In the modern age, you might have heard the terms “Time Starve”,“Time Scarcity”, “Time Poverty”, and “Overwork Schedule”. Humans are social animals and they have a lot of aims and aspirations. Due to many big and small goals, humans feel the paucity of time. Many modern conveniences like washers/dryers, dishwashers, etc, have significantly saved hours off our busy schedule, but the most shortcut technique for saving time & hard work is to reduce cooking time by adapting to ready-to-eat products.
Is it healthy to eat ready-to-eat food?
Convenience foods, which are also commonly known as ready-to-eat food, have emerged as a boon during times of crisis. Ready-to-eat food is defined conceptually as food that has been cleaned, cooked, and packaged in advance so that it can be consumed by customers without any prior preparation or lengthy periods of cooking. It is interesting to note that the industry has grown at an exponential rate over the past few years and has made its way into various segments, including canned food, fast food, frozen food, dry food, instant food, and preserved food, amongst others.
Companies have increased their focus on specially packaged foods for all age groups, from picky kids to office-going parents and senior citizens — there is something for everyone — while keeping in mind consumer trends and demands. Additionally, ready-to-eat foods offer a practical alternative in a nation where every second person seeks to save time in the kitchen and invest it elsewhere, whether to pursue education, earn a living, or pursue hobbies.
Instant Foods – Yay or Nay?
This question does not have a single solution because it is dependent on the particular instant meal in question. Even if they are made with whole, natural ingredients, some instant meals can be quite healthy. Other instant meals, however, might not be as healthy, especially if they contain a lot of sugar, sodium, or bad fats. Although it is probably best to steer clear of processed foods as much as possible, including instant meals, there are undoubtedly some healthier alternatives.
India is a land of vast culture & every culture has its own unique food preparation. People, whether they are working class or teenagers, people living in a hostel or bachelors are so used to this convenience food. Convenience food is designed to be cheap, nonperishable, and less time-consuming.
Disadvantages of Convenience Foods
- During the processing of food, some of the minerals, vitamins, and fibre that were originally present in the food are lost
- The ingestion of processed foods has been linked to digestive problems, infertility, and organ damage
- The ingredients added into this packed product also contains chemicals and preservative which are harmful to the human body in the long run
- The trans fats and sugar present in processed items can cause inflammation
- The products also lack freshness, added flavour replaces the natural healthy ingredients which makes the convenient food more risky
On the surface, ready-to-eat meals save a lot of time and labour but the truth is that they are difficult to digest and they can trigger heart diseases and serious medical conditions if taken regularly. On the other hand, many harried professionals who do not have the time and energy to cook opt to go in for ready-to-eat meals. Anything that is done to an excessive degree is never a good idea. If people want to lead trouble-free lives, they need to control how much ready-to-eat food they consume. They should consume more natural foods and fruits because these are significantly better for boosting health and increasing longevity. The more time you save from these packed food products, the less time you give your body to remain healthy. After all, nothing is more important than a Healthy Life. So lean more towards freshly cooked food over convenient/packed food items.