What would you choose - quality ingredients over a less expensive meal or a cheaper product that may not bring the best nutritional value? There are pros and cons to both; however, if you consider the long term effects for each,

quality ingredients over cheaper preservatives and fillers might be your most budget friendly option.

Here’s why.

The preservative trap

Preservatives are used to improve the taste and appearance of processed food, stabilise moisture levels and extend storage life. This might sound great, but at Nourish’d we ask the question - why do we need to add chemicals to processed food in order to consume it? 

Preservatives and additives are inexpensive. This is why other ready made meal companies rely on these chemicals to make their food taste better. Formulating meals with preservatives is okay in theory, but if eaten for every meal could have long term negative effects on the brain and body. These negative effects can manifest in different ways for different people including:

• Increased risk of heart disease and cancer - The combination of additives and chemicals in processed foods may weaken organ tissue and cause weight gain. Therefore, an increased risk of different cancers and even heart disease can occur when eating preservatives on a regular basis. 
• Problems breathing - Preservatives such as benzoates and sulphites are linked to breathing problems, especially if an individual already has asthma. This is due to the inflammatory nature of these specific preservatives.
• Hormone levels and brain function in children - Children are the most susceptible to the negative effects of additives as their brain and body are still developing and growing. A childs ‘dose’ of any specific chemical is higher which means they might be intaking more of the negative aspects of preservatives. 

Many preservatives are present in meals with highly processed carbohydrates. Consuming these types of carbs each day may decrease your energy and feeling of fullness. Good carbohydrates come from fresh fruits, vegetables and pure carbohydrates like rice. If you think about it, any food that needs to go through a process most likely isn’t going to agree with our body entirely. 

Preservatives do offer some benefits in the short time like a longer shelf life, or a better mouthfeel, however the potential health risks could be expensive down the track.

Paying more for your ready made meals might just be what the doctor ordered. 

The grass fed and free range difference 

Another reason Nourish’d meals are more expensive than other ready made meals is our choice to include grass fed and free range meat, poultry and eggs into the full Nourish’d menu. That’s right! Every single meal on our menu has this added benefit that can do wonders for your nutrition and brain function when consumed regularly. 

Most Nourish’d customers agree that our grass fed and free range meat, poultry and eggs make a huge difference to the taste and nutrition of their ready made meals. This is why we continue to include these ingredients. In fact, not only do grass fed and free range meats taste better but they also contain high quality proteins and fats to nourish your body from the inside out. These include:

• A higher amount of vitamin A and E as well as omega 3 fatty acids in free range chickens 
• Free range eggs are also higher in vitamins and omega 3’s in addition to B vitamins and added protein 
• High quality vitamins including B12, B3, B6, iron, selenium and zinc are all found in grass fed beef 

Adding these high quality vitamins and proteins to your diet can lessen health risks overall when consumed with a balanced range of good carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables. And, even though grass fed and free range meats are a tad on the pricey side, they have the added benefit of providing a quality nutrition profile. They also taste amazing…

So, should I pay more for my health?

At Nourish’d, we think the answer is yes! You can’t put a price on health as it affects so much of our ability to live a full and enjoyable life. And, if you're cool with preservatives and low-quality meat options - no problem. But it's always a good idea to check what is actually in your food, especially if it is marketed as 'healthy.’ 

To view our full menu of high-quality ready made meals click here!

If you have any questions about ordering or the ingredients we use please don’t hesitate to contact our wonderful customer service team on live chat or info@nourishd.com.au. We are here to help!