Swanson’s TV Dinners are a line of frozen meals created by the brand Swanson’s. According to Swanson, the meals were originally developed in 1954, when both freezers and TV sets were just becoming popular for home use. Today, Swanson’s TV Dinners are still available in grocery stores nationwide. These frozen meals are convenient, because they only require the use of a microwave or stove, but they are also high in fat and sodium.
Calories
Swanson’s TV Dinners come in a variety of meals such as classic meatloaf, roasted carved turkey, Mexican style fiesta and Salisbury steak. Some of these meals are high in calories because they contain meats and sauces like gravy. According to the nutritional database CalorieKing.com, one Swanson’s TV Dinner, macaroni and cheese, has about 450 calories per 10 oz. serving. The classic meatloaf is actually fairly low in calories, with only 270 calories for a 9.5 oz. meal.
Fat
Though the fat content varies depending on the type of meal, many Swanson’s TV Dinners are high in fat. A Swanson’s meatloaf has 13g of total fat, 20 percent of recommended daily intake, and 6g of saturated fat per serving. One macaroni and cheese meal by Swanson’s has 17g of total fat, 26 percent, and 6g of saturated fat. The American Heart Association recommends getting 25 to 35 percent of your daily calories from fats, and less than 7 percent of your daily calories from saturated fats. Eating too much fat, especially saturated fats, can clog the arteries and increase the risk of heart attacks.
Protein
Swanson’s TV Dinners are a good source of protein, generally. The meatloaf Swanson’s TV Dinner has 17g of protein, while the macaroni and cheese dinner has 13g of protein. Protein is an essential nutrient that helps us to maintain muscle mass. It also acts as a precursor for certain hormones and helps to keep us feeling satisfied.
Carbohydrates
The meatloaf meal by Swanson’s TV Dinners contains 22g of carbohydrates and no dietary fiber. There are 61g of carbohydrates in Swanson’s macaroni and cheese, 3g of which come from fiber and 21g of which come from sugars like lactose.
Sodium
A 9.5 oz. Swanson’s TV Dinner meatloaf has 1,260mg of sodium, while the macaroni and cheese version has 1,130mg. The Mayo Clinic states that while the body requires some sodium in foods, exceeding 2,300 mg of sodium a day can put you at an increased risk for high blood pressure and heart disease. People with high blood pressure, kidney problems or diabetes should only eat 1,500mg of sodium a day, according to the Mayo Clinic.
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