When you’ve had a big day in the hills, a good dinner matters. That’s why Real Meals are one of our favourites here at MD Outdoors.
Made just down the road in Stoke, Nelson, Real Meals are lightweight, easy to prepare and – most importantly – actually taste like real food.
We caught up with Jason, Head Chef at Real Meals, to find out what makes them different.
Real Food, Cooked by Chefs
One of the secrets is simple: Real Meals are cooked as complete dishes before being freeze-dried.
That means the meat, vegetables, sauces and spices cook together, allowing the flavours to properly develop before the moisture is removed.
And you can taste the difference. From rich curries and stews to pasta dishes, there’s plenty of variety for multi-day tramps – no eating the same flavour every night!
Freeze-Dried vs Dehydrated – What's the Difference?
Dehydrating uses heat to slowly remove moisture, while freeze drying freezes the cooked food before removing the water under vacuum at low temperatures.
Freeze drying helps retain the meal's flavour, texture and nutrition while making it incredibly light with a long shelf life.
Then, when you're ready to eat, simply add hot water, wait and dinner is sorted.
Why We Love Real Meals
They're lightweight, tasty, easy to prepare and made locally in Nelson.
Whether we're heading into Kahurangi, Nelson Lakes or further afield, Real Meals are an easy choice when we want to keep pack weight down without sacrificing a good dinner.
Because after a massive day in the hills, we want a meal we're actually looking forward to eating.