BBC Good Food

• michelleb

  29 April 2008, 1:32PM

  michelleb

  I consider myself very lucky that I was brought up (in the 70s) to know how to cook, many of my contemporaries were not. I agree that if parents do not have basic skills, how are their children going to learn? I believe that it is of fundamental importance to the health and wealth of this country that basic cooking skills are given priority at home and if need be in school. Many people cannot afford premium ready meals and have to buy the cheapest alternative. They do not realise that they could produce the same meal much more cheaply at home if they knew how. Meals like lasagne, stews, shepherds pie, soups etc. can be made for very little money with the expensive meat being bulked up with vegetables and pulses. No need for food additives either.

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• Gayns

  30 April 2008, 12:19PM

  Gayns

  Couldn't agree more- feeding people is an expression of love and you know exactly what has gone into a good wholesome homecooked dinner ingredients wise. Ready made meals can't be the way forward. A good Chilli or beef in beer recipe can be doubled and frozen or eaten on another day and is far better for you. Cooking shouldn't be a problem - the con is these ready meals say only takes 20-30 mins to cook when you actually could cook something yourself in exactly that length of time and its far more rewarding & theraputic!!!

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• AnnesFood

  30 April 2008, 1:51PM

  AnnesFood

  This is a topic that I tend to get on my soapbox on. I too was brought up in the 70's and was very fortunate to have good cooks as parents. There is definately a knowledge gap with alot (but not all) of parents today. Skills definately need to be passed on, but how are we going to do that if Home Economics is not taught in schools ? or parents do not have the know-how to teach their kids themselves. Maybe it should be approached the same way as other skill gaps such as basic maths and English? (it is just as important in my book) - I don't know the answers, I just echo greg's concerns.

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• msmooo

  1 May 2008, 3:59AM

  msmooo

  It continues to blow me away every time I return back to the UK, as I am now living in NZ, the amount of pre packaged foods. As mentioned there is nothing nicer than a home made meal, either cooked by yourself, or lovingly cooked by some one for you. I encourage my children to give cooking ago, but even if they don`t I know they appreciate the food made from scratch and put in front of them, which is just as satisfying from a Mum`s point of view. I pity the children that haven`t had this experience. I can safely say in our house hold convenience meals will not become the norm.

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• James

  1 May 2008, 1:42PM

  James

  I find the best ready meals are the ones you make yourself. Every so often, maybe a day a month you can have a cooking day - maybe get the family involved too - and freeze meals for those busy days, without having to resort to taking a ride to proccessed city. One day a month's not too hard is it?

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• doragibraltar

  2 May 2008, 7:40PM

  doragibraltar

  I agree with all of the above. We haven't had ready made meals for several years. Does anybody know if the quality of these meals has improved because I remember a few years ago there was a problem with the quality of chicken used in three of the bug name supermarkets.....need I say anymore.......

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