TV Dinner Diet?
LittlestHedgehog
Posts: 10 Member
I am aware that TV Dinners are high in sodium, but what about eating the healthy ones such as SmartOnes and LeanCuisine? I sadly I don't know how to cook easily in the broad sense. (I know people will say oh, it's so easy! Also I throw a lot of leftovers away and money because I am not a leftover person) But - I also have a picky Cuban-American man who only ever wants either pizza or pork/rice. Neither I am big on or are healthy. So in order of us to lose weight together, our current meal plan consists of tv dinners for dinner only. Would this be efficient in weight loss? My breakfast always contains multi-grain cereal with almond milk. And as for lunch I have done good and started making different low-cal wraps for us. Any advice is great! Thank you!
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Replies
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As long as you stay in a calorie deficit, you will lose weight, even if you are eating frozen dinners every night. I'll share this - when I was about 16 my parents remodeled the kitchen. For a few weeks, we lived on microwaveable things (a lot of TV dinners). I was concerned that I would gain weight eating that way, but what was funny is at I actually lost a few lbs. Why? Because TV dinners and other pre-portioned meals/snacks tend to be pretty reasonable in calories (do read labels and log tho! Not all are created equal), and obviously I was taking bigger portions (and therefore more calories) of home cooked foods previously. And that's what it boils down to.
That said, I find TV dinners to not be terribly filling. If you find that to be the case, maybe try buying some bagged salad or microwaveable frozen veggies to add some bulk to those (often dinky) frozen meals without adding a lot of calories (or requiring any serious cooking skills).8 -
tlflag1620 wrote: »As long as you stay in a calorie deficit, you will lose weight, even if you are eating frozen dinners every night. I'll share this - when I was about 16 my parents remodeled the kitchen. For a few weeks, we lived on microwaveable things (a lot of TV dinners). I was concerned that I would gain weight eating that way, but what was funny is at I actually lost a few lbs. Why? Because TV dinners and other pre-portioned meals/snacks tend to be pretty reasonable in calories (do read labels and log tho! Not all are created equal), and obviously I was taking bigger portions (and therefore more calories) of home cooked foods previously. And that's what it boils down to.
That said, I find TV dinners to not be terribly filling. If you find that to be the case, maybe try buying some bagged salad or microwaveable frozen veggies to add some bulk to those (often dinky) frozen meals without adding a lot of calories (or requiring any serious cooking skills).
I believe in that theory. Basically you could eat twinkies all day long as long as you stay under your calorie deficit you will lose weight. I think I will buy perhaps some bagged salad because yes, some of the dinners aren't filling and are so tiny, so unless I eat them SUPER slow I just feel unsatisfied moments later. I just don't want the tv dinners to impact my health so negatively either, but they seem a lot better than breaking down and getting fast food!
Thank you for your reply!1 -
LittlestHedgehog wrote: »tlflag1620 wrote: »As long as you stay in a calorie deficit, you will lose weight, even if you are eating frozen dinners every night. I'll share this - when I was about 16 my parents remodeled the kitchen. For a few weeks, we lived on microwaveable things (a lot of TV dinners). I was concerned that I would gain weight eating that way, but what was funny is at I actually lost a few lbs. Why? Because TV dinners and other pre-portioned meals/snacks tend to be pretty reasonable in calories (do read labels and log tho! Not all are created equal), and obviously I was taking bigger portions (and therefore more calories) of home cooked foods previously. And that's what it boils down to.
That said, I find TV dinners to not be terribly filling. If you find that to be the case, maybe try buying some bagged salad or microwaveable frozen veggies to add some bulk to those (often dinky) frozen meals without adding a lot of calories (or requiring any serious cooking skills).
I believe in that theory. Basically you could eat twinkies all day long as long as you stay under your calorie deficit you will lose weight. I think I will buy perhaps some bagged salad because yes, some of the dinners aren't filling and are so tiny, so unless I eat them SUPER slow I just feel unsatisfied moments later. I just don't want the tv dinners to impact my health so negatively either, but they seem a lot better than breaking down and getting fast food!
Thank you for your reply!
It sounds like you are making pretty good choices for breakfast and lunch, so I think as long as you opt for lower sodium dinners, and round them out with extra veggies (and make sure most of your snacks are fairly nutrient dense), you should be fine. Most TV dinners, while the food isn't perhaps the best quality, are fairly balanced, include adequate protein, and at least one serving of veggies. But again, read labels and log what you are eating. Good luck!
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A lot of people will knock them, but there are some fairly good ones that will do the job once in a while. The sodium really isn't that crazy on a lot of them either, depends if you have to watch it. I had no problem having them for lunch and still stayed on track. Super easy. However, due to other dietary reasons I've cut grains and lowered carbs a lot so it's just easier for me to manually prep my meals than worry about their ingredients. (Gluten triggers my rosacea and sugar triggers anxiety and depression for me) This is why I don't feel everyone really can be simply "Calories in/Calories Out".
I will just say that I know people who do well with them, since they're calorie friendly.0 -
I imagine it would be efficient...in the short term. But you'll get super tired of eating those...and pretty soon they will all taste the same. It would be difficult for the average person to eat a tv dinner every night for a month before quitting. Good luck though!0
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I imagine it would be efficient...in the short term. But you'll get super tired of eating those...and pretty soon they will all taste the same. It would be difficult for the average person to eat a tv dinner every night for a month before quitting. Good luck though!
You do realize how any different varieties there are? I sure wouldn't want to cook myself all those different things all the time, but I live alone and prefer convenience.3 -
OP, I eat them a couple of times a week when I work late. I find I need to add frozen veggies to bulk them up a little. Since there is always extra sauce in there, once it's cooked I combine it with the (cooked) veggies so they get some flavor too. I eat a fairly low-sodium diet the rest of the week, so that's not really an issue for me. I find some of the Lean Cuisine's have a decent amount of protein, which for me at least makes them a little more filling.1
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Here's a suggestion: buy a bunch of compartmentalized plastic containers with lids and make your own TV Dinners... find lower calorie versions of your favorite foods that can be frozen, and cook them as a team. It's not only educational (you'll have full control over the calories and salt you're portioning out) but could be fun for you both to cook together. And it's a great way to put leftovers to good use (can't face another plate of meatloaf? Freeze it for next month!). I spend Sundays cooking for the week and love it... it's me time and I binge on Cutthroat Kitchen
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If it's about weight loss, it's probably pretty easy to do it as all the calories are on the container. It's tougher to manage when you have to weigh everything out individually.
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I eat Lean Cusine and a salad every night and I am losing weight. I do lose slow, but I do have thyroid issues and I am 55. You will be fine.5
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I imagine it would be efficient...in the short term. But you'll get super tired of eating those...and pretty soon they will all taste the same. It would be difficult for the average person to eat a tv dinner every night for a month before quitting. Good luck though!
I did TV dinners for a solid month for my son and I before I quit. About a month is probably the longest anyone could handle it. I HATE cooking. Hate hate hate it. So TV dinners are a good option and you CAN lose off them, so long as you stick to the filling ones. Definitely prefer the Smart Ones over Lean Cuisines for filling-ness. Eventually I decided that I couldn't stick to it (so boring!) so now I do all my cooking in large batches two or three times a month and freeze them for my own frozen dinners. So if/when you get tired of them, you might see if they have a frozen meal cooking class in your area. Most things freeze pretty well and are easy to heat up.1 -
Just try different brands and meals---there's a lot of variety. Ultimately, it's just up to your own preferences.
There are lots of foods besides the TV dinners that also only require a microwave. I enjoy the Green Giant Steamers vegetables that are 'lightly sauced' with the microwave rice packets from Uncle Ben's. (If those items are available where you shop.)3 -
llaurenmarie wrote: »I imagine it would be efficient...in the short term. But you'll get super tired of eating those...and pretty soon they will all taste the same. It would be difficult for the average person to eat a tv dinner every night for a month before quitting. Good luck though!
You do realize how any different varieties there are? I sure wouldn't want to cook myself all those different things all the time, but I live alone and prefer convenience.
This^
There is a lot of variety out there, and the OP isn't replacing every single meal either. Pair your frozen meals up with a veggie side and you'll be fine.
Eventually you might consider making your own frozen meals. I batch cook on the weekend & set up a few frozen dinners a week. Even Wal-Mart sells frozen dinner containers (Reynolds).
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When I occasionally eat a Lean Cuisine, I dump it over steamed -- microwaved veggies to bulk it up. There are some great ones out there. Pair it with fruit too. I'm a fan of frozen dinners to learn portion control and keep calories in check. If you need more flavor, opt for siracha or other spices rather than adding more salt.3
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llaurenmarie wrote: »I imagine it would be efficient...in the short term. But you'll get super tired of eating those...and pretty soon they will all taste the same. It would be difficult for the average person to eat a tv dinner every night for a month before quitting. Good luck though!
You do realize how any different varieties there are? I sure wouldn't want to cook myself all those different things all the time, but I live alone and prefer convenience.
This^
There is a lot of variety out there, and the OP isn't replacing every single meal either. Pair your frozen meals up with a veggie side and you'll be fine.
Eventually you might consider making your own frozen meals. I batch cook on the weekend & set up a few frozen dinners a week. Even Wal-Mart sells frozen dinner containers (Reynolds).
How long before "eventually" kicks in? Also, the OP never said anything about pairing them with a veggie side. My comment was about eating just tv dinners for dinner every night. I'd challenge anyone to not get sick of those after a month...despite whatever variety exists.
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I rather like the healthy choice steamers. If you eat one of those and a side salad or a piece of fruit it's not that many more calories then a cooked at home dinner. I would 100% make sure to eat supplement fruits and veggies because no TV dinner will keep you full very long.
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I think the only issue with pre-packaged meals where it comes with a box and film is that you can't accurately weigh the product to make sure the calories add up with the nutritional label. Unless maybe you weigh it after cooking in a bowl that's been tare'd.0
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I'm all for IIFYM, so if a frozen meal fits your macros, why not eat it. It's portion control, and a lot of them are really tasty. I do an Atkins one nearly every night with extra veggies, because my entire family isn't eating the way I am. (Not doing Atkins low carb, they're just the tastiest and most filling ones I've found)0
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LittlestHedgehog wrote: »I am aware that TV Dinners are high in sodium, but what about eating the healthy ones such as SmartOnes and LeanCuisine? I sadly I don't know how to cook easily in the broad sense. (I know people will say oh, it's so easy! Also I throw a lot of leftovers away and money because I am not a leftover person) But - I also have a picky Cuban-American man who only ever wants either pizza or pork/rice. Neither I am big on or are healthy. So in order of us to lose weight together, our current meal plan consists of tv dinners for dinner only. Would this be efficient in weight loss? My breakfast always contains multi-grain cereal with almond milk. And as for lunch I have done good and started making different low-cal wraps for us. Any advice is great! Thank you!
how is pizza or pork/rice not healthy? I can see not being fond of those things but you can still eat those things if you want to,just not as much.2 -
Pizza and pork and rice is not healthy.CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »
how is pizza or pork/rice not healthy? I can see not being fond of those things but you can still eat those things if you want to,just not as much.
Neither Pizza nor pork and rice is very healthy. That of course depends on how you make it, but regular pizza is crap, it tastes good, but it's crap, don't be fooled because it may have vegetables on it.
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Pizza and pork and rice is not healthy.CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »
how is pizza or pork/rice not healthy? I can see not being fond of those things but you can still eat those things if you want to,just not as much.
Neither Pizza nor pork and rice is very healthy. That of course depends on how you make it, but regular pizza is crap, it tastes good, but it's crap, don't be fooled because it may have vegetables on it.
I have to disagree. If I make a pizza I'm putting bread dough, tomato sauce, cheese and veggies together and baking them. Even if I order one out it's thin crust and veggie toppings. How is that not healthy? As long as you're not ordering the triple meat, extra cheese, deep dish pan pizza and polishing the whole thing off yourself I don't see what the problem is.7 -
llaurenmarie wrote: »I imagine it would be efficient...in the short term. But you'll get super tired of eating those...and pretty soon they will all taste the same. It would be difficult for the average person to eat a tv dinner every night for a month before quitting. Good luck though!
You do realize how any different varieties there are? I sure wouldn't want to cook myself all those different things all the time, but I live alone and prefer convenience.
This^
There is a lot of variety out there, and the OP isn't replacing every single meal either. Pair your frozen meals up with a veggie side and you'll be fine.
Eventually you might consider making your own frozen meals. I batch cook on the weekend & set up a few frozen dinners a week. Even Wal-Mart sells frozen dinner containers (Reynolds).
How long before "eventually" kicks in? Also, the OP never said anything about pairing them with a veggie side. My comment was about eating just tv dinners for dinner every night. I'd challenge anyone to not get sick of those after a month...despite whatever variety exists.
Welp, even if "eventually" never kicks in.. that would be their preference. Who cares, as long as it works for them. What is the need to challenge? So you'd get sick of them, doesn't mean someone else wouldn't.
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If it fits your calorie goal, eat what you want.
All the food you mention has nutrients. You can add a salad or vegetables to pizza, pork, rice or tv dinners.4 -
Pizza and pork and rice is not healthy.CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »
how is pizza or pork/rice not healthy? I can see not being fond of those things but you can still eat those things if you want to,just not as much.
Neither Pizza nor pork and rice is very healthy. That of course depends on how you make it, but regular pizza is crap, it tastes good, but it's crap, don't be fooled because it may have vegetables on it.
so tell me how they arent healthy? there is protein/nutrients in pork,rice has some protein and healthy carbs and other nutrients. how is pizza crap too? I lost weight eating those foods and Im healthier than I was when I was a smaller size. so how are they unhealthy?3 -
CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »LittlestHedgehog wrote: »I am aware that TV Dinners are high in sodium, but what about eating the healthy ones such as SmartOnes and LeanCuisine? I sadly I don't know how to cook easily in the broad sense. (I know people will say oh, it's so easy! Also I throw a lot of leftovers away and money because I am not a leftover person) But - I also have a picky Cuban-American man who only ever wants either pizza or pork/rice. Neither I am big on or are healthy. So in order of us to lose weight together, our current meal plan consists of tv dinners for dinner only. Would this be efficient in weight loss? My breakfast always contains multi-grain cereal with almond milk. And as for lunch I have done good and started making different low-cal wraps for us. Any advice is great! Thank you!
how is pizza or pork/rice not healthy? I can see not being fond of those things but you can still eat those things if you want to,just not as much.
Pizza is not a healthy choice for me because in order to feel satiated, I have to consume way more calories than I would with other meals, and that's with adding bulk with a low calorie salad. I have it about once a month.
The pork with the high fat content is higher in calories and the low calorie tenderloin isn't worth it IMO. I'd rather have chicken thigh than low fat pork. I do a Boston butt roast about once a year. Nom nom nom.
I love me some Cuban rice & beans
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Y'all need to stop talking about pizza and pork with rice. Don't you know some of us are susceptible to temptation???6
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Lean Cuisine is rather grim. If you need convenience food for convenience sake, make sure you add in plenty of veg/salad for extra nutrition.0
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I'm living off mostly "frozen toss in the microwave for 3 minutes" food right now and seeing the weight come off. 3
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Pizza and pork and rice is not healthy.CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »
how is pizza or pork/rice not healthy? I can see not being fond of those things but you can still eat those things if you want to,just not as much.
Neither Pizza nor pork and rice is very healthy. That of course depends on how you make it, but regular pizza is crap, it tastes good, but it's crap, don't be fooled because it may have vegetables on it.
But make pizza half your plate with a load of salad and you end up with a pretty decent, not at all crap meal. I would eat more if it if it wasn't for the white flour wot doesn't combine with co-codamol right well.1 -
Colorscheme wrote: »I think the only issue with pre-packaged meals where it comes with a box and film is that you can't accurately weigh the product to make sure the calories add up with the nutritional label. Unless maybe you weigh it after cooking in a bowl that's been tare'd.
You could weigh it, eat it, then weigh it again....of course by then the calories are already inside
I just have a question, not judging, I eat plenty of TV dinners myself but...how can you be not a leftover person and still want TV dinners? They're the exact same concept, meals stored in individual containers that you microwave to reheat.4
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