Real Meals NZ Review: A Reliable Fuel Option for Ultras?
One of the hardest things about ultras is never quite knowing what’s waiting at the next aid station.
Sometimes you strike gold, other times it’s a food your stomach may not be able to handle, and it’s why many athletes have trusted crew members to prepare preferred meals for them ahead of time.
But if there’s a lightweight option that can be thrown easily into a dropbag or carried by your crew without the heavy lifting, and if you can just as easily train with it, then at least one part of race day can feel under your control. And honestly? The meals by Real Meals NZ have won me over.
I started with the Wilderness Stew, and it was surprisingly hearty, warming, and tasty. All it took was 1.5 cups of boiling water, then I resealed the packet, waited 10 minutes, and devoured (ideally, you can purchase a long spoon from Real Meals NZ because my normal soup spoons were too short to reach all the way to the bottom of the sachet). The Sri Lankan Curry brought a gentle kick of spice, and the Beetroot & Carrot Salad was fresh and zingy. Who would have thought freeze-dried food, and not just a snack but a meal, could leave me satisfied and full?
The science is solid here. All meals are fully cooked and then freeze-dried so they hold onto 99% of their nutrients, and weigh only 20% of their original weight when in the packet, which I was slightly sceptical about pouring boiling water into, but sure enough, it’s tough enough to handle the heat. And even if you don’t have steaming hot water to use at an aid station, all the meals will rehydrate with cold water – a cold curry won’t excite everyone, but in an emergency situation, you can still eat it.
Also, each meal keeps for a good 2.5 years, so you can stockpile without worrying they’ll go bad.
Real Meals NZ has gone from ‘interesting idea’ to a genuine part of a fuelling plan. It’s real food that’s easy, tasty, and dependable. Without listing all the options, breakfast choices include Bircher Muesli, Banana Oat Porridge, and Eggs Cheese and Chives; lunches and dinners have a wide variety like Beef Stroganoff, Wilderness Stew, Sri Lankan Curry and Mexi Nachos; and there’s also a Youth Range and a number of desserts, a snack, and basmati rice.
No more aid station roulette, which is a win worth toasting with pudding.
VITALS
RRP Ranges $9.95 – $17.95 NZD
RRP Long Handled Spoon $15.00 NZD
