Are Microwaveable Packaged Meals Really That Bad For You?

[Math Is Hard]

Microwave meals can be bad for you? Perish the thought. I eat one of these four times a day to keep my girlish figure: http://www.x-entertainment.com/articles/0744/

That's a lot of breakfast! If I am going to go crazy and take in 1030 calories in one meal, I'm sure not going to do it with a frozen dinner. It better be the tastiest freakin' food I ever put in my mouth.

 

[Moonbear]

That's a lot of breakfast! If I am going to go crazy and take in 1030 calories in one meal, I'm sure not going to do it with a frozen dinner. It better be the tastiest freakin' food I ever put in my mouth.

I'm still trying to figure out of that's a real product, or a spoof. 231% of the RDA for cholesterol?!

Maybe it's already off the market (it didn't even look edible) or has been reformulated...here's what was available on another site that provides nutrition labels
http://caloriecount.about.com/calories-swanson-hungry-man-hearty-breakfast-i115915

More calories, but less cholesterol (only 85% of the RDA now ).

I'm going to have to check out the freezer section now and see if these things really exist. It looked ATROCIOUS from the photos. And to dare label it as a single serving?

 

[turbo]

Interesting article:

Exposure to non-nutritional food additives during the critical development window has been implicated in the induction and severity of behavioral disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Although the use of single food additives at their regulated concentrations is believed to be relatively safe in terms of neuronal development, their combined effects remain unclear. We therefore examined the neurotoxic effects of four common food additives in combinations of two (Brilliant Blue and L-glutamic acid, Quinoline Yellow and aspartame) to assess potential interactions. Mouse NB2a neuroblastoma cells were induced to differentiate and grow neurites in the presence of additives. After 24 h, cells were fixed and stained and neurite length measured by light microscopy with computerized image analysis. Neurotoxicity was measured as an inhibition of neurite outgrowth. Two independent models were used to analyze combination effects: effect additivity and dose additivity. Significant synergy was observed between combinations of Brilliant Blue with L-glutamic acid, and Quinoline Yellow with aspartame, in both models. Involvement of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in food additive-induced neurite inhibition was assessed with a NMDA antagonist, CNS-1102. L-glutamic acid- and aspartame induced neurotoxicity was reduced in the presence of CNS-1102; however, the antagonist did not prevent food color-induced neurotoxicity. Theoretical exposure to additives was calculated based on analysis of content in foodstuff, and estimated percentage absorption from the gut. Inhibition of neurite outgrowth was found at concentrations of additives theoretically achievable in plasma by ingestion of a typical snack and drink. In addition, Trypan Blue dye exclusion was used to evaluate the cellular toxicity of food additives on cell viability of NB2a cells; both combinations had a straightforward additive effect on cytotoxicity. These data have implications for the cellular effects of common chemical entities ingested individually and in combination.

This was a very simple in-vitro study that was designed to explore the possibility of synergistic toxicity in a very limited number of non-nutritional food additives. There are prepared foods with many, many more chemicals in them than one or two, so the results of this study should be sobering.

http://toxsci.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/90/1/178

 

[mgb_phys]

Exposure to non-nutritional food additives during the critical development window has been implicated in the induction and severity of behavioral disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Anyone who grew up in the 70s with Sunny Delight, lead in gas, lead paint, and eating sweets that were 99% tartrazine is probably immune to anything short of a nuclear strike.

 

[Dadface]

I have yet to eat a shop bought microwave meal which is as tasty as the home cooked version.

 

[TheStatutoryApe]

I'm going to have to check out the freezer section now and see if these things really exist. It looked ATROCIOUS from the photos. And to dare label it as a single serving?

Yes the Hungry Man frozen meals actually exist. I see them all the time in the market and even ate a few when I was a teenager. They're not even very tasty from what I remember.
http://www.hungry-man.com/

 

[Born2bwire]

Yes the Hungry Man frozen meals actually exist. I see them all the time in the market and even ate a few when I was a teenager. They're not even very tasty from what I remember.
http://www.hungry-man.com/

I believe they have discontinued their breakfast line and have toned back some of the horrific nutritional facts. Despite this, a single meal alone still provides a nearly complete day's worth of fat and sodium. Another example: http://caloriecount.about.com/calories-swanson-hungry-man-xxl-dinner-i115944 Although I read on another website, a Men's Health article on the saltiest foods in the US (guess which one was mentioned for frozen dinner) that the turkey dinner was labeled as two servings.

 

[Moonbear]

At least they call it XXL, which is the size you'll be if you eat those regularly! While I was looking up articles related to this topic earlier, one thing I came across were a couple of studies reporting on excess salt intake as a risk factor for stomach cancer. The ones I saw were more epidemiological studies, so not definitive, and I didn't take time to look further. But, considering how much sodium is in a lot of these prepackaged meals, I may have to take a deeper look if there's more to the hypothesis. I previously hadn't considered sodium intake to be too much of an issue unless someone was already predisposed to high blood pressure.

 

[JasonRox]

At least they call it XXL, which is the size you'll be if you eat those regularly! While I was looking up articles related to this topic earlier, one thing I came across were a couple of studies reporting on excess salt intake as a risk factor for stomach cancer. The ones I saw were more epidemiological studies, so not definitive, and I didn't take time to look further. But, considering how much sodium is in a lot of these prepackaged meals, I may have to take a deeper look if there's more to the hypothesis. I previously hadn't considered sodium intake to be too much of an issue unless someone was already predisposed to high blood pressure.

Salt is everywhere. I ate chili in a can once and then read the label... it's loaded with salt.

Today, I made my own chili with virtually no salt added. Basically all the salt came from the Stewed Tomatoes in a can. For some reason, I don't eat much in a can. Even the beans I prepared myself... as opposed to getting it from a can. I guess next time I will prepare my own tomatoes too.

The problem I see with eat pre-packaged foods is that we don't know much about the long-term effects. Although we been selling them for years (maybe 30 I'm guessing), it only seems to have been on the mass consumption scale for like 15 years or so, and 20 years for the younger generation (born into it). So technically, that's still young. Someone my age or a bit younger (I'm 25), has been born essentially when it's started becoming popular on a huge scale (in the sense that people are willing to eat it all the time). The effects of eating a regular diet on these thing might not be noticeable until my generation, and those younger than me, turn atleast 35 years of age or so when things start emerging.

For me, I ate a lot of bad stuff but nowhere near as what I see out there. I prepare 90% of my meals atleast.

I do not want to be the one learning the effects of long-term use of pre-packaged meals. I'll go with the tried, tested and true method of eating and that is... cook yourself.

 

[Dadface]

I do not want to be the one learning the effects of long-term use of pre-packaged meals. I'll go with the tried, tested and true method of eating and that is... cook yourself.

I suppose we all have a little bit of Hannibal Lecter in us.I have thought about cooking myself but I couldn't find a good recipe.

 

[Huckleberry]

I suppose we all have a little bit of Hannibal Lecter in us.I have thought about cooking myself but I couldn't find a good recipe.

Try asking this guy.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

For the record both Trader Joe's and Annie's make good TV dinner style packages.

 

[TheStatutoryApe]

For the record both Trader Joe's and Annie's make good TV dinner style packages.

I forget the name but there is some new store around here that my parents have told me about where they make fresh prepackaged meals that are fairly inexpensive. I don't remember for sure but I think that they have both precooked and uncooked. I'll have to figure out the name of the place and go take a look.

 

[tgt]

I don't see a problem with frozen dinners, I eat them all of the time. Canned soups are much scarier.

How about 3 meals a day, every day? Given that the most expansive frozen dinners are ate and also a lot of variety in the frozen dinners?

 

[redargon]

sounds like you're looking for an excuse to eat them every day, so just do it and see what happens. If you don't notice any differences in 10 years, it's all good. If you notice any differences after 10 years, than it's too late anyway, so just keep doing it or try changing.

 

[tgt]

How would instant noodles compare with those frozen dinners?

 

[turbo]

How would instant noodles compare with those frozen dinners?

You can't be bothered to boil some noodles and combine them with a stir-fry of vegetables, seasonings, etc? Just a few minutes of work can leave you with a big batch of food that you can package up in portions and heat up at your convenience. It would be healthier, cheaper, and more easily customized to your tastes and needs. If you want to eat "Cup O Noodles" day after day, you'll be swamped with salt and MSG as quick as a blink. Why not cook food in batches, refrigerate or freeze as needed, and heat them up when you need them? You can pay for pre-packaged meals, but remember that you don't just have to pay the financial price for convenience. Years down the road, you'll be paying a price in your health and viability because of eating all that junk.

 

[tgt]

You can't be bothered to boil some noodles and combine them with a stir-fry of vegetables, seasonings, etc? Just a few minutes of work can leave you with a big batch of food that you can package up in portions and heat up at your convenience. It would be healthier, cheaper, and more easily customized to your tastes and needs. If you want to eat "Cup O Noodles" day after day, you'll be swamped with salt and MSG as quick as a blink. Why not cook food in batches, refrigerate or freeze as needed, and heat them up when you need them? You can pay for pre-packaged meals, but remember that you don't just have to pay the financial price for convenience. Years down the road, you'll be paying a price in your health and viability because of eating all that junk.

But what about the comparison between packaged dinners and instant noodles? Which is worse?

The sauces used in stir-fry and other dishes contain suspect things as well.

 

[turbo]

But what about the comparison between packaged dinners and instant noodles? Which is worse?

The sauces used in stir-fry and other dishes contain suspect things as well.

You are missing some BIG details. You can make your own stir-fry meals with natural ingredients and spices and combine them with noodles that you boil at home. You don't have to cook prepared foods - even seasoning mixtures or pre-packaged ingredients that might come out OK.

Is this better for you than eating pre-packaged meals that are loaded with preservatives, additives, and off-label crap that you will never know about? I vote for YES. It takes no talent and very little time to prepare batch meals that you can package up in really cheap, freezable, microwavable, containers for later use.

Here is your challenge. Buy a small package of mushrooms, a Bell pepper, an onion, and a bulb of garlic. Mince the garlic, cube the other ingredients, and saute them in some pre-heated olive oil or peanut oil, perhaps with some basil or other fresh herbs, a bit of salt and some fresh-ground black pepper, and combine them with some egg noodles or rice noodles. Can any of the commercial crap that you can buy compare to that? You don't have to try this too many times before you catch a clue. If you will look at the cost of your batch meal and compare it to the cost of pre-packaged commercial crap, you will see where you are sacrificing quality, taste, and health for "convenience".

 

[redargon]

But what about the comparison between packaged dinners and instant noodles? Which is worse?

The sauces used in stir-fry and other dishes contain suspect things as well.

Did they not teach you the food pyramid at school? You need a balanced diet of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals and vitamins. Noodles are not going to give you all of those, so what do you think? At least a packaged dinner (depending on it's quality) should give you more of the different elements that you require.

Why the questions over food? just moved out and have to fend for yourself, or building a bomb shelter and need to know what to pack it with?

 

[Office_Shredder]

Guys, look.

Fats, oils and sweets. Top of the food pyramid. What else was at the top of a pyramid? GOLD! And then someone stole it. Just like the government is trying to steal your fats and oils! Wake up sheeple!