How do you guys feel about low calorie frozen meals?
ready2lose2101
Posts: 47 Member
I have a hectic schedule and sometimes eat Healthy Choice meals for dinner to make sure I don't go over my allotted calories for the day. They taste pretty good and are relatively low in sodium. How do you guys feel about incorporating frozen low calorie meals into your weight loss regimen?
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Replies
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Y'know, the world would be a much better place if society would stop telling us that 'processed' is a bad word and if we don't home cook all our own meals from scratch we are terrible people.
How do I feel about low-calorie, tasty, no-effort meals? I feel pretty good.61 -
I feel fine about them
I have a few I like and sometimes that is my dinner, or part of my dinner, when I am home alone, eg my husband is on night shift.
Like all foods, if you like them and they fit into your goals - fine.
If you don't like them and prefer not to eat them - also fine5 -
Y'know, the world would be a much better place if society would stop telling us that 'processed' is a bad word and if we don't home cook all our own meals from scratch we are terrible people.
How do I feel about low-calorie, tasty, no-effort meals? I feel pretty good.
I agree with this. Although I don't often eat frozen meals, they do come in handy when needed. As long as it fits into your calories and its not your main source of food everyday, then it works
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I love them! I have a few favourites and whilst some don’t have a patch on homemade cooking (shepherds pies, lasagnes), things like pasta and curries are usually pretty tasty. For some dishes I think they’re more cost effective too if something has a lot of ingredients you wouldn’t normally have.
Sometimes I go half and half- adding more veggies to ready meals.
They make keeping track of calories and nutrients easy and like you say they’re so much easier when you’re tired and have had a long day. I eat them regularly, there seems to be such a big thing about fresh whole foods but tinned and frozen foods can be nutritious too. Like with most things, I think balance is key.8 -
Low on effort, high on convenience, low on taste, high on sodium.
Nothing wrong with eating anything as long as it fits in your calorie goals and is... you know... actually made of food. Presumably, since it's a meal, it's made of food.... therefore GRAS.14 -
I do meal prep once a month and make 25-30 meals to freeze. It gives me variety, convenience, and full knowledge of exactly what I'm putting in my body. It's worth the couple of hours I spend cooking every few weeks.30
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_BlahBlah_BlackSheep_ wrote: »I do meal prep once a month and make 25-30 meals to freeze. It gives me variety, convenience, and full knowledge of exactly what I'm putting in my body. It's worth the couple of hours I spend cooking every few weeks.
This is fairly the point we were trying to make. This is side shaming someone for not being able to meal prep food and eating "processed" food.
Food is food, and while it might not be up to your personal standards, there's no logical or helpful reason to shaming and spreading misinformation.
Also, don't assume that everyone has a few extra hours to prep that many meals at once, the capability of doing so, or even a lifestyle and finances that allow it.
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Almost all of my "home cooking" comes from the freezer section in one form or another. I usually assemble my own meals from bags of frozen meat and veg with some kind of condiment or sauce, but I like the meals as well--especially to throw in my bag for lunches. I've maintained a 60 pound weight loss for about 3 years now eating this way and haven't died yet!
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I always keep some on hand. It prevents me from eating out (a much higher calorie meal) when I haven’t had the time to cook. When you’re hangry they’re a life saver!11
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I don't think they're unhealthy - but I won't eat them either because I just don't like them.5
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I'm a huge fan of complete packaged meals that are already measured out - no miscounting or misweighing, no seconds, you just choose meals that slot into the available calories for the day. I've been using a meal delivery service to get fresh calorie controlled meals in tubs on my doorstep, but I occasionally supplement that with frozen meals.
There's just no improving, when dieting, on "Here's a box of chicken Parmesan, 540 calories". You search for it on MFP, it's probably there, bang it into the diary, done.
Gotta watch the trans fat and sodium, though. Some frozen foods are moderately healthy, but some are truly a glop-fest of trans fats and sodium. Reading the labels is required.7 -
I use them fairly often for meals at work when I don’t have leftovers from a previous dinner. I often buy a bag of precooked chicken strips and keep some single serving frozen veggies on hand and sometimes add those to the Healthy Choice or Lean Cuisine meals for extra bulk.
Pre portioned, usually have veggies, I don’t have a concern about sodium. I think they can be a great component of a calorie appropriate and nutrient dense diet.7 -
BecomingBane wrote: »_BlahBlah_BlackSheep_ wrote: »I do meal prep once a month and make 25-30 meals to freeze. It gives me variety, convenience, and full knowledge of exactly what I'm putting in my body. It's worth the couple of hours I spend cooking every few weeks.
This is fairly the point we were trying to make. This is side shaming someone for not being able to meal prep food and eating "processed" food.
Food is food, and while it might not be up to your personal standards, there's no logical or helpful reason to shaming and spreading misinformation.
Also, don't assume that everyone has a few extra hours to prep that many meals at once, the capability of doing so, or even a lifestyle and finances that allow it.
Interesting! I didn't see her as side shaming anyone, nor is she spreading misinformation. She was simply giving another option. I food prep as well and find it cheaper to food prep than to buy pre-packaged meals.
To the OP if you fit it in to your calories, macros and you enjoy them, there is nothing wrong with them.
To each their own!16 -
I'd personally feel pretty sad, cos I don't get half as much satiety from ready meals as I do when I cook something myself but they are handy occasionally when convenience is needed.
If it helps you keep to your calories and it's filling, who cares what we think! It's what works for you that matters.8 -
Joanna2012B wrote: »BecomingBane wrote: »_BlahBlah_BlackSheep_ wrote: »I do meal prep once a month and make 25-30 meals to freeze. It gives me variety, convenience, and full knowledge of exactly what I'm putting in my body. It's worth the couple of hours I spend cooking every few weeks.
This is fairly the point we were trying to make. This is side shaming someone for not being able to meal prep food and eating "processed" food.
Food is food, and while it might not be up to your personal standards, there's no logical or helpful reason to shaming and spreading misinformation.
Also, don't assume that everyone has a few extra hours to prep that many meals at once, the capability of doing so, or even a lifestyle and finances that allow it.
Interesting! I didn't see her as side shaming anyone, nor is she spreading misinformation. She was simply giving another option. I food prep as well and find it cheaper to food prep than to buy pre-packaged meals.
To the OP if you fit it in to your calories, macros and you enjoy them, there is nothing wrong with them.
To each their own!
I disagree.
Saying that "I know exactly what goes into my body" implies there is something in a frozen meal that is dubious. This is distinctly not the case. Food is food, whether it's processed or not and implying otherwise does a disservice to many individuals that can't afford to or don't have a lifestyle that supports eating only fresh food.35 -
I have 4 or 5 (mostly Lean Cuisine's and Stouffers) that I like and will bring to work for lunch. Some weeks it's all 5 days, some weeks it's just 1 or 2. I don't see anything wrong with them. In fact a lot of the typical shade thrown at them is outdated. You can find several "flavors" that aren't all that high in sodium nowadays, and they've improved the ingredients a lot. I look for ones with a reasonable amount of protein, or bring a tuna packet or HB egg to eat on the side, and then I mix it with a serving of frozen veggies.
When some of the more expensive ones go on sale, like Amy's or EVOL, I'll stock up on a couple of them too. The Amy's Pesto Tortellini, mixed with frozen broccoli or peas, is my fave, but typically too expensive to be an every week lunch 5 -
IIFYM... or calories!
I have no problem with them. Somedays, despite all efforts, I just cant get it together to cook a 'real meal.' I keep several frozen meals on hand just in case.
Even when I food prep, sometimes I will start with a frozen meal. I love the Tuscan Chicken sheet pan meal from Walmart. It is brussel sprouts, potatoes and chicken in a lemon sauce. I will add broccoli to bulk up the veggies. This is a delicious, bulky lunch for under 400 calories.
Healthy as fresh, probably not...
Keeps my sanity - ABSOLUTELY!5 -
BecomingBane wrote: »Joanna2012B wrote: »BecomingBane wrote: »_BlahBlah_BlackSheep_ wrote: »I do meal prep once a month and make 25-30 meals to freeze. It gives me variety, convenience, and full knowledge of exactly what I'm putting in my body. It's worth the couple of hours I spend cooking every few weeks.
This is fairly the point we were trying to make. This is side shaming someone for not being able to meal prep food and eating "processed" food.
Food is food, and while it might not be up to your personal standards, there's no logical or helpful reason to shaming and spreading misinformation.
Also, don't assume that everyone has a few extra hours to prep that many meals at once, the capability of doing so, or even a lifestyle and finances that allow it.
Interesting! I didn't see her as side shaming anyone, nor is she spreading misinformation. She was simply giving another option. I food prep as well and find it cheaper to food prep than to buy pre-packaged meals.
To the OP if you fit it in to your calories, macros and you enjoy them, there is nothing wrong with them.
To each their own!
I disagree.
Saying that "I know exactly what goes into my body" implies there is something in a frozen meal that is dubious. This is distinctly not the case. Food is food, whether it's processed or not and implying otherwise does a disservice to many individuals that can't afford to or don't have a lifestyle that supports eating only fresh food.
Like I said....To each their own!11 -
BecomingBane wrote: »_BlahBlah_BlackSheep_ wrote: »I do meal prep once a month and make 25-30 meals to freeze. It gives me variety, convenience, and full knowledge of exactly what I'm putting in my body. It's worth the couple of hours I spend cooking every few weeks.
This is fairly the point we were trying to make. This is side shaming someone for not being able to meal prep food and eating "processed" food.
Food is food, and while it might not be up to your personal standards, there's no logical or helpful reason to shaming and spreading misinformation.
Also, don't assume that everyone has a few extra hours to prep that many meals at once, the capability of doing so, or even a lifestyle and finances that allow it.
As well, having the ability to actually freeze 25 - 30 meals at once might be problematic for most.
I keep a few Healthy Choice meals around for the nights where I'm on my own for dinner, want something calorically and nutritionally decent and don't feel like cooking just for me. 17 -
BecomingBane wrote: »_BlahBlah_BlackSheep_ wrote: »I do meal prep once a month and make 25-30 meals to freeze. It gives me variety, convenience, and full knowledge of exactly what I'm putting in my body. It's worth the couple of hours I spend cooking every few weeks.
This is fairly the point we were trying to make. This is side shaming someone for not being able to meal prep food and eating "processed" food.
Food is food, and while it might not be up to your personal standards, there's no logical or helpful reason to shaming and spreading misinformation.
Also, don't assume that everyone has a few extra hours to prep that many meals at once, the capability of doing so, or even a lifestyle and finances that allow it.
Not shaming or intending to spread misinformation. Simply sharing an option that has worked well for me. Some people appreciate hearing ideas for things they didn't think of that may work for them.15 -
I love them. I use Trader Joe's frozen meals all the time. They have a great BBQ Teriyaki chicken and Shiitake Mushroom chicken. I mix them with additional veggies and serve them over their frozen cauliflower fried rice or spiralized zucchini or kelp noodles. Because one bag is enough for 4 meals, I'll cook it on Sunday and eat it for lunch throughout the week.2
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I use them to fill the gaps but they don't work that well for me in rotation because it is just too little food. Even 2 of them is only enough if I am eating something else with them.
With that said I believe them to be essential in the weight loss kit for me. A meal can end up being overcooked or just turn out badly and I don't need the frustration of starting over. I can also have days that leave me little time for food preparation. I am always looking for ways to make my life easier while in a deficit and these play a part.9 -
When I was single, I ate frozen dinners a couple of nights a week. Easy, low calorie and inexpensive. I didn't usually find them completely filling though, so I'd add extra vegetables to fill me up. DH doesn't like frozen dinners so i rarely do it now, though I like to keep something quick and easy around for the nights that we get home late and I don't want to cook. Usually it ends up being soup and a sandwich or omelet or French Toast.1
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I tend to avoid them lately because most of them are sodium bombs. Given that I'm working on getting my blood pressure down, that makes them difficult to work into my macros for the day. If you don't have that problem, then do what works for you. I used them more frequently before my weight gain drove my blood pressure up.6
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These are all really great comments and I'm glad the general attitude about frozen meals seems to have changed since they're ok in a pinch. I usually cook for my family but there are times that I only want a 300 calorie meal or I'm on my own for dinner. I'm definitely going to do what some suggested and add more veggies or protein to them. I can't hurt right?
I'd love to meal prep but it seems like there are times when mom has to do it all and there isn't enough time in a day. I'd love to try it though because there's nothing like eating something you've cooked yourself.3 -
I personally live off them a few times a week because of the convenience. My only complaint is how high in sodium most of them are. As someone with HBP I have to watch my sodium intake. And some days I have way too much. Usually because of V8 (I'd drink a gallon of this a day if I could) and or microwave meals.4
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I do a lot of meal prep and try to eat farm to (freezer to) table as much as possible... However, I do appreciate the convenience of prepackaged meals. Sometimes I just don't like my own cooking--there are recipes that, try as hard as I might, I just can't duplicate. I like that they are already portion-controlled and the calories (within some level of error) are neatly printed right there on the box.2
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I have no problem with them. I used to eat them all the time but haven't had one since starting my journey. This one was my absolute favorite but it took two of them to satisfy me
only problem is two of them is almost a whole days worth of sodium! 2 -
SchmancyName wrote: »I personally live off them a few times a week because of the convenience. My only complaint is how high in sodium most of them are. As someone with HBP I have to watch my sodium intake. And some days I have way too much. Usually because of V8 (I'd drink a gallon of this a day if I could) and or microwave meals.
agree, i wish they would give low sodium option or no sodium and we can add what we want ourselves.1 -
There's never enough food in them. I'd have to eat two or three to feel full.2
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