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Frozen Meals: Warm Up to Our 10 Best Entrees
WebMD Feature from eDiets.comCarolina Diaz-Bordon
eDiets.com Staff Writer
Frozen microwavable meals and health advocates are now able to come together in feast, I mean peace. The demand for convenient meals in today's fast-paced world is high, but so is the need for balanced nutrition.
But with careful probing of food labels, it's easier than ever to enjoy not only healthy, but also delicious, frozen dinners in three minutes or less.
With more than $40 billion in annual sales, frozen foods make up about one-third of total food-service sales, according to the American Frozen Food Institute. The numbers suggest we are definitely not chilling in our enthusiasm for a quick meal, whether it be breakfast, lunch or dinner.
The best way to become frozen-food savvy is to check the nutrition label. Manufacturers are required to list the most prominent ingredients first and all others in descending order.
Becky Billingsley, CEO of the Food Syndicate says, Read the nutrition facts label before you buy because something that sounds healthy could be oozing with fat. Often frozen meals are also infused with sodium, so if youre concerned about sodium intake, be aware of that.
Another important health tip to keep in mind is variety. Its not just your taste buds that crave diversity in your meals. Your body also begs for change. The keys to good nutrition are balance, moderation and variety. Luckily, theres an abundance of high-quality frozen meals. Studies continue to show frozen meals are packed with nutrition. Frozen fruits and vegetables, for example, are sometimes the best buys you can make because they are rich in nutrients and, in some cases, more nutritious than fresh produce.
Taste, convenience and nutrition -- its hard to ask for more. Heres a list, provided by Billingsley, of 10 of the most delicious microwavable meals you will find in the frozen food aisle:
Birds Eye Voila! Chicken & Meatball Italiano with Vegetables
While the meatballs are only the size of large blueberries, the vibrant fresh flavors of this dish are fantastic. You get penne pasta with grilled chicken, meatballs, Italian green beans, red bell peppers, tomato chunks and mushrooms. The sauce comes in a separate packet, which is a nice touch. The serving size is one cup, and the package contains three servings. I add fruit and/or a salad to the meal to feel satisfied.
Nutrition: 280 calories, 9g fat (2.5 saturated), 15mg cholesterol, 760mg sodium, 34g carbohydrate (4 fiber, 10 sugars) and 14g protein.
Contessa Shrimp Mediterranean
Oh, baby. I counted 25 medium-sized shrimp mixed in with red and green bell peppers, tomato chunks and kalamata olives. The marinara sauce and linguini are in separate packets. You may think that since this package contains three servings, the pasta portion is skimpy, but you have to remember a serving of cooked pasta is half a cup. Mix up a salad and youll have a terrific meal.
Nutrition: 180 calories, 3g fat (zero saturated), 50mg cholesterol, 920mg sodium, 27g carbohydrate (3 fiber, 6 sugars) and 11g protein.
Healthy Choice Mushroom Roasted Beef
You get gravy! And noodles! With only 8 grams of fat! Talk about a balanced meal: Youve got vegetables (green beans and carrots), meat (decent-sized chunks of beef), starch (curly egg noodles), fungus (mushrooms) and gravy (all right, so gravy isnt a food group, but it should be).
Nutrition: 280 calories, 8g fat (3 sat., 2 poly., 3 mono.), 60mg cholesterol, 600mg sodium, 28g carbohydrate (5 fiber, 4 sugars) and 23g protein.
Lean Pockets Subs, Philly Steak & Cheese
This is a great meal on the go, especially if you also have a piece of fresh fruit. It features soft bread and a satisfying amount of beef surrounded by plenty of gooey low-fat mozzarella cheese. One sandwich (one serving) is ready to eat after less than 2 minutes in the microwave. You get two subs in the package.
Nutrition: 300 calories, 7g fat (2 sat.), 20mg cholesterol, 760mg sodium, 44g carbohydrate (4 fiber, 3 sugars) and 17g protein.
Michelinas Lean Gourmet Chicken Alfredo Florentine
This would be a more balanced meal choice with additional spinach. But for fans of Alfredo sauce who thought theyd never see the cheesy delicacy included in a healthy diet, its a welcome treat.
Nutrition: 270 calories, 6g fat (3 sat.), 40mg cholesterol, 610mg sodium, 38g carbohydrate (2 fiber, 5 sugars) and 15g protein.
South Beach Diet Mediterranean Style Chicken with Couscous
Talk about delicious! I like everything about this meal. The chicken is tender and juicy, the sauce is well-seasoned and the couscous contains diced vegetables and pine nuts. I cant wait to try other flavors in Krafts South Beach Diet line, such as Savory Beef with Cheesy Broccoli and Savory Pork with Pecans and Green Beans.
Nutrition: 330 calories, 12g fat (2.5 sat., 5 poly., 4 mono.), 75mg cholesterol, 960mg sodium, 26g carbohydrate (3 fiber, 5 sugars) and 30g protein.
Stouffers Lean Cuisine Salmon with Basil
I try to eat salmon at least once a week for its healthy Omega-3 oils, and because I like it. This new dish from Stouffers will be a staple in my freezer. The orzo pasta is whole grain, while the five wild salmon chunks (each about two bites worth) are tender and flaky. The spinach and julienne yellow and orange carrots are deliciously healthy and the basil sauce divine.
Nutrition: 260 calories, 7g fat (2 sat., 2 poly., 2 mono.), 30mg cholesterol, 640mg sodium, 33g carbohydrate (5 fiber, 7 sugars) and 17g protein.
Stouffers Skillets Garlic Chicken
If you like garlic, youll love this buttery, garlicky dish with spiral pasta, chicken chunks, broccoli, carrots, peas and onions. The package contains two generous servings.
Nutrition: 330 calories, 5g fat (2.5 sat.), 50mg cholesterol, 1,170mg sodium, 46g carbohydrate (3 fiber, 5 sugars) and 24g protein.
Uncle Bens Bowls Grilled Chicken Caesar
I cant say I love broccoli by itself, but I do like broccoli that has been jazzed up by a capable chef. This bowl from Uncle Ben is a keeper, with lovely long grain and wild rice topped with roasted chicken strips, broccoli, carrots and creamy garlicky Caesar sauce.
Nutrition: 310 calories, 4g fat (1.5 sat.), 35mg cholesterol, 1,090mg sodium, 47g carbohydrate (2 fiber, 7 sugars) and 22g protein.
Weight Watchers Smart Ones Macaroni & Cheese
I finally found macaroni and cheese that wont make me feel guilty after eating it. The pasta is tender, the sauce is decadently creamy and the portion size is generous. I top it with fresh cracked black pepper for extra zing. Of course, I add fruit and/or vegetables to make this a balanced meal.
Nutrition: 240 calories, 2.5g fat (1 sat., 0.5 poly., 0.5 mono.), 10mg cholesterol, 800mg sodium, 45g carbohydrate (3 fiber, 6 sugars) and 10g protein.
Link to article here
WebMD Feature from eDiets.comCarolina Diaz-Bordon
eDiets.com Staff Writer
Frozen microwavable meals and health advocates are now able to come together in feast, I mean peace. The demand for convenient meals in today's fast-paced world is high, but so is the need for balanced nutrition.
But with careful probing of food labels, it's easier than ever to enjoy not only healthy, but also delicious, frozen dinners in three minutes or less.
With more than $40 billion in annual sales, frozen foods make up about one-third of total food-service sales, according to the American Frozen Food Institute. The numbers suggest we are definitely not chilling in our enthusiasm for a quick meal, whether it be breakfast, lunch or dinner.
The best way to become frozen-food savvy is to check the nutrition label. Manufacturers are required to list the most prominent ingredients first and all others in descending order.
Becky Billingsley, CEO of the Food Syndicate says, Read the nutrition facts label before you buy because something that sounds healthy could be oozing with fat. Often frozen meals are also infused with sodium, so if youre concerned about sodium intake, be aware of that.
Another important health tip to keep in mind is variety. Its not just your taste buds that crave diversity in your meals. Your body also begs for change. The keys to good nutrition are balance, moderation and variety. Luckily, theres an abundance of high-quality frozen meals. Studies continue to show frozen meals are packed with nutrition. Frozen fruits and vegetables, for example, are sometimes the best buys you can make because they are rich in nutrients and, in some cases, more nutritious than fresh produce.
Taste, convenience and nutrition -- its hard to ask for more. Heres a list, provided by Billingsley, of 10 of the most delicious microwavable meals you will find in the frozen food aisle:
Birds Eye Voila! Chicken & Meatball Italiano with Vegetables
While the meatballs are only the size of large blueberries, the vibrant fresh flavors of this dish are fantastic. You get penne pasta with grilled chicken, meatballs, Italian green beans, red bell peppers, tomato chunks and mushrooms. The sauce comes in a separate packet, which is a nice touch. The serving size is one cup, and the package contains three servings. I add fruit and/or a salad to the meal to feel satisfied.
Nutrition: 280 calories, 9g fat (2.5 saturated), 15mg cholesterol, 760mg sodium, 34g carbohydrate (4 fiber, 10 sugars) and 14g protein.
Contessa Shrimp Mediterranean
Oh, baby. I counted 25 medium-sized shrimp mixed in with red and green bell peppers, tomato chunks and kalamata olives. The marinara sauce and linguini are in separate packets. You may think that since this package contains three servings, the pasta portion is skimpy, but you have to remember a serving of cooked pasta is half a cup. Mix up a salad and youll have a terrific meal.
Nutrition: 180 calories, 3g fat (zero saturated), 50mg cholesterol, 920mg sodium, 27g carbohydrate (3 fiber, 6 sugars) and 11g protein.
Healthy Choice Mushroom Roasted Beef
You get gravy! And noodles! With only 8 grams of fat! Talk about a balanced meal: Youve got vegetables (green beans and carrots), meat (decent-sized chunks of beef), starch (curly egg noodles), fungus (mushrooms) and gravy (all right, so gravy isnt a food group, but it should be).
Nutrition: 280 calories, 8g fat (3 sat., 2 poly., 3 mono.), 60mg cholesterol, 600mg sodium, 28g carbohydrate (5 fiber, 4 sugars) and 23g protein.
Lean Pockets Subs, Philly Steak & Cheese
This is a great meal on the go, especially if you also have a piece of fresh fruit. It features soft bread and a satisfying amount of beef surrounded by plenty of gooey low-fat mozzarella cheese. One sandwich (one serving) is ready to eat after less than 2 minutes in the microwave. You get two subs in the package.
Nutrition: 300 calories, 7g fat (2 sat.), 20mg cholesterol, 760mg sodium, 44g carbohydrate (4 fiber, 3 sugars) and 17g protein.
Michelinas Lean Gourmet Chicken Alfredo Florentine
This would be a more balanced meal choice with additional spinach. But for fans of Alfredo sauce who thought theyd never see the cheesy delicacy included in a healthy diet, its a welcome treat.
Nutrition: 270 calories, 6g fat (3 sat.), 40mg cholesterol, 610mg sodium, 38g carbohydrate (2 fiber, 5 sugars) and 15g protein.
South Beach Diet Mediterranean Style Chicken with Couscous
Talk about delicious! I like everything about this meal. The chicken is tender and juicy, the sauce is well-seasoned and the couscous contains diced vegetables and pine nuts. I cant wait to try other flavors in Krafts South Beach Diet line, such as Savory Beef with Cheesy Broccoli and Savory Pork with Pecans and Green Beans.
Nutrition: 330 calories, 12g fat (2.5 sat., 5 poly., 4 mono.), 75mg cholesterol, 960mg sodium, 26g carbohydrate (3 fiber, 5 sugars) and 30g protein.
Stouffers Lean Cuisine Salmon with Basil
I try to eat salmon at least once a week for its healthy Omega-3 oils, and because I like it. This new dish from Stouffers will be a staple in my freezer. The orzo pasta is whole grain, while the five wild salmon chunks (each about two bites worth) are tender and flaky. The spinach and julienne yellow and orange carrots are deliciously healthy and the basil sauce divine.
Nutrition: 260 calories, 7g fat (2 sat., 2 poly., 2 mono.), 30mg cholesterol, 640mg sodium, 33g carbohydrate (5 fiber, 7 sugars) and 17g protein.
Stouffers Skillets Garlic Chicken
If you like garlic, youll love this buttery, garlicky dish with spiral pasta, chicken chunks, broccoli, carrots, peas and onions. The package contains two generous servings.
Nutrition: 330 calories, 5g fat (2.5 sat.), 50mg cholesterol, 1,170mg sodium, 46g carbohydrate (3 fiber, 5 sugars) and 24g protein.
Uncle Bens Bowls Grilled Chicken Caesar
I cant say I love broccoli by itself, but I do like broccoli that has been jazzed up by a capable chef. This bowl from Uncle Ben is a keeper, with lovely long grain and wild rice topped with roasted chicken strips, broccoli, carrots and creamy garlicky Caesar sauce.
Nutrition: 310 calories, 4g fat (1.5 sat.), 35mg cholesterol, 1,090mg sodium, 47g carbohydrate (2 fiber, 7 sugars) and 22g protein.
Weight Watchers Smart Ones Macaroni & Cheese
I finally found macaroni and cheese that wont make me feel guilty after eating it. The pasta is tender, the sauce is decadently creamy and the portion size is generous. I top it with fresh cracked black pepper for extra zing. Of course, I add fruit and/or vegetables to make this a balanced meal.
Nutrition: 240 calories, 2.5g fat (1 sat., 0.5 poly., 0.5 mono.), 10mg cholesterol, 800mg sodium, 45g carbohydrate (3 fiber, 6 sugars) and 10g protein.
Link to article here
