Ready to eat food has made people's life easier. Do you agree or disagree? Why?

Ready to eat food has made people's life easier. Do you agree or disagree? Why?

Ready to eat food has made people's life easier. I wish to examine both sides and put forth my views.
The ready to eat (RTE) food products, also called convenience food, are fully or partially cooked when packed. These foods are often refrigerated and have defined food handling guidelines. These foods were initially consumed by defense people, disaster victims, trekkers, hikers, and hunters, others who required food in short time and on the travel lines. But now, they have become popular with most of the busy people in modern cities.

With ready to eat foods, people do have to skip their meals and compromise with their health. The convenience offered with the ready to eat meals provides a way out to have a healthy meal while adjusting with their tight schedule.

The major advantages of RTE food products are:

- These foods never run out of stock as lot of companies have ensured efficient supply lines for good business.
- They are convenient when you don't have a lot of time and are handy on the go. RTE Cereals are Healthy alternative breakfasts.
- RTE food is safe enough to be consumed as the companies manufacture these foodservice products under well protected conditions and they are processed under the rules and regulations laid down by the government.
- The RTE frozen fruits and vegetables can be carried to any place even where these fruits and vegetables do not grow at all. And as these fruits and vegetables are frozen, they do not lose their nutrition value.

As the norm of a two sided coin, RTE products such as processed foods and pre-packaged meals with their advantages also have disadvantages like:

- They are full of chemical preservatives that keep them fresh and make them convenience foods.
- They are full of salt, which isn't good for anyone if not moderated.
- As per health studies, they contribute to health conditions such as heart problems, high blood pressure, kidney and liver problems.

RTE meals are useful for many people in different ways. For sick, old people who are unable to make food and travelers the RTE meal is a boon. Backpackers/Hikers traveling around remote areas find these meals a convenient method of storing, packing and consuming nutrient rich food.

The fact remains that on a planet of six billion where majority of the people have less time on their hands RTE foods are here to stay and hence accepted by a large number of people ignoring its few demerits.