by Annamaria Harvey

Created on: January 17, 2009   Last Updated: September 04, 2011

Frozen entrees are a great way to have a quick meal at home or the office. There are several different brands and recipes to choose from in your local grocery store or supermarket. But how do you know if they will taste good or not? Well I have done that legwork for you and am here to report my findings. Here are my conclusions on some of the best-known frozen entrees on the market, and one that isn't as well known but deserves to be mentioned.

Lean Cuisine has one of the largest selections of meals to choose from on the market that includes several different lines such as Spa Cuisine, Comfort Classics and Casual Eating. Their entrees include a variety of dishes covering all the major foods such as Mexican, Asian, Italian, Thai, and American. They also have a nice choice of panini and flatbread sandwiches that the other brands don't carry. Their individual brick-oven and deep-dish pizzas are also quite nice with gourmet toppings in addition to the standard pepperoni and cheese. Lean Cuisine Entrees range in price from $2.19 to $3.99.

Weight Watchers Smart Ones have a decent variety of entrees though not as many as Lean cuisine covering most of the same cuisines. They tend to be a little smaller portion-wise so they may not completely fill you up. Since these entrees are part of the Weight Watchers program, they are low in calories and fat. Though not quite as tasty as most of the Lean Cuisine meals they are still a nice healthy choice for lunch or dinner. Entrees normally include a grain or pasta, lean meat like turkey or chicken and veggies together in one dish. Entrees will run you about $2.09 to $2.92.

Amy's entrees are also a great choice. They are made with organic ingredients and are vegetarian as well. This does not mean however that they lack in taste or quality. I have actually found them to taste better and be more filling than the other major brands. They have a few more calories than most weight loss frozen entrees, but while not categorized as a diet food they are not junk either. This is because they are made with vegetables and whole grains such as brown rice, and sometimes include a meat substitute like tofu. They may not have the selection of the larger companies but they still have several cuisines to choose from including Indian, Mexican, Asian, Mediterranean, Italian and American. They even have individual and family sized pizzas. This brand is a little more costly usually starting at $2.69 and ranging up to $6.99 for pizzas but well worth it.

On the opposite end of the spectrum you will find Hungry Man frozen entrees. These do not purport to be diet food either but aren't healthy by any stretch of the word. Most are traditional American fare, for example fried chicken or meatloaf with one or two side dishes. There were only a couple of dishes in other cuisines like Mexican, Asian and Italian. They have a much smaller variety than the other brands already mentioned. I found these entrees a bit lacking and not just because they get demerits for not being healthful. The fried foods ended up being greasy after microwaving, and most of the main dishes and sides were on the bland side. The balancing factor is quantity as all of these are at least a pound of food. These entrees cost $3.09 each.

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