Students who prepare meals in advance
Dried lentils, chickpeas or beans let you prepare several portions to take with you in a salad or reheat later. Allow for the preparation time given for the variety you choose.
Who are these formats for?
Your choice depends mainly on when you can cook: before you leave, just before lunch, or not at all.
Students short on time at lunchtime
A jar, tin or ready meal saves you from having to cook for a long time on campus. If you plan to eat it cold, check that it’s suitable; for a complete meal, also check the portion size, ingredients and allergens.
Shoppers who look for organic certification
Before comparing formats, look for verifiable organic certification on the packaging or product page. Then check exactly what’s in the bag, jar or meal.
What should you check before buying?
For lunch at university, start with the time you have, then check the organic certification and the contents of the format you choose.
Organic dried pulses to cook
Choose these if: you can cook before the day you need your lunch and take a portion with you.
Bear in mind: preparation times vary depending on the pulse and the instructions on the packet.
Organic jars and tins
Choose these if: you want to put together a salad or another lunch without lengthy cooking at university.
Check: what’s in the container and whether the quantity is right for the meal you’re making.
Organic ready meals
Choose these if: you need a lunch that’s ready to eat cold or heat up, depending on the product.
Check: a recipe may contain several ingredients and list allergens or possible traces of them.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Organic certification | Look for verifiable organic certification, such as the EU organic logo or the AB mark, then read the product description. | I want to know that the product I’m taking with me is clearly labelled organic, rather than judging by the packaging alone. Around 31% of shoppers would put this check at the top of their list. |
| Preparation time | Check the cooking or reheating instructions, and whether the product can be eaten cold. | Between lectures, I need to be able to have lunch without starting a long cooking process. Speed would be the main priority for around 25% of shoppers. |
| Preparing several meals | Check the net weight, the stated number of portions and how long it takes to cook in advance. | When I cook before a day of lectures, I look for a format that’s easy to divide between several lunches. This would be a priority for around 25% of shoppers. |
| What’s in your lunch | To put your meal together, check the ingredients, portion size, nutritional information and any allergens listed. | If I’m putting together a vegetarian lunch, I want to choose the other foods in my meal and spot any ingredients I need to avoid. Around 19% of shoppers would make this their priority. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming an organic meal suits every occasion and every allergy
Organic certification relates to how a product is made; it doesn’t tell you everything about the recipe in a ready meal. For example, Bjorg’s lentil and carrot dish states that it may contain traces of gluten, soya and celery.
Check the organic certification, then read the ingredients list, allergen information, portion size and nutritional details for the specific product you plan to take with you.
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Buying dried pulses to cook for an impromptu lunch
A packet of dried pulses assumes you can prepare your meal before leaving, or have the time and equipment to cook it. It won’t work as well as a ready-cooked product for a short break between lectures.
Check the preparation instructions before buying. If you can’t cook in time, consider jars, tins or meals that can be eaten cold or reheated.
You may also need cooking equipment and a container to carry your portion.
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Comparing formats by packet weight alone
A packet of dried pulses, a jar and a ready meal are at different stages of preparation. The weight on the label alone won’t tell you how many lunches you can make.
Check the net weight, the stated number of portions and what you’ll still need to prepare or add to your meal.
Brands to compare
These examples help you compare simple ingredients with prepared meals. Check the organic certification and product details for the one you choose.
Carrefour Bio
Carrefour offers, among other products, a 500 g tin of organic green lentils, which could be useful for preparing meals in advance.
- A Carrefour product listed as organic green lentils.
- Check the product details and any allergen warnings on the packaging you choose.
Bio Village
This Marque Repère brand at E.Leclerc offers different types of organic dried lentils to cook.
- The range includes 500 g packs of organic green lentils and 450 g packs of organic red lentils.
- Check the variety and cooking instructions on the packet you choose.
Auchan Bio
The range includes organic lentils and mixes. Choose according to whether you want to cook a single ingredient or use a prepared mix.
- Auchan offers, among other products, 500 g packs of organic green lentils.
- An Auchan Bio pulse-based mix also contains cereals. Its product details warn that it may contain traces of peanuts, sesame and soya. Read the label for each recipe.
GOLDENSUN (Lidl)
Lidl sells several varieties of organic dried pulses under this name, ready to cook at home.
- The range includes lentils, split peas, beans and chickpeas.
- Check the variety and the instructions on the packaging before planning your lunch.
ALDI BIO® / Fleurs des Champs®
ALDI offers a BIO® range and, separately, Fleurs des Champs® green lentils and white beans.
- The lentils and beans are suitable for preparing meals at home.
- Don’t assume a Fleurs des Champs® product is certified organic just because ALDI also has a BIO® range. Check the specific product.
Bjorg
Bjorg’s 250 g organic lentil and carrot dish is advertised as ready in 2 minutes, making it a handy lunch when you have little time to prepare.
- According to Bjorg, this dish can also be eaten cold.
- The recipe may contain traces of gluten, soya and celery. Also check the portion size and nutritional information.
Related Joybuy products
Related products will be available soon.
Frequently asked questions
How can you check whether dried pulses are organic?
Look for verifiable organic certification on the packaging or product page, such as the EU organic logo or the AB mark. Check the specific product you’re buying, rather than relying on the way the brand is presented overall.
Is it better to take dried pulses to cook or pulses in a jar?
Dried pulses are a good choice if you can prepare your lunch before you leave. A jar or tin makes it easier to put a meal together without lengthy cooking at university. To choose between two products, check the preparation instructions and ingredients.
What can you add to lentils to make a vegetarian lunch?
You can pair lentils with a cereal and vegetables, adjusting the quantities to suit your meal. Manger Bouger gives lentils with rice as an example; this combination doesn’t remove the need to check the ingredients in a ready meal.
Can you rely on an organic label if you have an allergy?
No. An organic label doesn’t tell you everything about a product’s ingredients or possible traces of allergens. For example, Bjorg’s lentil and carrot dish may contain traces of gluten, soya and celery. Check the label on the specific product.