Frozen Meals: Healthy or Not?

Can a pre-packaged frozen meal in a box be healthy?

The great thing about frozen dinners is that there are so many options to choose from.  When I was younger I think my options were fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, turkey with gravy, and salisbury steak and yes, most came with a brownie or cranberry sauce, two of my favorites.  Well times have changed, thank goodness because I don't see myself buying one of those meals anytime soon, well I would maybe just for the brownie.  

Healthier versions of frozen diet meals like Lean Cuisine, Weight Watchers and Healthy Choice offer a wide range of options – from breakfast sandwiches to pizza to Chinese noodle dishes. One of the reasons so many people purchase frozen dinners is because they are convenient and we know how nice convenience is today with our busy lifestyles.

Pros
• Portion controlled
• Ready in minutes
• A wide variety to choose from
• Easy to transport and store at work
• No cooking skills required

Not everyone can agree that frozen meals and good for your health or easy on your wallet.  Some of these meals can be pretty pricey and often many of them are loaded with fat and sodium.  Others though may only cost about $2 which is a great price for lunch compared to $10 if eating out.  You just have to know which ones to choose to have a healthy meal and not spend a fortune in the frozen food isle.  You also shouldn't rely solely on frozen dinners.  Fresh is best but when you need something quick, it works.

Cons
• Loaded with sodium – most brands have a at least 25-percent of the your daily recommendation
• Unappetizing odor and fake taste
• Lots of unrecognizable ingredients, little real food
• Pricey – $4 a box may not seem like a lot but cost can pile up quickly
• Not a long-term solution to healthy eating (do you want to rely on these meals forever?)

What’s more important? Do you want to eat for good health?  Then focus more on fresh whole foods.  If you want a quick fix and convenience, then these meals are right up your alley.  When shopping for frozen meals be sure to look for ones with less than 500-600 mg of sodium and are a good source of fiber and protein.

Check out WebMD's list of 20 Healthy Frozen Meals

http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/top-12-healthy-frozen-dinners