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Living on Microwave meals: One woman's account
Posted on Dec 11th 2007 11:25AM by Martha EdwardsNicky Taylor, a mum of three, usually lives on freshly cooked organic foods. So imagine her surprise when she was asked to live on Microwave meals for a month in the interest of research. She recently told her story to The Daily Mail and here's what she had to say about eating out of the box:
Week One: "I quickly realise how much more time I have now that making a meal simply revolves around piercing the film over the dish, putting it in the microwave and waiting a couple of minutes for the ping. But less than a week in, my mood begins to change. I am realising more and more that the portions are tiny. I am also discovering that while some ready meals are very nice, most aren't. Were it not for the fact that, at the end of the week, the scales reveal I have lost 4lb, I would be tempted to give up.Week Two: "I start the second week with terrible constipation. I am sick of eating soft mushy vegetables and carrots that look like little orange chips. The experience is becoming thoroughly depressing, and I've had enough of feeling as though I'm eating from a prison canteen. I've never seen food as purely fuel: to me, it's a joy to prepare and to eat. Microwave meals may have the convenience factor - but I feel as though something has been taken away from me and I've got nothing to look forward to.
Week Three: "I have succumbed to a stinking cold, I feel lethargic and am still horribly constipated, too. I'm struggling to do my morning runs and am experiencing mood swings because I'm so tired. The only good news is that my weight is now down to 10st 7lb. I discover that one of my favourites contains 25 grams of sugar. That's more than six teaspoons!
Week Four: "I can't wait for this experiment to end. By restricting what I've been eating, I've paid the price in terms of tiredness, sluggishness and, sorry, bowel problems. For a start, my vitamin C levels were so significantly reduced that I had a deficiency. My iron levels have fallen, too. Levels of beta carotene have also gone from normal to deficient. Likewise, my calcium levels have also fallen, putting me at risk of osteoporosis. Worryingly, levels of HDL - the 'good' cholesterol that helps prevent deposits building up in the arteries - had fallen by 20 per cent, putting me at risk of cardiovascular problems. So, the experiment complete, would I do it all again? Not a chance."
There's lots more -- read the full article by clicking here.
Very interesting. It just goes to show that while microwave meals are good for weight loss and convenience, they're not good for you and should be eaten sparingly.
Week One: "I quickly realise how much more time I have now that making a meal simply revolves around piercing the film over the dish, putting it in the microwave and waiting a couple of minutes for the ping. But less than a week in, my mood begins to change. I am realising more and more that the portions are tiny. I am also discovering that while some ready meals are very nice, most aren't. Were it not for the fact that, at the end of the week, the scales reveal I have lost 4lb, I would be tempted to give up.Week Two: "I start the second week with terrible constipation. I am sick of eating soft mushy vegetables and carrots that look like little orange chips. The experience is becoming thoroughly depressing, and I've had enough of feeling as though I'm eating from a prison canteen. I've never seen food as purely fuel: to me, it's a joy to prepare and to eat. Microwave meals may have the convenience factor - but I feel as though something has been taken away from me and I've got nothing to look forward to.
Week Three: "I have succumbed to a stinking cold, I feel lethargic and am still horribly constipated, too. I'm struggling to do my morning runs and am experiencing mood swings because I'm so tired. The only good news is that my weight is now down to 10st 7lb. I discover that one of my favourites contains 25 grams of sugar. That's more than six teaspoons!
Week Four: "I can't wait for this experiment to end. By restricting what I've been eating, I've paid the price in terms of tiredness, sluggishness and, sorry, bowel problems. For a start, my vitamin C levels were so significantly reduced that I had a deficiency. My iron levels have fallen, too. Levels of beta carotene have also gone from normal to deficient. Likewise, my calcium levels have also fallen, putting me at risk of osteoporosis. Worryingly, levels of HDL - the 'good' cholesterol that helps prevent deposits building up in the arteries - had fallen by 20 per cent, putting me at risk of cardiovascular problems. So, the experiment complete, would I do it all again? Not a chance."
There's lots more -- read the full article by clicking here.
Very interesting. It just goes to show that while microwave meals are good for weight loss and convenience, they're not good for you and should be eaten sparingly.
