7 Frozen Dinners That Aren’t Horrible For You
SHARE
pxhere
We’d love to have the energy to make a healthy, homecooked meal every night, but sometimes, it’s just not going to happen. Regardless of whether you’ve had a long day or only have 15 minutes to inhale your dinner, prepackaged meals can be too hassle-free to resist. While frozen dinners are notorious for containing loads of sodium and mysterious additives, recent health trends have paved the way for the creation of healthier versions of this convenience food.
For the busy worker bees who don’t have time to decode the nutrition information on the back of frozen dinners before tossing them into their shopping carts, we compiled a list of the seven healthiest frozen dinners on the market. To better define the word “healthy,” we set some parameters. Each prepackaged meal on our list has 500 calories or less, less than 5 grams of saturated fat, no more than 45 grams of carbohydrates, less than 450 milligrams of sodium, less than 12 grams of sugar andat least 9 grams of protein. We also took a look at the ingredient labels and made sure not to include any that had long lists of hard-to-pronounce additives. Here, in no particular order, are seven frozen dinners that stand out from the rest — in a good way.
1. Kashi Chimichurri Quinoa Bowl
Amazon
Calories: 240
Saturated Fat: 1 gram
Carbohydrates: 41 grams
Sodium: 330 milligrams
Sugar: 5 grams
Protein: 10 grams
This pick is ideal for vegans and those who prefer a plant-based diet. The ingredients are void of suspicious chemicals and, instead, include red quinoa, cooked lentils, red potatoes and a boatload of nutritious veggies and healthy spices. What’s more, this frozen dinner doesn’t have any added sugar and contains 12 grams of filling fiber.
2. Evol Balance Bowl
View this post on Instagram
Calories: 460
Saturated Fat: 3 grams
Carbohydrates: 43 grams
Sodium: 390 milligrams
Sugar: 4 grams
Protein: 13 grams
If you’re looking for a more substantial, ready-to-eat meal, this one will do the trick. Evol’s Balance Bowl consists of grilled seasoned chicken, sweet potatoes, red rice and veggies all in a basil pesto sauce. With 27 grams of total fat per bowl, this frozen meal is a little heavier than we would like, but most of it is healthy, unsaturated fat.
3. Luvo Chicken Harissa & Chickpeas
View this post on Instagram
Calories: 270
Saturated Fat: 1.5 grams
Carbohydrates: 27 grams
Sodium: 330 milligrams
Sugar: 2 grams
Protein: 16 grams
This easily-microwavable bowl consists of organic cooked brown rice, cooked and seasoned chicken breast, broccoli, cooked chickpeas, butternut squash, tomatoes, onions, sunflower oil and other seasonings. For a dinner that’s under 300 calories, this frozen meal is surprisingly high in protein — an essential macronutrient for building and maintaining strong muscles. And with only 2 grams of sugar, it’s also great for those who are looking to reduce their daily sugar intake.
4. Healthy Choice Pesto & Egg White Scramble
View this post on Instagram
Calories: 190
Saturated Fat: 1.5 grams
Carbohydrates: 21 grams
Sodium: 430 milligrams
Sugar: 1 gram
Protein: 12 grams
If you’re looking for a fun “breakfast for dinner” option that can be cooked in minutes in the microwave, then we suggest that you try this one out. This bowl is filled with egg whites, white kidney beans and veggies on top of a mixture of steel cut oats, farro, buckwheat and red quinoa — a great combination of healthy whole grains.
5. Amy’s Light Sodium Brown Rice & Vegetables Bowl
Target
Calories: 260
Saturated Fat: 1 gram
Carbohydrates: 36 grams
Sodium: 270 milligrams
Sugar: 7 grams
Protein: 9 grams
One of the least healthy things about frozen dinners is that even the more nutritious ones usually have more than 500 milligrams of sodium per serving. Luckily, this pick from Amy’s would be easily approved by the American Heart Association and their guidelines. Plus, it’s full of healthy, hearty whole grains and vegetables.
6. Artisan Bistro, Wild Salmon & Pesto
Amazon
Calories: 310
Saturated Fat: 2.5 grams
Carbohydrates: 21 grams
Sodium: 370 milligrams
Sugar: 3 grams
Protein: 16 gram
This meal consists of wild Alaskan salmon in a basil pesto sauce, brown rice, zucchini and red bell peppers. The salmon brings healthy fats and protein to the table, and the veggies help you up your daily intake of essential nutrients. There’s really little to complain about with this dinner option.
7. Luvo’s Red Wine Braised Beef & Polenta
View this post on Instagram
Calories: 300
Saturated Fat: 2.5 grams
Carbohydrates: 32 grams
Sodium: 410 milligrams
Sugar: 8 grams
Protein: 19 grams
This comfort food style meal consists of braised beef, polenta, collard greens, carrots and butternut squash. It packs a punch of protein while still keeping the calorie and sodium content relatively low. With 8 grams of sugar per serving, this meal does have more of the sweet stuff compared to others on the list, so if you do eat it, just be mindful of your other meal picks throughout the day.
RELATED
Here’s How To Defrost Your Frozen Food Seamlessly
These Salad Vending Machines Are Making Healthy Food Within Arms Reach
10 Healthy Food Swaps Your Taste Buds Will Totally Love
Next on
