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Frozen dinners have come a long way since the microwave tv dinner 1950’s. Not only have the flavor options and accessibility of these dinners changed, but there are even more options. healthy frozen food Available today.At the same time, there are many unhealthy frozen dinner It’s marketed as “healthy” even though it actually contains sodium, added sugar, fat and weird preservatives.
When you’re roaming the frozen food aisle at the grocery store in search of convenient and nutritious meals, it can be difficult to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy frozen dinners, especially when you’re in a hurry. With that in mind, we spoke with several nutritionists about what they want to avoid when pursuing fast, easy, and healthy frozen meals.
Here are six frozen foods that nutritionists advertise as “healthy” but are actually unhealthy. And be sure to read on for tips on how to find convenient, healthy meals for busy weeknights. When it comes to frozen foods, these are the healthiest.
per serving: 290 Calories, 9 g Fat (3.5 g Sat Fat), 790 mg Sodium, 38 g Carbs (2 g Fiber, 6 g Sugar), 14 g Protein
“nevertheless this meal It’s low in calories and lacks protein and fiber to help keep you feeling full.” Tammy Lakatos Shames, RDN, CDN, CFTWhen Rishi Lakatos, RDN, CDN, CFTalso known as nutrition twins“With only 14 grams of protein needed each day and only 2 grams of fiber on a 25- to 30-gram diet, you’ll quickly get hungry and find yourself looking for a snack or another meal.”
“Despite being low in calories, it’s salty at 30% of your maximum recommended daily sodium limit, highly processed with bleached flour and starch, high in saturated fat, and 21% of your maximum daily allotment.” adds the Nutrition Twins.
per serving: 320 Calories, 9 g Fat (2 g Saturated Fat), 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.
“This has 8 grams of added sugar, which should not exceed a maximum of 24 grams for women and 36 grams for men. Given that this is not a dessert, guilt-eaters probably You wouldn’t even consider factoring in sugar,” explains the Nutrition Twins. “With 500 milligrams of sodium, about 25% of the maximum daily recommended, and a long ingredient list with many additives and preservatives, this meal is best kept in the freezer aisle freezer. .
per serving: 300 Calories, 11 g Fat (4.5 g Sat Fat), 550 mg Sodium, 36 g Carbs (4 g Fiber, 5 g Sugar), 12 g Protein
“You’d think an organic diet with lots of colorful vegetables would be healthy,” says Nutrition Twins. “But the downside This one That means the serving is only 1/3 of a pizza. Not only do many people eat more than this, but even if you stick to one serving, you’ll still be consuming 4.5 grams of saturated fat, which is 26% of your maximum daily intake. “
It is also important to pay attention to the amount of protein in your diet. This is because it helps you feel fuller longer and satisfies your appetite.
“Given how difficult it is to stay satisfied with just 12 grams of protein in each serving, it’s no wonder most people easily eat two servings at one meal,” says Twins.
per serving: 420 Calories, 29 g Fat (11 g Sat Fat), 1,150 mg Sodium, 27 g Carbs (16 g Fiber, 2 g Sugar), 26 g Protein
“Atkins meal The twins are known to be keto-friendly, and this meal provides plenty of protein and fiber thanks to the oat fiber pizza crust.
consume too much sodium When saturated fat Over time, it’s been associated with higher LDL cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and an increased risk of heart disease.
“One serving contains 1,150 milligrams of sodium and 11 grams of saturated fat, both of which are nearly half the maximum daily intake,” explains the twins.
per serving: 390 Calories, 9 g Fat (2 g Saturated Fat), 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 things like Hungry Man or Banquet Mega Bowl, some frozen meals aren’t truly ‘healthy choices.’ There is also,” he said. Dr. Lisa Young, RDNthe author of Full at the end, slim at the end and our members Medical Professional Advisory Board. sweet and sour chickenFor example, it contains over 20 grams of sugar and 600 milligrams of sodium. “
per serving: 240 Calories, 7 g Fat (3.5 g Sat Fat), 630 mg Sodium, 29 g Carbs (2 g Fiber, 11 g Sugar), 16 g Protein
More than just a brand name, Lean Cuisine has established itself as a healthy or “lean” frozen dinner option. It also places low-calorie numbers on the front of the package.
“these meals They’re low in calories because they’re smaller in portion size, but they don’t feel very full, they tend to be low in vegetables and whole grains, and high in salt and sugar, says Young. 14 grams of sodium and sugar. Instead, I recommend making something simple at home. “
With all the other healthy frozen dinners out there, we recommend skipping the six above and opting for cleaner, protein-rich, lower sodium and sugar options.
