What are the pros and cons of ready made food?

December 25, 2025 •

4 min read

According to a study published in Public Health Nutrition, ready meals generally have lower nutritional quality and higher greenhouse gas emissions than their home-cooked equivalents. Despite this, the global market for instant meals continues to grow at a significant rate, reflecting the appeal of convenience in our fast-paced society. This article explores the balanced view on ready made food, examining both its practical advantages and potential drawbacks for health and the environment.

Quick Summary

This article examines the advantages and disadvantages of ready made food, including time-saving benefits, cost implications, and potential health drawbacks associated with high sodium, preservatives, and low nutritional value. It provides a comprehensive overview to help consumers make mindful dietary choices.

Key Points

Time-Saving: Ready made food offers unparalleled convenience, saving significant time on cooking and preparation for busy individuals.
High Cost: Ready meals can be substantially more expensive per serving compared to cooking from scratch, making them less budget-friendly over the long term.
Poor Nutritional Quality: Many ready meals are ultra-processed, high in sodium and preservatives, and low in essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
Environmental Concerns: Single-use plastic packaging and high energy consumption during production contribute to waste and a larger carbon footprint.
Dietary Control: Cooking from home gives you complete control over ingredients, allowing for fresher, healthier, and more nutritious meals.
Reduced Food Waste: Pre-portioned ready meals can help minimize household food waste by providing just the right amount for a single serving.
Skill Degradation: Regular reliance on ready meals can lead to a decline in basic cooking skills, a skill that is valuable for long-term health and independence.

Convenience: The Prime Advantage

For many, the primary appeal of ready made food is undeniable convenience. In a modern, fast-paced world, time is a scarce commodity, and the allure of a meal ready in minutes is a powerful one. Ready meals eliminate the need for extensive planning, grocery shopping for multiple ingredients, and the actual time spent on preparation and cooking.

Less Food Waste

Ready made meals often come in pre-portioned containers, which can help significantly reduce food waste. When cooking from scratch, it's easy to over-purchase ingredients or make more than can be consumed before it spoils. With ready meals, you only heat what you need, minimizing leftovers that might otherwise end up in the trash. This can also translate into cost savings over time, as less food is thrown away.

Accessibility and Variety

Supermarkets and food service providers now offer a vast array of ready made meals that cater to a wide range of tastes, dietary needs, and culinary preferences. This includes vegetarian, vegan, high-protein, and other specialized dietary options. This accessibility allows individuals with limited cooking skills or poor kitchen facilities to still access a variety of meal types that they might otherwise not be able to prepare. For some, this expands their culinary choices without the time investment typically required.

Potential Health Risks: The Main Drawback

While convenient, the health implications of frequent ready made food consumption are a major concern. Many ready meals are classified as ultra-processed, containing high levels of sodium, saturated fats, and sugar.

High Sodium and Additives

Excessive sodium content is a common issue with off-the-shelf ready meals, used primarily to enhance flavor and extend shelf life. A diet high in sodium can lead to increased blood pressure, heart disease, and other cardiovascular problems. Additionally, many ready meals contain a high number of artificial additives, colors, and preservatives, which have been linked to various health issues and can alter gut flora.

Low Nutritional Value

Many ready meals offer low nutritional quality compared to home-cooked meals. The processing involved can strip foods of essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Studies have shown that some ready meals contain significantly less vitamin C and folic acid compared to their fresh counterparts. The result is an energy-dense meal that is low in beneficial nutrients, which can contribute to weight gain and overall poor nutrition.

Environmental and Economic Considerations

The impact of ready made food extends beyond personal health to broader environmental and economic issues.

Environmental Impact

Packaging Waste: A significant environmental concern is the waste generated by the single-serve packaging of ready meals, which often consists of plastic trays, film, and cardboard sleeves. While some manufacturers are exploring more sustainable packaging, a large portion of this waste ends up in landfills.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Research suggests that animal-based ready meals, especially those cooked in an oven, produce significantly higher greenhouse gas emissions than equivalent home-cooked meals. Factors like ingredient sourcing, refrigeration, and transportation all contribute to the overall carbon footprint.

Economic Factors

While a single ready meal might seem inexpensive, the long-term cost can be considerably higher than cooking from scratch. One comparison found that home-cooked spaghetti bolognese cost less than $3 per serving, while a ready meal version was over $9. The real cost savings of home cooking become more apparent over time, especially when factoring in the potential health consequences associated with poor nutrition.

Comparison Table: Ready Made vs. Home Cooked


Feature	Ready Made Food	Home Cooked Food
Convenience	High; minimal preparation required, saves significant time.	Low to moderate; requires time for planning, shopping, and cooking.
Cost	Higher in the long run; can be more expensive per serving and less cost-effective over time.	Lower; buying ingredients in bulk and cooking from scratch is significantly cheaper.
Nutritional Quality	Often low; processing can reduce essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber.	High; you have full control over the quality and freshness of ingredients used.
Health Control	Limited; may contain high levels of sodium, saturated fats, and additives.	Complete; you can precisely control ingredients, seasonings, and nutrient content.
Food Waste	Low; pre-portioned servings reduce the likelihood of leftovers and spoilage.	Can be high if not planned properly, but batch cooking can also be efficient.
Environmental Impact	High; includes significant packaging waste and higher greenhouse gas emissions from production and transport.	Lower; reduces packaging and can minimize carbon footprint, especially with plant-based options.
Variety	Good; wide selection available from different brands and cuisines.	Unlimited; offers endless possibilities for recipes, customization, and culinary skill development.

Conclusion

Ready made food serves as a convenient and accessible option for many, particularly those with limited time or cooking abilities. It can reduce food waste and offer variety. However, the trade-offs are significant and include higher costs over time, a typically poorer nutritional profile, and a negative environmental impact due to processing, packaging, and transport. For long-term health and financial well-being, home cooking from fresh ingredients remains the superior option. The key is to find a balance that works for your lifestyle, perhaps by incorporating healthier ready meal options mindfully while still prioritizing freshly prepared meals whenever possible.

How to Make Healthier Choices

Even when relying on ready meals, you can make more informed choices:

Read the Labels: Look for meals with lower sodium, saturated fat, and sugar content.
Add Fresh Ingredients: Supplement your ready meal with fresh vegetables, a salad, or extra protein to boost its nutritional value.
Check the Health Star Rating: Opt for ready meals with a higher Health Star Rating, which indicates a better nutritional profile.
Reduce Packaging: Transfer the meal to your own microwave-safe dish before heating to reduce the potential for microplastic exposure from heating plastic containers.
Support Sustainable Brands: Choose ready meal brands that prioritize recyclable or compostable packaging and responsible sourcing.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, not all ready made food is unhealthy. While many ultra-processed ready meals are high in sodium and unhealthy fats, an increasing number of companies offer healthier alternatives. It is important to read the nutrition labels and ingredient lists carefully to choose better options.

Generally, no. While the convenience might feel like a saving, cooking meals from scratch using fresh ingredients is almost always more cost-effective in the long run. Buying individual ingredients in bulk and preparing meals yourself significantly lowers the per-serving cost.

The main health risks include potential weight gain due to high calorie density, an increased risk of heart disease and high blood pressure from high sodium content, and poor overall nutrition from low levels of fiber and micronutrients.

You can make a ready meal healthier by supplementing it with fresh, unprocessed ingredients. For instance, add a side salad, extra vegetables, or lean protein to increase its nutritional value and make it more filling.

Yes, ready made food has a considerable environmental impact. This is primarily due to the extensive use of single-use plastic packaging, as well as the greenhouse gas emissions from the processing and transport required for pre-packaged goods.

Ready made food is a broad category for any food that requires minimal preparation. Ultra-processed food is a subcategory that describes products made mostly from substances extracted from foods, often with many additives, which describes many ready meals. Not all ready made food is ultra-processed, but many are.

From a health and economic perspective, cooking at home is generally superior because it gives you full control over ingredients and nutrients, often at a lower cost. However, for those with severe time constraints or limited cooking skills, mindful selection of healthier ready meal options can still be a practical solution.