Convenience Food For A 2,000-calorie Diet Plan

Certain convenience foods can make following a 2,000-calorie diet plan easier. While many convenience foods are highly processed and contain extra calories and fat, some simply help you get meals to the table more quickly. Choose the right kinds of convenience foods to help you cook healthy, calorie-controlled meals at home and avoid restaurants.

Plain Instant Oatmeal

Flavored instant oatmeal contains up to 10 g of added sugar. Plain instant oatmeal contains no added sugar but still offers almost 3 g of fiber per packet. Simply add boiling water, a splash of skim milk and fresh berries for a whole-grain breakfast with fewer than 400 calories.

Whole-Wheat English Muffins

Whole-wheat English muffins each contain about 140 calories. Use them for sandwiches or turkey burgers, to make mini, low-calorie pizzas or as a sweet sandwich made with peanut butter and bananas. Whole-wheat English muffins count as 2 oz. of the minimum 3 oz. of whole grains recommended daily by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Boil-in-the-Bag Brown Rice

Boil-in-the-bag brown rice cooks in about 10 minutes, about a quarter of the time it takes regular brown rice to cook. Brown rice is a whole grain and offers more fiber and nutrients than white rice. Use it to make a plain side dish, cook it with onions, chicken broth and frozen peas to make a pilaf, or add it to soups and stews.

Bagged Lettuce

Prewashed lettuce makes creating a salad easy. Toss romaine leaves with olives, cucumbers and crumbled feta for a convenient Greek salad, or use mixed baby greens as the base for a salad made with chick peas, grape tomatoes and sunflower seeds.

Canned Broth

Chicken or vegetable broth is low in calories and adds flavor to quick-cooking grains like couscous or quinoa. Make a quick homemade soup using chicken broth that easily fits into a 2,000-calorie plan. Heat the broth and add chopped vegetables, such as broccoli and zucchini, along with diced rotisserie chicken breast for a snack or meal with fewer than 300 calories. Choose low-sodium when possible to keep your salt intake under control.