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Convenience Foods

What are convenience foods?

• Convenience foods are foods that are

processed.

• They are partly or totally prepared by a

food manufacturer.

• They are either ready to eat or require

little preparation by the consumer.

Advantages of convenience foods

✓ Quick and easy to prepare.

✓ Save you time and fuel.

✓ A wide variety is available.

✓ Can be kept for emergencies.

✓ There is usually little waste.

✓ They often have extra nutrients added.

✓ Easy to store and useful for taking on holiday.

Disadvantages of convenience foods

• May be more expensive than fresh

foods.

• They might have high levels of fat

and sugar.

• Nutrients might be lost during

processing and not replaced.

• A lot of processed and refined foods in diet may limit the intake of fibre.

• Servings in convenience meals may not be adequate, making it necessary to

buy more.

How can convenience foods be used in a sensible way?

• Fresh foods are always the best option as they are more

nutritious.

• A sensible approach is to use both fresh and convenience

foods in proportions that suit the individual in terms of money,

time, likes and dislikes.

Why are such foods becoming popular?

• Many lead busy lives and so have less time to prepare food.

• Less leisure time is being spent in food preparation.

• Advances in food technology.

• Nowadays the majority of people have a freezer where to store food.

• Advertising is influencing people’s eating habits.

Types of convenience foods

1. DEHYDRATED

Examples:

• Mashed potatoes, custard, coffee, porridge, mixtures for cakes,

and soups

Types of convenience foods

2. READY-TO-EAT

Examples:

• Sweet – cakes, biscuits, fruit pies, puddings and sweets.

• Savoury – meat pies, pastries, cold meats, cheese spreads, and salads e.g. coleslaw.

Types of convenience foods

3. CANNED

Examples:

• Require heating - pasta or pulses in sauce e.g. beans;

baby food, stews, sausages, soups and sauces.

• Require no cooking – fish, cold

meats, custard and fruit.

• Require some cooking – pies

and vegetables.

Types of convenience foods

4. FROZEN

Examples:

• Ready-to-eat on thawing – cold sweets e.g. ice cream,

fruit juice.

• Ready to cook – pastry, yeast dough, mince pies,

meat pies.

• Cooked and ready to heat – pies, casseroles,

breaded fish.

Types of convenience foods

5. COOK-CHILL FOODS

Food cooked to destroy food poisoning micro-organisms, then

quickly chilled and kept cold during transportation. They need to

be heated well by customers.

Examples:

• Fresh pasta, seafood pie,

sauces, soups, lasagne.

Types of convenience foods

6. READY-PREPARED MEALS

Food cooked to destroy food poisoning micro-organisms, then

packed in modified atmosphere and stored at room temperature.

Heated by microwave oven or by standing

in boiling water.

Examples:

• Lasagne, pasta Bolognese, rice dishes.