact kitchen and low counters making it simply an unpleasant experience. I think a more suitable kitchen would make things more pleasent.

I just measured, the kitchen is 41" wide, 80" long, and counter/sink/stove is only 35" tall. The stove, sink is perfect level for me if I am sitting in a chair...lol

Jerseygirl

36” is the average height of countertops and stoves...so only 1” difference,

scrubbedexpat091

Everything is built for short people...lol

Maybe if I get a stool to sit on, might make things easier...

zoec

Totally agree with the OP. Anytime i go back to the UK, i stare at all the amazing food in M+S (although to be fair, M+S is pricier than most supermarkets and is higher end). I find stuff in Canada is generally more expensive too. I also miss the chilled dessert sections- things like GU desserts. Everything is frozen here. I did google that before though and found an article that said that chilled food doesn't do as well here due to the low population set against large distances, it just doesn't work as alot of it would go to waste.

Also birthday cakes in England. You can find so many in the bakery sections of supermarkets. Don't get me started on the rubbish ones here!

I don't like ready meals in general, as I find they have alot of preservatives, colours and a high salt content. However, comparing labels on Canadian ready meals compared to UK ones, the ingredients used are starkly different and i find that Canada adds alot more rubbish in theirs whereas some of the UK ones it is just real ingredients.

I also find produce over there is alot cheaper too. As in 50p for broccoli and here it's $3! Same for bread too. And the bread here is just so small! Although Canada does have Bulk Barn...

OrangeMango

I often think the same way. M & S is best.

However the situation in the UK might change for the worse, in the case of a hard Brexit.