Ready-to-eat food often gets a bad rap. While whole, fresh foods always provide the best alternative, manufacturers have heeded the call for healthier packaged products. Researchers at the National Institutes of Health report that most of your cravings can be satisfied with healthy ready-to-eat foods when you choose lower fat options made with healthier ingredients. You also don't have to sacrifice good nutrition if you do not have the time or inclination to cook every day.
Whole Grains
Grains are an integral part of a healthy diet and many whole grain products come ready to eat. Grains contain complex carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins. They generally are low in fat and provide a good source of fiber. Many cereals are whole grain and ready to eat. In addition to the healthy fiber and carbs, many ready-to-eat cereals come fortified with extra minerals, vitamin D and calcium. Look for bread, cereal and snack bars that have whole grain as the first ingredient on the list for the best options, reports the Mayo Clinic.
Canned Soup
Ready-to-eat, low-fat and low-sodium canned soups make a good option for a quick meal, notes the Mayo Clinic. Soups, like other one-dish meals, can be a source of a number of different nutrients that might include meat, vegetables and beans.
Meats
The National Institutes of Health recommends low-fat ready-to-eat alternatives for meat, fish and poultry nutrition. For example, low-fat cold cuts and hot dogs can have as little as 2 or 3 percent fat. Frozen ready-to eat meals can be found with less than 13g of fat and most products now come in vegetarian tofu versions, such as tofu chicken patties, burgers and hot dogs that are always lower in calories and fat than the meat alternatives.
Treats
Treats high in fiber, such as air-popped or butter-free microwave popcorn, are healthy snacks allowed on most diets. Frozen yogurt, pudding pops made with skim milk and frozen fruit snacks can satisfy a sweet tooth while providing nutritional calories. The best kinds of cookies on which to snack include fig bars, ginger snaps and graham crackers, all of which are low in fat and calories.
Meal Replacements
Meal replacement bars and drinks can provide a quick, ready-to-eat alternative if you want to make sure you are getting adequate vitamins and minerals in your daily diet. Meal replacements come in a variety of options that range from low carb to high protein, specially made for women or athletes. They are proportioned so you won't go over your calorie allotment and many are low in fat. Watch for saturated fats in meal replacement bars--they're sometimes added to harden the ingredients.
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