How do you guys feel about low calorie frozen meals?
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If I could find one that tastes anything like the picture on the package leads me to believe, then I would eat them. The problem is that they always leave me feeling disappointed with both the quality and the quantity, so experience has taught me to just avoid them. If I found them satisfying then I would have no problem eating them.5
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When I was at my lowest weight ever, I didn't really know how to cook so my diet was very high in low calorie frozen meals. They helped get the job done. This time around in my weight loss attempt, I do attempt to cook more for variety and nutritional diversity, but frozen meals are certainly still a part of my diet (I love me some Hot Pockets) and they fit well within my weight loss strategy.3
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nighthawk584 wrote: »
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!
I love me my Mari Callendars meals too! I stock up on those when they go on sale because they've got a few varieties that I like and are under 400 calories (which is generally what I'm allotted for lunch, as I like a big dinner and I'm quite petite).
I limit myself to one a day because of the sodium as well, haha. They would make me super thirsty if I had two a day.2 -
As another alternative, our local grocery store has started selling fresh pre-made meals. So perhaps salmon and broccoli, shrimp over orzo with asparagus, chicken stuffed with ham, cheese and asparagus with fresh green beans, etc. Most are 250-450 calories. You just pop them in the oven and 15-30 minutes later you have a fresh, healthy low-cal meal. Cost is similar to those mail order meal services except you don't have to prep anything. About $5/meal.6
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I often work 7 days/week and don't have the time (or energy) to grocery shop or meal prep. My life savers have been frozen meals because I can stock the freezer full and be good. When I buy fresh foods, they usually go bad in my fridge before I get a chance to use them. My favorites are frozen fish filets with frozen veggies, or Healthy Choice Power Bowls (I choose the ones with the least amount of sugar.)
On the days where I'm not feelin' the frozen stuff, I might get takeout, but before I even start eating, I'll split it in half so I'm not tempted to eat the whole thing and I'll save the rest for the next evening. Most American portions are more than sufficient for multiple meals.6 -
ready2lose2101 wrote: »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.
I’m a busy working mom also and often end up on my own for dinner when my husband is out of town since I try to feed the kids early before sports practice and I prefer to just wait a little later, or else I feed them something super easy like grilled cheese and soup or breakfast for dinner.
I buy a bag of frozen shrimp which can be thawed and sautéed in less than 10 minutes, serve it with some of the Birdseye steamer protein blends (grains and veggies). I make a double portion of that and then save half for my lunch the next day. I also will buy the skillet meals from Bertolli or PF Changs or Voila and make that and save half of it for my next day as well.
For meal prepping if you are interested a lot of times what I do is just cook a lot of protein -5 lbs of ground beef or a mix of beef/turkey and then divide it into 1 lb portions in a ziplock bag and freeze it which can thenbe used for super quick spaghetti, tacos, chili, etc. I do the same with frozen chicken breasts, spices and some liquid in the crock pot or instant pot which is then shredded and saved for sandwiches, tacos or enchiladas or soups. Occasionally when I’m really motivated I prep full meals but I find that daunting, so just having protein cooked and ready to pull out of the freezer makes weeknight meals really quick.1 -
if you can find this brand, they are amazing too, but again, takes two to fill me up and they are a little more pricey.
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I love the convenience, but I'm always hungry within a couple of hours. I need a bit extra on those days.4
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ready2lose2101 wrote: »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.
If you want to try meal prepping but don't have a lot of time, how about making additional portions when you cook a meal for the family? It's just my son and I at home, but I'll often make 4 servings instead of 2, and then portion out the other 2 into containers and toss them in the freezer. It doesn't take any extra time since I'm already cooking anyway. It's an easy way to stock up on a few meals!4 -
@nighthawk584 I like their version of mac n cheese (I think it's called vermont cheddar?) but I agree, I'd need two to feel full. The portion just isn't that big. They're big on the fancy packaging though, and the tray feels more like a plate.
I'd say this is my favorite frozen meal. It's delicious, filling, and hella inexpensive (one time they were on sale for $1 each, normally they're $2.15 at my store.
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mom23mangos wrote: »As another alternative, our local grocery store has started selling fresh pre-made meals. So perhaps salmon and broccoli, shrimp over orzo with asparagus, chicken stuffed with ham, cheese and asparagus with fresh green beans, etc. Most are 250-450 calories. You just pop them in the oven and 15-30 minutes later you have a fresh, healthy low-cal meal. Cost is similar to those mail order meal services except you don't have to prep anything. About $5/meal.
There are also some good meal delivery services that have rotating menus of individual meals. All you have to do is zap and go. They also freeze well in a pinch. They're a little pricier than what your're describing ($7 - $10, most meals around 500 calories), but they bring it right to your door. Since I hate grocery stores only slightly less than I hate cooking, the delivery is a big part of the value I find in this service.1 -
I like frozen meals fine, but they are loaded with salt and I need to watch my intake. But if it fits in my daily macros I have no problems
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i love them. but, apparently i'm a family of 4. all by myself.12
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RelCanonical wrote: »@nighthawk584 I like their version of mac n cheese (I think it's called vermont cheddar?) but I agree, I'd need two to feel full. The portion just isn't that big. They're big on the fancy packaging though, and the tray feels more like a plate.
I'd say this is my favorite frozen meal. It's delicious, filling, and hella inexpensive (one time they were on sale for $1 each, normally they're $2.15 at my store.
This is my favorite type of ingredients. You get a lot of food for the calories and you can just add whatever frozen veggies you want and need to fill you up for very few added calories. I would probably add about 40 calories worth of broccoli to this one.
I don’t eat many frozen meals now, but I sure ate my share when I was working full-time, and really appreciated them.1 -
I keep a few on hand, nice to have a lunch option other than sandwiches or leftovers. Or if we're in a hurry, on the go, etc. I think they are expensive and wasteful to have on the regular (lots of packaging), but for some people, they fit their lifestyle quite well. I'm not dubious of frozen food at all, most frozen food is prepared normally and just frozen - it isn't full of preservatives because the freezing acts as a preservative. Shelf-stable foods, OTOH, are more prone to be sodium and/or preservative-laden.
Some Healthy Choice/Lean Cuisine ones are SO low calorie though. There is one HC bowl I like that is 180 calories. For who in the world is 180 calories a MEAL? I find it hard to find ones that are healthy (and not "hungry man" etc) for the calorie level that my DH needs (~450-550 calories) for weight loss, or I need for maintenance (the same calorie level). Good for weight loss, not as ideal for maintenance for me. I mean 320-380 calories is very light for me. Seems to be the calorie level that many end up at.3 -
mom23mangos wrote: »As another alternative, our local grocery store has started selling fresh pre-made meals. So perhaps salmon and broccoli, shrimp over orzo with asparagus, chicken stuffed with ham, cheese and asparagus with fresh green beans, etc. Most are 250-450 calories. You just pop them in the oven and 15-30 minutes later you have a fresh, healthy low-cal meal. Cost is similar to those mail order meal services except you don't have to prep anything. About $5/meal.
There are also some good meal delivery services that have rotating menus of individual meals. All you have to do is zap and go. They also freeze well in a pinch. They're a little pricier than what your're describing ($7 - $10, most meals around 500 calories), but they bring it right to your door. Since I hate grocery stores only slightly less than I hate cooking, the delivery is a big part of the value I find in this service.
Thankfully the grocery store also offers curbside pickup or delivery options as well. The convenience of living in a big city. I could see the mail order being a good option if you live rurally.0 -
I use frozen meals almost exclusively for lunches. They are easy to grab on my way out the door, require no extra planning on my part, last longer than prepped meals in the freezer, and I can get a variety of meals and flavors that I simply wouldn't cook at home (or be very unlikely to cook).
I enjoy a lot of variety in my meals, so they are a great fit for me, and much cheaper than eating out, plus the easy calorie control! Now that I have my own freezer (used to have roommates and shared the tiny freezer with 3 other people) I am back to using frozen meal lunches.1 -
I do meal-prep: Sunday's my day. Done for reasons of budget; and I'm also a member of the sodium-watch club. Also, I've never found a frozen meal package that I really liked - if I found one that met my own personal parameters, I'd buy it. However, I do have a package of frozen chicken cutlets (Fresh Market? Perdue? I don't remember...) for when I'm lazy; and a couple of boxes of Dr. Praeger veggie burgers.4
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ready2lose2101 wrote: »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?
Depending what the meal is, I find it really hard to cook the same thing for lower calories and taste 'ok'. I dont really eat a lot of 'ready meals' as such but for example I have recently made myself some coronation chicken, the sandwich filler type. I couldnt make it for much less than the calories of ready bought so I wont bother again, I'll just have less of the ready made stuff.
Another example was walnut and mushroom pate, took me bloody ages, was nice, dont get me wrong but again, not much less in calories than shop bought mushroom pate, so again I wont bother.
If I wasnt counting calories, then my own foods are much much better than shop bought, but not lower in calories, no way near.1 -
snickerscharlie 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.
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.
Yes I currently have this problem, I cooked up some lentils recently and put them in the freezer, that took up space. I have tons of frozen fruit, veg and meat in the freezer so there is not much room. Then last night I spotted loads of half empty rice packets in the cupboard (this is my partners fault, opens something, has a bit of it, buys a new bag) so i thought, well I will cook it all up, measure it out and then I have some frozen portions of rice. But now I can barely pull the freezer drawers out because its too full.3 -
My husband works 2 pm to 10 pm, so they definitely have a place in my life. I only buy them when they are on sale. I can get the Michelin’s’ lean gourmet 10 for $10.00 on sale. I stock up then.1
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mom23mangos wrote: »mom23mangos wrote: »As another alternative, our local grocery store has started selling fresh pre-made meals. So perhaps salmon and broccoli, shrimp over orzo with asparagus, chicken stuffed with ham, cheese and asparagus with fresh green beans, etc. Most are 250-450 calories. You just pop them in the oven and 15-30 minutes later you have a fresh, healthy low-cal meal. Cost is similar to those mail order meal services except you don't have to prep anything. About $5/meal.
There are also some good meal delivery services that have rotating menus of individual meals. All you have to do is zap and go. They also freeze well in a pinch. They're a little pricier than what your're describing ($7 - $10, most meals around 500 calories), but they bring it right to your door. Since I hate grocery stores only slightly less than I hate cooking, the delivery is a big part of the value I find in this service.
Thankfully the grocery store also offers curbside pickup or delivery options as well. The convenience of living in a big city. I could see the mail order being a good option if you live rurally.
I’m a big fan of delivery as well, when I need enough groceries to be worth it. Turns out that barely cooking greatly reduces the need to grocery shop 😝 I’ll have to do a little more exploring on the website next time. Are they in the produce section or deli?0 -
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!
Yes, it's cheaper to cook and freeze myself, plus I've yet to find a frozen meal that I found as tasty as what I can make.
If there were options I liked for acceptable price points, I'd use them.1 -
They are fine in moderation. I'm trying to cut back on sodium, so I don't eat them often. But I always keep a few to have on hand in a pinch...especially for lunch.4
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mom23mangos wrote: »mom23mangos wrote: »As another alternative, our local grocery store has started selling fresh pre-made meals. So perhaps salmon and broccoli, shrimp over orzo with asparagus, chicken stuffed with ham, cheese and asparagus with fresh green beans, etc. Most are 250-450 calories. You just pop them in the oven and 15-30 minutes later you have a fresh, healthy low-cal meal. Cost is similar to those mail order meal services except you don't have to prep anything. About $5/meal.
There are also some good meal delivery services that have rotating menus of individual meals. All you have to do is zap and go. They also freeze well in a pinch. They're a little pricier than what your're describing ($7 - $10, most meals around 500 calories), but they bring it right to your door. Since I hate grocery stores only slightly less than I hate cooking, the delivery is a big part of the value I find in this service.
Thankfully the grocery store also offers curbside pickup or delivery options as well. The convenience of living in a big city. I could see the mail order being a good option if you live rurally.
I’m a big fan of delivery as well, when I need enough groceries to be worth it. Turns out that barely cooking greatly reduces the need to grocery shop 😝 I’ll have to do a little more exploring on the website next time. Are they in the produce section or deli?
Ours are in the produce section. My husband and I will get them for nights when the kids aren't home. For the price point, it makes more sense for me to cook (or ahem heat up something) when it's the whole family. But that's when those frozen bags from Trader Joes come in handy.0 -
I don't personally care for them because they're not enough food and I don't think they taste particularly good.
When I'm flying solo like I have been this past week, and I don't feel like cooking for myself, I go to Sprouts and get some of their pre-made deli meals. They make them fresh back in the deli area and they're pretty tasty.4 -
snickerscharlie 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.
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.
Yes I currently have this problem, I cooked up some lentils recently and put them in the freezer, that took up space. I have tons of frozen fruit, veg and meat in the freezer so there is not much room. Then last night I spotted loads of half empty rice packets in the cupboard (this is my partners fault, opens something, has a bit of it, buys a new bag) so i thought, well I will cook it all up, measure it out and then I have some frozen portions of rice. But now I can barely pull the freezer drawers out because its too full.
I had the same problem! I found a small chest freezer on Craigslist for $75 and it's been a perfect solution!2 -
_BlahBlah_BlackSheep_ wrote: »snickerscharlie 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.
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.
Yes I currently have this problem, I cooked up some lentils recently and put them in the freezer, that took up space. I have tons of frozen fruit, veg and meat in the freezer so there is not much room. Then last night I spotted loads of half empty rice packets in the cupboard (this is my partners fault, opens something, has a bit of it, buys a new bag) so i thought, well I will cook it all up, measure it out and then I have some frozen portions of rice. But now I can barely pull the freezer drawers out because its too full.
I had the same problem! I found a small chest freezer on Craigslist for $75 and it's been a perfect solution!
Well we've got 2 fridge freezers anyway and theres only the 2 of us, so I think another one would be excessive!2 -
zamirasoni wrote: »I love the convenience, but I'm always hungry within a couple of hours. I need a bit extra on those days.
Ditto. I like the convenience, but I can't do the low calorie ones because inevitably I'm hungry again, and that historically leads to some bad snacking choices. If I have one, it needs to be at least 300 calories.1 -
How do I feel about them?
About 40 pounds lighter in four months, thanks for asking.
Been eating them almost exclusively but not 100% as supplement them with F&V/protein/fats/fiber to hit macros targets. Albeit, not all have been "low calorie" Lean Cuisine/Healthy Choice/Smart Ones. Stouffer's, Smart Made, Marie Callender's, Birds Eye, Tyson, Simple Truth, Michael Angelo's, etc., etc., are also in heavy rotation.7
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