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Frozen dinners have come a long way since the microwave. television dinners from the 1950s. Not only have the flavor options and accessibility of these dinners changed, but there’s more frozen healthy meals available today. At the same time, there are also a lot of unhealthy frozen food that are marketed as “healthy,” even though they’re actually loaded with sodium, added sugar, fat, and weird preservatives.
When you’re wandering through the frozen food section of the grocery store looking for a convenient nutritious meal, it can be hard to tell the difference between healthy and unhealthy frozen dinners, especially when you’re in a hurry. With that in mind, we talked to a few dietitians about what you might want to avoid when looking for a quick, easy, and healthy frozen meal, so you can spot an otherwise disguised unhealthy frozen dinner when you cross your path.
Here are six frozen meals that dietitians say are marketed as “healthy” but are actually terrible for you. And for more tips on how to find a convenient and healthy meal on a busy night, be sure to read on as well. When it comes to frozen foods, these are the healthiest.
for food: 290 calories, 9 g fat (3.5 g saturated), 790 mg sodium, 38 g carbs (2 g fiber, 6 g sugar), 14 g protein
“Despite this food it’s low in calories, lacking in protein and fiber to help keep you feeling full,” says Tammy Lakatos Shames, RDN, CDN, CFTY Lyssie Lakatos, RDN, CDN, CFTalso know as the nutrition twins. “With only 14 grams of protein and two of the 25 to 30 grams of fiber you need each day, chances are you’ll be hungry soon after and reach for a snack or other meal.”
“Despite being low in calories, it’s salty with 30% of your maximum daily sodium limit, highly processed with bleached flours and starches, and high in saturated fat with 21% of your maximum daily allowance,” adds Nutrition Twins. .
for food: 320 calories, 9 g fat (2 g saturated), 500 mg sodium, 44 g carbs (5 g fiber, 11 g sugar), 16 g protein
Another “healthy” option that is not so healthy is Healthy Choice Chicken Parmigiana Meal.
“This one has 8 grams of added sugar – women should have a maximum of 24 grams and men should not exceed 36 grams. Since this is not a dessert, an innocent eater probably wouldn’t even think to consider sugar.” explain the Nutrition Twins. “With 500 milligrams of sodium, which is about 25% of the recommended daily allowance, and a long list of ingredients that includes many additives and preservatives, this meal is best left in the frozen aisle freezer.”
for food: 300 calories, 11 g fat (4.5 g saturated), 550 mg sodium, 36 g carbs (4 g fiber, 5 g sugar), 12 g protein
“One would assume that an organic meal that included a rainbow of colorful vegetables would be healthy,” says Nutrition Twins. “But the downside of East is that a slice is only a third of the pizza. Not only do many people eat more than this, but even if you stick to the serving size, you’ll still get 4.5 grams of saturated fat, 26% of your maximum daily allowance.”
It’s also crucial to pay attention to how much protein a meal has, because it’s what will help keep you full longer and help satisfy your appetite.
“Since it’s hard to stay satisfied with just 12 grams of protein in each serving, it’s no surprise that most people easily eat two servings per sitting,” says Twins.
for food: 420 calories, 29 g fat (11 g saturated), 1150 mg sodium, 27 g carbs (16 g fiber, 2 g sugar), 26 g protein
“Atkins Meals They’re known to be keto-friendly, and this meal provides a healthy dose of protein and fiber, thanks in part to the oat fiber base for the pizza,” the Twins say. “But it comes at a high price in terms of heart health.”
consuming too much sodium Y saturated fat over time it has been linked to higher levels of LDL cholesterol, high blood pressure, and an increased risk of heart disease.
“One serving has 1,150 milligrams of sodium and 11 grams of saturated fat, which is almost half the maximum daily allowance,” the Twins explain.
for food: 390 calories, 9 g fat (2 g saturated), 550 mg sodium, 63 g carbs (3 g fiber, 22 g sugar), 12 g protein
“Although Healthy Choice meals are portion controlled and relatively low in calories compared to something like Hungry-Man and Banquet Mega Bowls, some of their frozen meals aren’t truly the ‘healthy choice,'” she says. Lisa Young, Ph.D., RDNauthor of Finally full, finally thin and member of our Medical Expert Advisory Board. “The Bittersweet chickenFor example, it contains more than 20 grams of sugar and 600 milligrams of sodium.”
for food: 240 calories, 7 g fat (3.5 g saturated), 630 mg sodium, 29 g carbs (2 g fiber, 11 g sugar), 16 g protein
Lean Cuisine markets itself as a healthy or “lean” frozen dinner option beyond its brand name; it also puts the lowest calorie count right on the front of its packaging. However, Young cautions that these meals may not be the best.
“these meals They’re calorie-controlled due to their small portion sizes, but they’re not very filling and tend to be low in vegetables and whole grains and high in salt and sugar,” says Young. “This dish, for example, contains more than 600 milligrams of sodium and 14 grams of sugar. I suggest you cook something simple at home instead.”
With all the other healthy frozen dinners out there, it might be a good idea to skip the six listed above and opt for cleaner, higher-protein options that are also lower in sodium and added sugars.
