When you need to eat lunch quickly and get back to the office, it's tempting to reach for the convenience of a frozen dinner you can pop into the microwave and place on the table in five minutes. Unfortunately, the fast route isn't always the healthiest one. Although there are now frozen dinner choices that contain fewer calories, these dinners still tend to be high in sodium. They're also noticeably lacking in fruits and vegetables and rather high in terms of starches. But if you're in a hurry and a frozen dinner has to do, it's important to know how to choose a healthy one. Here are some guidelines for choosing a health frozen dinner:
Limit the Sodium
Frozen dinners tend to be high in sodium. Read the nutrition label carefully and choose a dinner that has no more than 800 mg. of sodium. This will allow you to stay within the recommended guidelines of less than 2,400 mg of sodium per day.
Check Calories and Fat
Some of the newer, healthier frozen dinners such as Lean Cuisine, Healthy Choice, and South Beach have a lower calorie and fat content. Again, read the label and look for ones with less than 500 calories and fewer than 4 grams of saturated fat. Don't assume that because it's advertised as “healthy”, it necessarily is.
Consider Organic Frozen Dinners
By checking the organic section of your supermarket, you can find organic frozen dinners by such company's as Amy's. These frozen dinners use organic ingredients and have fewer preservatives than standard frozen entrees. Some of these dinners are vegetarian which is a positive since most frozen dinners are low in vegetable content. Again, always read the nutrition label. Just because it's organic doesn't mean it's low in fat or calories.
Watch the Carb Content
Even healthier frozen dinners can be high in processed carbs since they frequently use mashed potatoes, white rice, or pasta as the starch. An alternative is to purchase frozen dinners from Kasha or from the organic section of your supermarket where they're more likely to use whole grains as opposed to processed carbs.
Supplement Your Frozen Dinner
Because more frozen dinners are weak on fruits and vegetables, add a fresh salad or a cup of plain yogurt mixed with fresh fruit to get heart healthy antioxidants your frozen dinner may lack. Most frozen dinners won't provide you with all the nutrients you need for the day.
With so many choices when it comes to frozen dinners, it pays to shop carefully and don't forget to always read nutritional labels.
