Your guide to healthy ‘Ready Made Meals’

When it comes to mealtime, the one thing that everybody desires is fresh, fast, healthy food. 

The good news is for those who are too busy to cook, singles or young families on a budget, there are plenty of convenient online ready-made meals for every feast. This is going to be your guide to finding your healthy ready-made meal rotation so you can live life to its fullest. Decide what you eat, when you want and reap the benefits of ready-made home delivery that suits every lifestyle.

Nowadays, getting healthy ready-made meals delivered to your door is as simple as they are delicious. With plenty of variety and dietary options to suit, getting restaurant-quality food delivered to your doorstep has never been easier. Get all the nutrients you need without sacrificing quality and flavour. Minimise the amount of time you spend in the kitchen and maximise the time you spend living!

How to keep your ‘ready home meals’ fresh 

One critical thing to think about before you start your healthy ready home meal journey is storage. Keeping your meal as fresh as possible will help you take your cooking to the next level. But how do you store food correctly? 

Airtight Storage 

Airtight containers are versatile for all different types of food, starting from the pantry all the way to the freezer, but why is that? When preparing a meal, sometimes you have extra ingredients that can be reused in a later meal. To minimise food wastage, it’s important to maintain the best storage to keep your food fresh, full of nutrition and flavourful. Airtight storage is one of the most important things to consider in your kitchen. Keeping products sealed reduces moisture and allows your food to be fresher for longer. 

Defrosting Correctly 

A commonly asked question is can you freeze ready home meals? For meat products, it’s recommended that they remain frozen for up to 2 hours prior to cooking. When defrosting meat products out of the freezer packs, make sure that you keep them in the fridge overnight while defrosting. Alternatively, use the defrost setting on your microwave for quicker results.  

Grow your own extra ingredients 

Sometimes adding a little garnish can bring your meal to a whole new level. Growing your own versatile ingredients at home can provide you with the peace of mind that you just can’t get with packaged items. When you pick your herbs for your ready home meals, you can simply chop them and add them to your dish. If you’re looking to preserve your garnishes, its best to store them together in a ziplock bag and freeze it to maintain freshness, 

What to look for in healthy ‘ready home meals’ 

When shopping for the best ready home meals, what are some of the qualities to look out for to ensure you're getting the most healthy and nutritious ready home meals available? Having a good balance of carbohydrates, protein and vegetables are essential in any healthy meal. Portion sizes are also important to look at. Making sure you’re consuming the right amount of food is almost as important as the quality of food you're eating. 

Processed Ingredients - Has it been cooked already? 

We hear all the time about eating less processed foods, but what exactly are processed foods? Foods that are processed have their natural nutrients taken out usually in the cooking process. This occurs by adding things like salt, sugar and oil. By adding those ingredients, a dish is now considered processed. This is done to preserve the food for longer, at the cost of its original fresh flavours. How are ready meals made? Ready meals are made with portion sizes in mind. Each serving in our ready meals comes with its own nutritional information. This is to ensure that you're getting all the right vitamins and preservatives needed. 

Look for main meal options that hit 400-500 calories (1680-2100kJ) per serve

When you’re asking yourself, ‘are ready made meals healthy?’ One thing to consider is the serving size and caloric intake. Calories make up the energy used when you’re going about your day. Whether you’re going for a walk or hitting the gym it’s important that the calories you’re consuming remain deficient to the calories you’re burning. In order to lose or maintain weight, it’s important to understand your specific caloric intake and what works best for your body in maintaining a healthy, consistent diet.

How is it stored when being shipped?

When your ready made meals are being delivered to your home, the packing is critical to maintaining freshness and quality. Frozen items are kept in freezer bags, while fridge and pantry goods are packed appropriately. This is so no items get damaged in transit, allowing you to enjoy your best healthy, ready-made meals exactly how it’s intended!

Our Favourite ‘ready-made meals’ for those looking for healthy, flavourful alternatives  

Check out some of our favourite ready-made meals with iPantry’s extensive menu selection that contains options for all tastes and lifestyles. That includes vegan, low-calorie and family-friendly options that will leave your mouth watering and wanting more. Why not expand your taste buds and try something new? iPantry has a range of choices for you to explore healthy flavourful alternatives.

Italian Meatball with fresh Fettuccine Pasta (Serves 4)

Get your go-to Italian fix with this simple and easy Italian Meatball & Pasta that serves four. This dish is made with mouthwatering meatballs and fresh fettuccine, ensuring you get authentic tasting, healthy ready-made meals delivered fresh to your door. Simply follow the cooking instructions on the packaging and have a delicious meal ready in under 30 minutes.  

Beef Bourguignon with a Cheesy Cauliflower & Potato Gratin (Serves 4)

Try a French favourite for dinner with this Beef Bourguignon. Enjoy the delicious taste of a slow-cooked meal without the hassle of the prep time. Combine it with cheesy cauliflower, potato gratin and serve with a piping hot combination of butter and spinach to enjoy the full range of this dish. 

Chicken, Mushroom & Sweet Corn Pot Pie (Serves 4) 

Find your family favourite with the Chicken, Mushroom & Sweet Corn Pot Pie. With four servings, these pies take gourmet food to another level. Serve with sweet potato fries, a garden salad and enjoy! Never have to worry about mealtime again and get restaurant-quality meals delivered consistently to your door.

Conclusion 

Healthy alternatives to ready-made meals have never been easier. Getting delicious, fresh, restaurant-quality food delivered right to your doorstep takes the hassle out of mealtime. Whether you’re working late at night, hate excessive food waste, or are learning how to cook, you have plenty of variety to choose what you eat and when you eat it. With our extensive range of healthy, convenient ready-made meals, that you can cook for yourself or a family in a matter of minutes, dinner is covered for every occasion. Whether you want a taste of Italy with the Italian Meatball with fresh Fettuccine Pasta or a cosy night in with the Chicken, Mushroom & Sweet Corn Pot Pie, take the hassle out of dining with iPantry. Be sure to rest easy knowing you’re getting healthy, nutritious, restaurant-quality fuel for your body delivered right to your door.