Ready meal as an exception for children not critical

Every now and then a ready meal for children is allowed

23/12/2014

Occasionally, most parents rely on ready meals for their children's diets. As long as this does not prevail, there is little objection to this. However, the finished products should ideally be upgraded with fresh vegetables and diluted a little due to the high salt content, explains the Austrian Association for Consumer Information (VKI).

„When things have to go really fast, parents also resort to supposedly child-friendly finished products“, so the message of the VKI. The association has therefore tested various standard finished products on their saline, sugar and fat content as well as the food labeling. Among the ready meals were especially special children's food such as the „Princesses soup“ from Maggi, the „Smurf soup“ from Knorr, the „Pirate's treasure - breaded fish figures“ by Tiko or the Backerbsen „Bakki's for Kids“ of country life. Although the products have sometimes been judged critically, especially with regard to the salt and fat content, according to the experts, there is little objection to occasional use.

High salinity child soup
Regarding the special children's soups, the VKI reports that both the Smurf soup and the Princess soup did not contain any preservatives or dyes. However, both products contained glutamate (yeast extract), flavorings, sugar and maltodextrin. The calorie content was in the frame. However, they still had soups too high in salinity, although this was already 20 to 30 percent below that of other offered alphabet soups from the same companies „Small newspaper“ citing the findings of the VKI. The childrens soup was too salty in the opinion of the testers, which is why they recommend a dilution with water and point out that the ready-made soups should rarely be served. Also, the soup can be upgraded with some freshly cut vegetables.

Ketchup contains a lot of sugar
In the case of the peas, which are usually used as a soup, the testers found a relatively high fat content. According to information from the company, the vegetable peas, which are colored with red, green and yellow vegetable powder, were, according to the „Little newspaper“ More than a third of it is fat, which is why consumer advocates recommend reducing their levels in the soup and possibly replacing them with more vegetables. In the case of the tested ketchup from McDonald's and the Heinz company, the consumer advocates complain above all about the high sugar content. Behind the tomatoes, the sugar in both products is in second place in the list of ingredients. Furthermore, the ketchup had a relatively high salt content. Although the Heinz ketchup was able to do better in terms of sugar, salt and fat content than the „McDonald's: tomato ketchup“, but as healthy food, both products will not go by. Often, however, healthy foods have „a self-prepared healthy vegetable strudel in the offspring only a chance, if there is ketchup“, reports the VKI.

Breaded fish with valuable protein
The breaded fish is an increased salt and fat content, but it also contains valuable protein, so the announcement of the „Little newspaper“. Therefore, ready-breaded fish for children, the fish vehemently reject reject, quite an alternative. „Then you would rather buy more fat than not bring any fish on the table“, quotes the „Small newspaper“ the statement of the VKI tester. However, these recommend a preparation in the oven rather than in the pan in view of the high fat content. In addition to the ready meals, the children should be offered in any case sufficient drinking. Because „There is a simple reason why the little ones are thirsty after a meal like this: even ketchup has an amazing amount of salt“, reports the VKI. (Fp)