There are some days when you just need an easy, convenient meal that tastes good and is good for you, but you don’t really have to cook. Fortunately, thanks to the wonders of frozen mealsyou can have everything you want quickly.
Frozen foods have come a long way from the overprocessed, unsupplemented past. microwave meals. Today, the aisles are full of snacks, dinners, clean prepared meals, rich in nutrients and organic. dessertsAnd everything else.
So far this year, a few new frozen foods have hit the shelves that seem to tick all the boxes when it comes to nutritious and delicious ready meals. However, not everything is healthy. frozen food they’re as healthy as they look, so we talked to Eat this, not that! board of medical experts members and medical professionals Dr. Cedrina Calder, MD, MSPH and Brittany Dunn, MS, RDN, CD to help dig into the details of five of the newest products hitting the frozen dinner scene.
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Snow Days is on a mission to make better snacks for you and they recently launched their Buffalo Chicken Pizza Bites, an organic update on traditional pizza rolls.
These muffins are 100% organic, grain and gluten free, and made with grass-fed dairy products and 10 grams of protein and vegetables from organic farms.
The reasons Dr. Calder would opt for these buns are: “I really like the simplicity of the ingredients. It doesn’t seem like there are too many preservatives or other additives included, and there is no added sugars.”
However, this more nutritious version of the nostalgic after-school snack isn’t at the top of the healthiest list, as these little morsels come with a high amount of saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium per serving, says Dr. Calder.
So while they’re just a snack, Dunn suggests keeping pizza bites in mind if you lead a low-sodium lifestyle, and be sure to pair them with a side of vegetables or fruit for a more balanced meal.
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Another new addition to the grab-and-go section of freezer aisles is Three Cheese Stuffed Chicken Bites from Real Good Foods. What sets them apart from other frozen patty options is that Real Good Foods Stuffed Chicken Bites are made without processed flours or grains, so they are gluten and grain free. Plus, with just 5 grams of carbs, Dunn notes that these bites are also keto friendly.
For Dunn, he likes these because “Just 3 pieces provide 17 grams of protein and no added sugars. Plus, it’s about a fifth of the recommended daily amount.” calcium consumption. This is pretty good compared to most other products that contain trace amounts of vitamins and minerals.”
Aside from the good parts, like using real chicken and cheese, it’s important to note that these bites are pretty high in cholesterolsodium and saturated fat.
According to Dr. Calder, “The American Heart Association recommends no more than 13 grams of saturated fat per day. This product contains a whopping 17 grams of saturated fat.”
Furthermore, due to the low fiberDunn suggests supplementing with other foods for additional nutrients and sustained energy.
Handy Seafood, America’s oldest seafood processor, has launched its own plant-based crab-free cake.
Crabless Cake is made from a proprietary blend of pea and wheat protein blended with organic vegetables such as red and green peppersand onions and is described as having a crab cake-like texture with a Maryland-style flavor.
For Dr. Calder, these are a great choice because “You get 10 grams of protein with each serving. There are no added sugars and it’s low in saturated fat.”
Despite being a good source of vegetal proteinthese cakes could contain more fiber, vitamins and minerals and are low in fiber and the portions are small, so they’re not suitable as a meal on their own, adds Dunn.
One of Dunn’s top picks, Cutting Vedge’s new Plant-Based Sliced Sweet Italian Sausage is a forward twist on the traditional sausage. It is made with artichokes and a mixture of Spinach, quinoaand chickpeas and is non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, and dairy-free.
“What I love about this product is that it’s a plant-based option for a variety of diets. It’s an ingredient that you can get creative with and add to a variety of dishes,” she says.
For Dr. Calder, things that stand out include “It’s a good source of iron providing 15% of the daily value and does not contain saturated fat. It also has a limited number of ingredients with no additives listed.”
Even though naturally high-fiber artichokes are the main ingredient, with only 1 gram of fiber per serving and 1 gram of protein, both experts suggest a side of more nutrient-rich vegetables with your sausage.
Top Expert Pick Australis Aquaculture has expanded its Better Fish line of Fair Trade Certified frozen Barramundi by introducing a new freezer-to-oven variety.
The Better Fish Tuscan Herb Butter Barramundi features individually wrapped Barramundi slices glazed in a buttery tomato, garlic and chive sauce and is a quick way to whip up a healthy gourmet dinner without much effort since you can bake straight from the freezer.
“I love that it’s packed with omega-3 fatty acids. Omega 3s are essential fats that are important for heart health. Because the product is fish, you also get a high-protein bonus,” says Dr. Calder. “Provides 17 grams of protein per serving. It is also a great source of vitamin Dwhich happens to be one of the vitamins that Americans are most deficient in.
The Better Fish Barramundi offers health-conscious consumers a delicious, high-quality dining solution for adding more sustainable seafood to their diet. Dunn adds to the benefits of this fish Saying, “Barramundi is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA), and its consumption can reduce the risks of heart problems and chronic diseases. In addition, this fish is rich in protein and offers a variety of micronutrients. Fast and easy to prepare item that has a variety of nutrients.
The Better Fish Barramundi line of frozen bags will launch in the US to more than 5,000 retail stores and clubs nationwide on Instacart and Amazon in the first quarter of 2022.
To learn more about what to include on your next shopping list, check out 9 new dietitian-approved healthy breakfasts on grocery store shelves.
