by Eric Puravs

Created on: January 17, 2009   Last Updated: January 28, 2009

Frozen entrees are a quick way to prepare a meal if you are in a hurry or can't cook. There are many brands of frozen entrees, from Michelina's to Swanson's Hungry Man line. But are they really good, or just an overpriced convenience? Each brand has some meals which are unique. Healthy Choice's spaghetti includes vegetables, Marie Callender's includes garlic bread. Most of the microwave meals are high in sodium, so check the nutrition labels if you are trying to avoid sodium.

Michelina's is the cheapest brand, they are usually sold for $1 or less. They are small, typically only 8 oz. You microwave them right in the box, they do not waste money on extra packaging. They have fewer calories than most other brands, because they are so small. Their Italian meals are better than the Asian ones, in my opinion. But the best use for this brand is being a cheap, quick lunch.

Smart Ones (from Weight Watchers). These are the official Weight Watchers food, they list Weight Watchers points. If you are really watching your weight, beware of the Calzone Italiano. It is good, but eating the whole box counts as two servings. Smart Ones also makes breakfasts and deserts.

Lean Cuisine (from Stouffer's) also comes in small packages. They are overall better than Michelina's, and have been on sale for $1.88 recently. They also have Weight Watcher's point on the package, even though they are not affiliated with Weight Watchers. This brand has the most variety. My favorites from this brand are the unbreaded seafood meals, like the Salmon Mediterranean meal. I also like their Flatbread Melts. My favorite meals from Stouffer's regular red box lineup are the small packages of lasagna and the green pepper steak.

Healthy Choice: This brand seems to do more to cut down on cholesterol and sodium than the others. The meals are generally bigger and yet not too high in these areas. I like the simple selections (without dessert) because I don't always want some apple pie filling for dessert. The spaghetti from this brand does include vegetables.

Banquet, a brand of ConAgra foods, is another cheap brand that is sometimes on sale 10 for $10. It does not try to be a diet brand. The "Fried Rice with Chicken and Egg Roll Meal" is better than Michelina's Asian because at least it has an egg roll.

Marie Callender's is a better tasting brand from ConAgra. The package lists what percent of vegetables and meat it gives you rather than how many Weight Watcher Points it is worth. For example, the "Meat Loaf and Gravy" meal gives me 50% of my vegetables and 60% of my meat. "Herb Roasted Chicken" is one of my favorite meals from this brand. I also like their Spaghetti, which is one of the few meals to come with bread. Pasta seems to be much simpler to include in a frozen meal. But I can cook my own spaghetti, so I do not get it that often.

Swanson's Hungry Man: Swanson's makes a whole line of frozen foods. But the only Swanson's frozen meals sold at my local Kroger store are it's Hungry Man frozen foods. They are big, with a pound or a pound and a half of food. They cost $3-$5, and their advantage is more food, not healthier food. Most of these meals are very high in sodium, using up most of your daily allowance, but the Southern Fried Boneless Chicken isn't too bad.

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