Being a dietitian I always have an interest in food; mainly eating it but hey! I was contacted a while ago by Miniscoff organic foods to trial some of their organic ready meals and sauces for kids. At first, I was a little sceptical because of the negative press generally with ready meals. However, I thought I would give them a whirl. I say “me”, as it turned out hubby and I AND the gremlin all loved the meals.
Miniscoff have a good ethic when it come to children and good nutrition:
We make ready meals for people who don’t buy ready meals. Because we make proper meals in our own kitchens…properly!”
The meals are all made in small batches by hand the small, family company, using all organic ingredients and sourced from British farms.
I have to state there is some salt and sugar added to the meals for taste. Bear this is mind if you are a person who adds zero to cooking. In my house hubby adds to a little salt to meals like pasta sauces and bolognaises, so this wasn’t an issue. Plus the gremlin rarely eats crisps and salty treats. Each meal contains between 0.2-0.8g of salt. A 1-4 year old should be having 2g a day maximum and a 4-6 year old 3g. However, it is also worth bearing in mind the meals are designed for 2-8 year olds. My daughter could not manage a full portion and we considered splitting some of the meals and having with lots of veg. In that case, it is not too much at all.
I received a lovely hamper with 6 meals and 2 pasta sauces, including spaghetti and meatballs, pasta bolognaise, fish pie, chilli, shepherd’s pie and a broccoli cheesy pie.
The verdict?
Hubby and I actually ate the pasta sauces before we went on holiday! They were so delicious, I didn’t even get a picture of the flipping meal. My husband was really pleased with them and compared them to a home cooked sauce. They did not taste sugary or salty, like you may get in a jarred sauce.
The first week back after our holiday away I was out and hubby was having a saved chilli portion (not the gremlin’s fave) so she some spaghetti and meatballs. I was told she devoured around 2/3 of it.
At the weekend family were over and we were going to have a takeaway curry so another perfect opportunity for her to try another. As a pasta fiend my gremlin had the pasta bolognaise with some added peas. Again she ate over 2/3 (hubby had the rest) with no complaining, fussing or being difficult. I was amazed.
Bottom line, these meals taste really good. As the gremlin gets home cooked meals normally, she is used to this and these meals taste home-cooked, so are brilliant.
Price-wise they are not the cheapest meals with 10 for £37.50 so around £3.75 a meal, as an example bundle BUT if you are like me and would use them now and then as convenience, I would say it is worth it. You get what you pay for and in this case, this is healthy, tasty meals. Bottom line my daughter ate them! This is worth any amount of money in my book! It is not often she has a separate meal to hubby and I but there are those occasions. A stash of these in the freezer would be a lifesaver.
Overall these meals were lovely and completely to all our tastes. I even thought some of them would suit people wanting to lose weight; small tasty meals! Vegetables could be added to make a perfect meal; healthy and delicious.
We still have a few in the freezer left and I will be saving them for those occasions when we need a meal for the gremlin.
Would you like to win a small hamper of meals that will include 6 meals and 3 sauces of your choice?
Then if so please enter my giveaway below (you must live in the UK mainland):
We were sent a selection of delicious Miniscoff meals for free. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I have never heard of these before. The look delish though!
I would get them if I could get holly to eat anything other than shopkin asda biscuits or super noodles…
Maybe baby no.2 will be better lol
Lx
http://workingmumy.blogspot.com
#TwinklyTuesday
Never heard of Miniscoff before but they look good! We prefer home cooked meals too 🙂 #TwinklyTuesday x
What a choice of dishes! It’s amazing what thhey do for kids today. And my mum saying me that she used to give us smashed banana and other fruit or vegetable…#TwinklyTuesday
Have already commented but following the rules of your linky #bestandworst
These look great and so good all of you enjoyed them! Be good to have a few of these in the freezers for the times we eat something Leo doesn’t like. We definitely prefer home cooked food in this house too xx #TwinklyTuesday
I had not heard of this brand before but it sounds great – lots of appealing meals – I would be tempted to try them myself!!
These look so convenient but really tasty! Theres some great stuff for kids now, not bought this brand but it looks fantastic
Never heard of these before but they look tasty.
I’d love these meals for my Granddaughter – they would be very handy for her when her mummy goes into hospital to have her baby brother in August – they look very healthy and nutritious xxx
Have never heard of these but they look really good. Would love for my son to try them.
Ohh these look super yummy, and great the G enjoyed them too x
This looks great! I am also a bit dubious about ready meals and sauces for my little girl as I worry about the salt and sugar content. The pasta in particular looks like it is home cooked and your lovely pics show how much it was enjoyed too 🙂 Thanks for hosting #bestandworst Lovely to join in x
These look good, and they look like they were being enjoyed. As you say, not the cheapest but sometimes convenience is key.
#BeatandWorst
You have a good range of children’s food
fingers crossed x
I would’ve been skeptical as well, but they do look good and would be convenient when your looking something quick or running low on time. Something to consider in the future 🙂 #bestandworst
You’re just like us we eat before I manage to snap a pic! They sound so lovely and it’s always a bonus when the kiddies enjoy it x #justanotherlinky
Ohh these sound nice! lovely giveaway #bestandworst
Not heard of this brand before they look tastey and they have the Gremlins approval too. #bestandworst
my monkeys would love 🙂
I’ve never heard of this brand – looks great though! #bestandworst
We love nutritious home cooked meals in this house courtesy of hubby. I can understand the expense of the meal baring in mind the source of ingredients, small batch cooking and that they are home made. Thanks for hosting #bestandworst
My daughter would love these – as would I, especially on days when I’m pushed for time! 🙂
This looks so yummy and I think my kids will love them too! 🙂 Thank you for hosting. x #bestandworst
I love the variety of foods and the fact they are organic
The organic range
They look delicious and it’s great that they are organic
Never seen these before, but a great idea and lots of choice.
Can’t say I have heard of this brand before but it looks fab and would love to try it out x
looks lovely hope to win
These sound delicious and my grandsons would love them
Never heard of these before but they look amazing!
These look brilliant – a tad expensive tho – but H would love them
looks so great my daughter would love to try! x
These look delicious, nice choice
these look good
One of my girls is a really picky eater. I think she’d like to try these
I have never heard of Miniscoff before, but they look brilliant! I always prefer home cooking, especially for my little ones, but there is definately times when these would be useful! They look really delicious too – lots of pre-prepared foods look and taste terrible, but these sound fab!
:O wow how great do these look!! they sound yummy.
These look scrummy, super handy to keep in the freezer for those days when you run out of time to make dinner!
This meal looks great, much better than most ready meals x
I’d love to try these for my daughter 🙂 xxx