Nutritionist’s Go-To: This 2-Minute Meal from Picard is Always in Her Freezer!

Although they don’t quite reach the heights of gourmet stars, we all stash them in our cupboards, refrigerators, or freezers—sometimes all three. Ready-made meals are our go-to lifesavers that help us pull off dinner when we’re either too time-strapped or too weary to cook. After a draining day at work followed by a grueling commute, few of us feel like whipping out a mandoline to slice zucchini into tagliatelle. More often than not, we’d rather pop open a can of ravioli or microwave a shepherd’s pie. And that’s perfectly understandable.

Of course, one might plan ahead by cooking meals over the weekend for the entire week, joining the ranks of the “meal prep” enthusiasts. But not everyone wants to spend their precious weekends confined to the kitchen, especially if cooking isn’t a hobby (and the weather is finally nice). So, there’s no shame in using a shortcut some evenings. Even dietitians do it, believe it or not.

When pressed for time, Ysaline Benakli doesn’t hide the fact that she too turns to processed meals, which she prefers to buy frozen. “Frozen foods have the advantage of preserving the nutrients of the foods well, and generally they contain fewer additives and preservatives,” the nutrition expert explains. However, she emphasizes the importance of always “checking the ingredients”.

So, when she shops at Picard, the dietitian is selective about what goes into her cart. Her go-to for a quick fix? The Spanish-style cooked rice: it boasts an impressively clean ingredient list, low salt content (0.54 g/100 g), and very little saturated fat (0.4 g/100 g), making it “very convenient for balancing out a meal with a starch when time is tight”. Plus, its biggest selling point is that it cooks in just 2 minutes flat.

If you’re someone who likes to mix things up, you’ll be pleased to know that this skillet meal comes in several delicious varieties, all maintaining commendable nutritional profiles. This ensures a satisfying meal every time, without falling into a monotonous routine—even on your busiest days!