Meal Deals

Shinamae I think you will find the square seaweed pieces are generally fried salted (sometimes sweetened) seaweed but the "crispy" seaweed is fried cabbage.
Either can have sugar/glucose added.

If you have fried seaweed in a restaurant it will usually be cabbage and could have a sort of fried fish powder (fish floss) on it.
Years ago I was told it was it was made with kale - as dark cabbages crisp better than paler varieties.

Sorry:

www.lbc.co.uk/news/britains-obesity-capital-revealed

[[https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/britains-obesity-capital-revealed]

The Orkney Islands 🤔
Really?

Certain areas of England have high rates of obesity too and it seems to be the more deprived areas which have the higher rates; it would seem that there must be other factors than meal deals involved, although that might be a small part of the problem.

The article actually says that 60% of people in Wales are overweight. It's slightly higher than that in England.

Rarely bought not really bought.

Two thirds of people in Wales were quoted as being obsee. that is huge.

They aren't banning meal deals, they are drawing sensible boundaries, and I think given the obesity figures its a good idea.

The kind of meal deal they are trying to alter would be the cheap ones of unbalanced sandwich, crisps, and a fizzy drink. I've usually seen an option of fruit instead of crisps but really bought.

The spokeswoman didn't discuss the evening meal deals.

I really don't have a problem with the state trying to tackle a key reason for obesity with "do-able" alternatives.

Yes funding for a lot more public health initiatives would be a fine thing instead of this kind of intervention (ie prevention and education and above all support time for individuals who are obese would be a fine thing but heavy on financial resourcing/nurse/dietician time.

I dont really understand the nanny state thing for something as sensible as this.

Yes NotSpag - fried seaweed is actually fried spring greens. Possibly genuine seaweed in expensive Japanese restaurants or from a specialist shop. I’ve just checked it on a pack I bought from Sainsbury’s and it’s not real seaweed.

Casdon

The figures quoted by Public Health Wales that the action is being taken on the back of are:

33% buy meal deals once per week or more
75%of meal deals examined exceed recommended calories for lunch
6lb/2.8kg weight gain a year if you ate an average meal deal five days a week for lunch
47lb/21kg weight gain a year if you ate a high calorie meal deal five days a week for lunch
Source: Public Health Wales, 2023

It does make you think.

Goodness!

I suppose I only bought one occasionally; I'm surprised that people would buy one every day.

JaneJudge

The ready made sandwiches are high in fat compared to home made ones but maybe it’s the combination of goods, full fat crisps/snacks and sugared drinks but I’m not convinced these sugar free options are better. I think as long as it’s an occasional thing and you are generally not massive, what does it matter? Or do you think they mean these fast food meal deals?

I thought this thread was about something else entirely as we buy these meal deal offers that offer wine etc and add small amounts to make 2meals rather than one

I'm not sure if they're included too, must investigate.

I used to like the M&S £12 Meal Deals but, of course, they included a pudding 😯 and a bottle of wine, even more 😯.

If we have money off vouchers eg £8 off if you spend £80 we're not allowed to use them here for a grocery order which includes alcohol unless the food at least £80.

NotSpaghetti

I think the "dried seaweed" is often fried Shinamae - sometimes it's actually fried cabbage!

What???? 😳 I will definitely be checking that out.. but surely they cannot say it’s seaweed if it’s cabbage?

Too much interfering. If I don’t want crisps I don’t go for the meal deal. If I do, that’s my business!
I don’t get this, it’s no “deal” if you don’t want the product.
And crisps are hardly the spawn of the devil. Credit us with some intelligence! .

The meal deals for lunch are quite unhealthy, and I think they are the kind of food that people woulnt necessarily realise was unhealthy whereas you know a chocolate muffin is going to be relatively high in calories.

What about all the special offers in supermarkets? They usually are for total junk food, encouraging consumption.

Surely, it would make more sense to have ready to eat fruit and veg, hummus and beans, tofu etc. readily available in lunch-sized portions - at a reasonable price? Water should be freely available at work, too.

I think the "dried seaweed" is often fried Shinamae - sometimes it's actually fried cabbage!

Oh dear. If the M&S meal deals get scrapped, I'll just have to go to our local chippy and get their meal deal of pie, chips and gravy for £4.50 instead.

The figures quoted by Public Health Wales that the action is being taken on the back of are:

33% buy meal deals once per week or more
75%of meal deals examined exceed recommended calories for lunch
6lb/2.8kg weight gain a year if you ate an average meal deal five days a week for lunch
47lb/21kg weight gain a year if you ate a high calorie meal deal five days a week for lunch
Source: Public Health Wales, 2023

It does make you think.

I agree with you, fancythat. What's the next step - the food police going through the contents of everyone's trolley? Announcements in the store 'Oi fatty, step away from those muffins!'

I perhaps ought to say, had the sandwiches today, will have the egg sometime, maybe a couple of days time [unless someone else gets to it first], and the drink[cant remember which one I got] will be drunk say in two weeks time.

I am terrible for crisps 😳 and don’t buy meal deals

Far too much nannying...

Had one today. Have one once a fortnight?
Had eggs as the snack.

But who cares I was going to say?
There is a supermarket full of food choices.
So dear old govenment[not] cares about that aspect of my £70 trolley today?

My guess is it's to discourage people from buying crisps, which contain a lot of salt and have almost no nutritional value. The fruit juice isn't that good either, but at least there's the option of water.

When my grandson comes as a treat, I get him a chicken and bacon wrap and usually a still drink, but he also loves dried seaweed and that is included in the meal deal…

Someone who has them every day at my work is pretty hefty but also inactive

I guess some people have them most days, or at least most working days, which wouldn’t be healthy.