Frozen entrees are great for taking to work or just having an easy meal at home. Shopping for the right ones can be time consuming, however, it will be worth it. You want to be healthy in your choices when it comes to frozen entrees, because it can have lots of sodium, fat, and calories.
Reading the nutrition label is key to finding the best healthy choice. Look for meals that are 250-300 calories, less than 4 grams of saturated fat,less than 800 milligrams of sodium, and at least 3-5 grams of fiber(1). Also, make sure that the portion size is only one. Your little meal could be twice the amount of calories and fat than you thought. Watch out for saying on the package like "natural", "organic", or "preservative free". It's not clear exactly what makes it constitute as natural or organic and freezing prevents spoiling so there's no need for preserving. Reading the label instead of the front of the box will ensure you that you are making a healthy choice.
Looking for the right ingredients is also key. Vegetables will fill you up and healthier for you. Also, look at the type of meat that is included. Look for chicken, fish, or lean meat. Rice can also fill you up, but look for brown rice. Looking for healthy frozen dinners doesn't mean that they won't taste good. There are many entrees that taste fantastic while still being healthy. Don't buy the dinner that end up with grease at the bottom of the tray and have a brownie on the side. This is not going to be healthy for you.
Some of the best healthy options that I've found are: Amy's Asian Noodle Stir Fry, Lean Cuisine Salmon with Basil, Healthy Choice Cajun Shrimp and Chicken, and Smart Ones Rigatoni with Broccoli and Chicken. For a list of the nutritional facts of these entrees and others go to http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/best-frozen-dinne rs?page=2.
Frozen entrees can be wonderful if you buy with caution. For people with busy lives, they can be a life saver when you just want to have a meal in a couple minutes. You can put up your feet and relax rather than standing in front of the stove praying that your homemade dish works out. Even if you need more food to fill you up than the entree provides, you can always have a side of fruit or salad to satisfy your hunger. Being healthy is so important, even if you are in a hurry. Skip the fast food and stock your freezer.
Works Cited: (1) http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/best-frozen-dinne rs