What's in YOUR dinner?

[slobone]

OK, so I just had a tasty portion of Michelina's frozen meatloaf with potatoes and gravy. Reading the box, I noticed the section where they now tell you, in big bold type, if it contains anything you might be allergic to. One of the potential allergens was ANCHOVIES. (Actually FISH (ANCHOVIES)).

Wait -- anchovies? I love anchovies! I'm pretty sure I would have noticed if there were any anchovies in it. So I read the ingredients, and here they are:

Contains:

Water
Meatloaf:

Beef
Water
Bread crumbs:
​

Enriched flour:
​

Wheat flour
Niacin
Reduced iron
Thiamine mononitrate
Riboflavin
Folic acid
​

Water
High Fructose corn syrup
Contains 2% or less of :
Salt
Partially hydrogenated soybean oil
Yeast
Yeast nutrients:

Monocalcium phosphate
Calcium sulfate
Ammonium sulfate
​

Calcium propionate added to retard spoilage
Cornstarch
​

Onions
Catsup:

Tomato concentrate
Distilled vinegar
High fructose corn syrup
Corn syrup
Salt
Onion powder
Spice
Natural flavoring
​

Textured vegetable protein:

Soy protein concentrate
Caramel color
​

2% or less of:
Tomato paste
Soy protein isolate
Dried whole eggs with sodium silicoaluminate
Salt
Maltodextrin and natural flavorings
Garlic powder
Mustard flour
Spice
Seasoning:

Salt
Garlic
Onion
Spices
Caramel color
Autolyzed yeast extract
​

Potato mix:

Potatoes
Mono and diglycerides
Sodium acid pyrophosphate
Citric acid
Freshness preserved with:

Sodium bisulfite
BHA and BHT
​

Milk solids:

Cream
Milkfat
Nonfat milk
​

Diced tomatoes:

Tomatoes
Tomato juice
Calcium chloride
Citric acid
​

Less than 2% of:
Onions
Margarine:

Liquid and partially hydrogenated soybean oil
Water
Salt
Vegetable mono and diglycerides
Soy lecithin
Natural and artificial flavor
BHA and BHT added to protect flavor
Vitamin A palmitate
Vitamin D3
​

Modified food starch
Beef base:

Roasted beef
Concentrated beef stock
Salt
Hydrolyzed plant protein:

Soy
Corn
Wheat
​

Corn oil
Sugar
Autolyzed yeast
Flavoring:

Dried onion and garlic
Spice extractive
​

Maltodextrin
Dried whey
Dextrose
Caramel color
​

Half and half:

Milk
Cream
​

Rendered beef fat (BHT and citric acid added to improve stability)
Tomato paste
Vegetable base:

Vegetables and concentrated vegetables:

Carrot
Celery
Onion
Tomato
Dehydrated potato
Garlic
​

Hydrolyzed soy protein
Salt
Yeast extract
Sugar
Maltodextrin (from corn)
Soybean oil
Xanthan gum
Spice extractives
​

Sherry wine
Salt
Sugar
Worcestershire sauce:

Distilled vinegar
Molasses
Corn syrup
Water
Salt
Caramel color
Garlic powder
Sugar
Spices
Anchovies
Tamarind
Natural flavor
Sulfites added as preservatives
​

Spice
Mono and diglycerides with citric acid
Caramel color
Garlic powder

The anchovies are way down at the bottom -- what a gyp! I want my anchovies!

So anyway -- what was in your dinner tonight?

 

[slobone]

^^^ I don't even know how they got all that writing on the box. I had to use a magnifying glass to read it.

 

[confusedboy23]

I've just had lunch and I'm thrown away the box. It was a pizza from Pizza Hut and I'd bet it must have been full of FAT, SUGAR, CARBS and all those things that are bad for you!

 

[slobone]

I've just had lunch and I'm thrown away the box. It was a pizza from Pizza Hut and I'd bet it must have been full of FAT, SUGAR, CARBS and all those things that are bad for you!

... but they taste so gooooood!!!

 

[Kurn]

Slobone, you're going to have dreams about swimming in a big school of guys.

 

[Swellegant]

Mine was pretty simple... chicken legs in soy-sauce and honey, string beans and tomatoes en vinaigrette, French-fried potatoes, and biscuits. (My sister came over today and cooked, or we would have had chicken pot pie or something else from the freezer).

The biscuits were the most complex, being Pillsbury Grands from the can: but the wrapper got thrown away, so I can't tell you what was in them. Partially hydrogenated whatnots and maltodextrin and loads of salt, I imagine.

 

[slobone]

Slobone, you're going to have dreams about swimming in a big school of guys.

Again? D'oh!

 

[pacz]

After reading Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser, I have totally changed the way I eat. I am currently waiting for "The Future of Food" from Netflix, I am sure that will change things more.

 

[slobone]

After reading Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser, I have totally changed the way I eat. I am currently waiting for "The Future of Food" from Netflix, I am sure that will change things more.

Yeah, I think I'll stick to soylent green from now on....

 

[hotdog1846]

I wonder what the molecular composition of chicken in soy sauce is. All the different proteins, complex carbohydrates, inorganic elements. Might be scary ...

 

[antdak]

I had BBQ baked fried chicken, and sour cream and chives, mashed potatoes. I'm sure there are things in those that are unpronounceable, unless you have a scientific degree in nutrition.

 

[NedNickerson]

Anchovies are added to Worcestershire sauce for flavoring, but also as a fermentation agent. When the fish have "rotted away" into the sauce, it is ready. This usually takes up to two years.

http://new.cbbqa.com/articles/WorcestershireSauce.html

 

[Joshua_me]

*Sheesh*

It's amazing to me how frozen foods F with us these days...

I try to stay away from them, if only for the salt content alone.

It's SO much healthier (and cheaper) to just cook for yourself. It doesn't
take that much time..... Steam some fresh veggies, (they'll keep in the fridge for 5 days, at least) Boil some mac or rice, and just buy some fresh
fish or beef or chicken every 3 days or so..... There are endless combos to make from
these..... Plus, you'll feel better and find that within a month or so your jeans will be too loose.....

 

[mega]

Just shut the fuck up and eat!! As mom used to say...

 

[trawler69]

I had a cheese and mushroom omelett on home made bread so I guess: eggs, milk, rennet, salt, flour, vegetable oil, yeast, water, mushrooms.

 

[buzzj]

Wow! You got a lot for your money!!

 

[sparky95]

Kangaroo meat and fresh vegetables. If you are concerned about additives just cut out the processed stuff!

 

[Joshua_me]

Kangaroo meat and fresh vegetables.

Mmm ! That's good roo !

 

[sparky95]

Nothing like a bit of your national symbol resting in your tummy!

 

[frankfrank]

Mine didn't come out of a box. Some lentil dal, shrimp-chicken-beef masala on basmati rice, a mango lassi. This at an Indian place in Seattle. I love that stuff!

And, later, an Endangered Species (yes that's the brand name) "Extreme Dark Chocolate" (88%) bar, but I threw the wrapper away and can't look. I definitely like my chocolate STRONG...