How unhealthy is gravy?

GavB79

Since going OS to try to eat more healthily and save some money, I am managing to eat a lot more veg than I used to - admittedly it is mostly frozen, but it's a start.

However, I only really enjoy it when smothered in quite thick gravy. Swede, broccolli, cauliflower, carrots, peas etc. I all find to be quite unpalatable undressed. Should I be worried at the amount of gravy I seem to be consuming? I could happily eat a plate of mashed potato with three or four different veg and gravy a few times a week. From what I can see, it's only the salt content that should be of concern.

Can anybody think of any alternatives to gravy I could use? I have seen recipes here for white sauce/cheese sauce etc. but have never made them and don't know if these would be a good companion for veg?

Thank you

I should edit to add, I'm talking about Bisto or the like, not home-prepared gravy!

JoJoB

My idea of heaven is also a big plate of mash and gravy, OH thinks I am quite disgusting! I usually measure out 3 teaspoons of bisto and add hot water to my required thickness and figured out it's about 50 calories. Like you say, I think it's the salt content that's the thing to worry about - but I don't add salt to any of my food so it's just in the gravy.

Maybe you could make a gravy/jus thing using a concentrated meat juice - sounds weird, I don't know how to describe it, but I've seen it in a marmite-shaped container. I used to use it before i turned veggie (yes, some Bisto varieties are veggie, which also makes you wonder about what's in it lol).

anguk

I don't know about it being unhealthy but if you are watching your weight you need to be careful about the calories. My OH has always liked to have lots of thick gravy on his dinners, his dietician told him this can add about 50 calories to the meal. The thicker the gravy the more calories so she advised him to make it thinner. I think the calories come from things like potato starch, fat or flour that are in gravy and it doesn't make any difference if it's shop bought or homemade.

Personally I like homemade because quite a few shop bought ones have msg in which gives me an awful headache. If I've used shop bought it's been Anthony Worral-Thompson's gravy pastes, they make the most fantastic gravy but no supermarket sells it anymore and I've only seen it online (and it's expensive).

sooty&sweep

Hi

I believe that the gravy granules did contain hydrogenated vegetable oils / trans fatty acids which aren't supposed to be very good for you. I'm not sure if that is still the case.
I think the gravy powders were OK though.

Don't think of frozen veg as not as good as fresh. Frozen veg is generally picked & frozen very quickly so maintaining a high level of nutrients where as older fresh veg that has been sitting around for a while will have lost some of it's nutritional value.
Also how and how long you cook veg makes a big difference. Steaming is better than boiling as the nutients don't leach out so much.

Jen

thriftlady_2

Surely you can control the amount of salt you add to your gravy when you make it?

Edit: sorry didn't read your post properly -I'm talking about hm gravy. Why don't you make your own? Apart from salt I should think those granule things are full of MSG, colourings and goodness knows what else.

newlywed

Look for Bisto Best in a red pot with a blue lid - it's the lower salt version


I use the Bisto White sauce granules - not checked out the salt content though White sauce goes nicely with fish, gammon, broccoli and cauli veg instead of gravy.

Sweetpeanut

i like mint sauce, as a substitute for gravy, or apple sauce, piccalili, horse-radish even good old mustard.:D

Pink.

Hi GavB79,

If you want healthy gravy then the best way is to make your own rather than use additive filled products. That way you can control the amount of salt added too. These threads should help:

Making gravy when you haven't had a roast. How?

Decent gravy please.

If you enjoy mashed potatoes, have a look at this thread for variations which won't need added gravy:

Mash, boring mash!!!

Pink

maman

I love gravy too, mostly HM, but don't forget it's not just salt content that is unhealthy but the calories in the fat and flour. Does anyone know where to buy those separator things that take the meat juices from the fat?

Pink.

Hi maman,

Lakeland do a gravy separator but it's a bit pricey. I got mine in a local kitchenware shop for about half that price.

Pink

Anthp77

If your dieting then Its wise to avoid gravy as it’s high in fats and saturated fats which are not good for you at all and salt just have meals without gravy it’s easy while ever your using sauce’s in your meals you will not drop that weight your wanting to Simple as that.if your not doing it for weight loss then have as much as you want but be prepared to pile the fat on!!!