Reviewer names best Tesco meal deal after trying more than 500 combinations

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Reviewer names best Tesco meal deal after trying more than 500 combinations
Nirvan Barua has spent almost £2000 on meal deals after he started reviewing them for fun while working at Tesco
Meal Deal expert Nirvan (Niv) Barua
A meal deal reviewer who has tried more than 500 reveals the go-to lunch to get more bang for your buck - and the sandwiches to avoid. Nirvan Barua, also known a Niv, started reviewing meal deals for fun while working for Tesco in the pandemic and estimates he has spent £1,890 on his obsession.
The 25-year-old says he has covered more than 500 of the two million meal deal combinations but has worked out the best and worst picks. Niv, a full-time influencer, from Brighton, said: "People just love the meal deal, lunchtime is absolutely crazy in the shops now.
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"I think in general a meal deal is good value for money, but they should include bigger fruit portions. Plus they've gone up more than inflation and that's a huge shame.
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"I think the meal deal has been such a win with Brits because it's so efficient and avoids lots of decision making. I often wonder who thought of it - it has made trillions."
Niv said he thought meal deals should include bigger fruit portions
Niv, who has over 300,000 followers on TikTok, says going for a triple, all-day breakfast, or club sandwich is best bang for buck - as it is filling and affordable. But if you are a premium shopper, he recommends the Tesco £5 sushi for a filling budget meal.
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A chicken Caesar wrap is filling but less stodgy than a sandwich, Niv said, and Tesco Brie bacon and smoked chilli jam is a tasty, more exotic, option, he said. Niv's own favourite is a sausage bacon and egg triple, sausage roll side, and cola. A plain ham sandwich topped his 'worst' list, followed by egg and cress, and then the cheese triple.
He said: "My best bang for buck options maximise the amount of food you're getting for the same money, so as many fillings as possible and, where possible, three sandwiches instead of just two.
"My sausage roll side is much more filling than a bag of crisps, and I go for the full sugar cola to get the most energy out of it. It might sound crazy but this favourite meal deal of mine is actually the nation's favourite.
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"I just think if you buy plain ham or plain cheese you're not getting much for your money, and it's not as tasty: you might as well go for the most full, most flavoursome option for your money."
Niv started reviewing meal deals for fun while working for Tesco
Shops have had to adapt with the meal deal popularity by laying on more staff at lunch times Niv said. Trades people and secondary-school pupils are the main meal deal shoppers, he believes. Niv was recently invited on Joe Swash's 'Meal Deals: Behind the Bargain' which aired early this month on Chanel 4 to talk about the nations lunches.
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The presenter heads around the country speaking to influencers and supermarkets to unpack the British obsession with the meal deal. Niv, who uses the RateMyMealDeal hashtag which has over 20 million views, loved being on the show.
He said Joe Swash's favourite meal deal combo of a ham sandwich, ready salted crisps, and a bottle of water is "diabolical". He said: "It was very funny! I was so shocked.
"I honestly can't think of anything with less flavour. It's a great show and I felt honoured to be asked on."
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Your meal deal choices say a lot about your personality, Niv said. He said if you go for a triple all-day breakfast, sausage roll and full sugar cola then you're a "fun-loving type who embraces all the richness of life". But if you pick a plain ham or cheese sandwich, boiled egg, and water, then Niv reckons you're playing it far "too safe".
Niv's top three:
All-day breakfast triple sandwich, sausage roll, full sugar cola
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Chicken Caesar wrap, scotch egg, and protein shake
Sushi, fruit pot, and smoothie
Niv's lowest rated:
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Ham, egg and cress, or cheese sandwich, ready salted crisps/boiled egg, water