Benefits of Ready-to-Eat Food: Why Buy Premade Meals?
Ever found yourself staring at your kitchen counter at 7 PM, wondering what to cook after a long day at work?
According to the USDA, the average person spends over 37 minutes preparing meals (and cleaning up) each day—that’s nearly 4.5 hours per week!
Ready-to-eat food and premade meals have changed how busy professionals approach their daily nutrition.
While preparing meals at home has its charm, the convenience and efficiency of ready-to-eat options make them increasingly popular among time-conscious individuals who don’t want to compromise on quality or nutrition.
So, why might you buy premade food?
In this guide, we’ll explore the key benefits of ready-to-eat food and why premade meals might be the solution you’ve been looking for. You’ll discover how these convenient options can fit perfectly into your lifestyle.
1. To Simple and Convenient Meal Planning
In today’s fast-paced world, meal planning doesn’t have to be complicated. The rising trend of convenience in food choices shows just how many people are looking for simpler solutions.
According to stats cited on Food Navigator, three in five consumers globally now use convenience foods at least once weekly, while one in five opts for them multiple times daily.
The same article dives even deeper into consumers’ meal preparation preferences:
- 73% of home cooks prefer recipes with fewer ingredients
- 64% favor one-pot or single-tray dishes
- 65% of consumers consider “ease to prepare” as a crucial factor
The meal kit industry is responding to this demand for convenience. These solutions are particularly appealing because they align with modern time constraints.
Ready-to-eat meals offer you the perfect balance between convenience and home cooking. They’re especially valuable when you consider that working parents often struggle with time scarcity, leading many to seek quick and easy meal solutions.
By incorporating ready-to-eat options into your meal planning, you can maintain a consistent eating schedule without sacrificing precious time.
2. To Try New Foods
Ready-to-eat meals are your ticket to a world of culinary adventures!
The prepared meals market offers you endless opportunities to explore new flavors and cuisines in addition to other benefits of ready-to-eat food.
Want to taste authentic dishes from around the world?
Today’s ready-to-eat options include:
- Italian classics
- Vibrant Indian curries
- Traditional Chinese dishes
- Zesty Mexican favorites
- Regional American specialties
Millennials and Gen Z are leading this food revolution, driving the introduction of premium quality products with their growing interest in innovative packaged foods.
You’ll find that many prepared meals now focus on organic and plant-based options, reflecting the increasing health consciousness among consumers.
3. To Eat Healthy With High-Quality Ingredients
Looking for a healthy alternative to fast food? We don’t blame you—according to the USDA, households that purchase more fast food have less nutritious diets.
Research shared by the NIH National Library of Medicine states that meals with any level of home preparation are 38% more likely to contain fruits and vegetables.
However, modern prepared meals are catching up in nutritional value!
Quality ingredients can be one of the advantages of ready-to-eat food. You’ll be pleased to know that today’s ready-to-eat meals are designed with health in mind. When comparing nutritional profiles:
- Ready meals often contain more fiber
- They’re significantly lower in fat
- Many prepared meals include whole grains
The quality of ingredients in ready-to-eat meals has improved dramatically. While food prepared away from home historically contained more saturated fat and sodium, modern prepared meals are changing this narrative.
Your ready-to-eat options now often include high-quality proteins, whole grains, and fresh vegetables.
While home-cooked meals traditionally offer more control over ingredients, quality ready-to-eat options can be part of a healthy diet.
They’re particularly beneficial when you choose varieties that are rich in vegetables and whole grains. Another study from the NIH shows that these nutrients can help reduce the risk of heart disease and certain types of cancer.
The verdict? Ready-to-eat food can make eating healthy on a budget much easier! Just make sure you choose a prepped meal service that prioritizes nutrition and high-quality ingredients.
4. To Save Money
Think your food budget is getting out of control? The numbers might surprise you.
According to Yahoo! Finance, the average American household spends $779 per month on food. As cited by a different Yahoo! study, Americans spend nearly $166 on eating out each month. That adds up to nearly $2,000 per year!
Ready-to-eat meals can actually help you save money when compared to restaurant dining.
Even meal delivery services, while more expensive than cooking from scratch, can save you money compared to restaurants.
When comparing meal delivery vs. grocery shopping, there’s a clear winner in convenience, too! It takes 5 minutes to place an order with a meal delivery service, while a grocery trip could take an hour—or even longer!
According to CNET, the average cost of takeout is roughly $20 per serving. Meal delivery services vary in price, but you can expect to pay half as much as a typical takeout meal—making them a smart choice for your wallet.
5. For Easy Portion Control
Controlling portion sizes can be a real challenge in today’s world of supersized meals.
Research cited by Healthline shows that when people are served larger portions, they consistently eat more food, which can lead to unwanted weight gain.
Ready-to-eat meals take the guesswork out of portion control. Even replacing just one meal per day with a portion-controlled option can help you maintain a healthy weight more effectively than traditional calorie counting.
Here’s what makes portion-controlled ready meals so effective:
- They help you avoid the tendency to overeat
- They provide consistent serving sizes that align with dietary guidelines
- They make it easier to track your daily calorie intake
6. To Reduce Food Waste
Did you know that food waste is one of the most pressing environmental challenges we face today?
The benefits of ready-to-eat food go beyond your individual diet—it’s important to think about the environment, too! Research from the World Food Programme estimates that one-fifth of all food produced globally gets lost or wasted, amounting to one billion meals per day.
Ready-to-eat meals and meal kits are changing this narrative. With pre-portioned servings, they reduce food waste when compared to traditional grocery shopping and cooking.
By choosing ready-to-eat meals, you’re helping combat this issue because meal kit companies can accurately assess their needed supply, limiting surplus stock waste.
Try a Ready-to-Eat Meal Delivery Service for Yourself!
Ready-to-eat meals offer a smart solution for modern living, combining convenience with quality nutrition. The benefits of ready-to-eat food are clear! These meals save you precious time while providing perfectly portioned, high-quality ingredients that help reduce food waste and support your health goals.
Whether you’re exploring new cuisines, managing portions for weight control, or simply seeking convenient meal solutions, ready-to-eat options deliver consistent quality and nutrition.
Wondering where to buy prepared meals? Gobble’s Prepared & Ready meal kits offer you a convenient option for getting premium quality, delicious food on the table in just minutes. That’s right, dinner can be effortless and stress-free!
Still want to cook every once in a while? Gobble also offers fun meal kits with pre-portioned ingredients that allow you to cook like a chef at home without a lot of work!
Gobble’s classic meal kits can be prepared in 15 minutes or fewer, while the Prepared & Ready meals come together even more quickly!
Make the switch to premade meals and experience these benefits while maintaining a balanced, healthy lifestyle that fits your busy schedule.
