Frozen dinners are more convenient than home cooking, cheaper than takeout and they may even help you lose weight. But not all frozen meals are created equal. Some could spell diet disaster due to their high calorie content, while others are so low in nutrients they'll leave you hungry within an hour. If you want to find frozen dinners that will fill you up while helping you lose weight, you need to know what to look for in a quality meal.
Nutrients
Eating frozen dinners is a smart way to control your calorie intake and lose weight, but you need to learn how to read nutrition labels in order to choose the meals that will help you reach your goal. First, check the serving size. Most diet frozen dinners come in single-serving boxes, but don't make any assumptions, or you could end up eating hundreds of extra calories without knowing it. Opt for meals with no more than 500 calories per serving, and 760 mg or less of sodium, recommends Frances Largeman-Roth, Health magazine's Senior Food and Nutrition Editor. Protein and fiber help you feel fuller longer, so Largeman-Roth also suggests choosing a dinner that has at least 3 g of fiber and 10 g of protein.
Ingredients
Calories and nutrients are just a few of the factors to consider when choosing a frozen dinner. Look for products that list real food, not fillers, as the first ingredient. Try to choose meals that offer a large serving of vegetables, as well as a balance of other healthy foods, like whole-grains, beans, legumes and lean meat. Even if you pay careful attention to the ingredients in your meals, it's difficult to eat a balanced diet when you rely on packaged foods every night. Serve your frozen dinner along with a side of steamed vegetables, a piece of fruit or a garden salad so you stay full and get all the nutrients your body needs.
Limitations
A frozen dinner diet is a good choice for people who have trouble controlling their portion sizes, enjoy eating a wide variety of foods or hate cooking, since frozen meals are a good substitute for takeout dinners. But it can be difficult to stick to this sort of diet long-term; after months of eating frozen meals, you may find the flavors boring or bland. Keep your freezer stocked with frozen meals for nights that you don't feel like cooking, but try to get in the habit of preparing a homemade meal at least two or three nights per week. Take note of the ingredients and flavors in your favorite frozen meals to give you ideas for home-cooked meals that are tasty, filling and healthy enough to help you lose weight.
Considerations
If you're following a frozen food dinner diet to lose weight, you still need to pay attention to what you're eating the rest of the day. Choose a variety of foods that are low in calories but rich in nutrients, as well as small amounts of healthy fats, and the occasional treat. The staples of your diet should include fruits and vegetables; lean proteins like seafood, beans, eggs and lean cuts of poultry, beef and pork; whole grains like brown rice and whole-wheat bread and pasta; and low-fat or fat-free dairy like cheese, milk, yogurt and cottage cheese. Add moderate amounts of unsaturated fats to your meals in the form of nuts, seeds, nut butters, olives, avocados and olive oil.
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