tv dinners for weight loss

CALIECAT

Has anybody lost weight on eating TV dinners such as kean cusine or Smart ones?

katherines2230

I eat them frequently!! I actually had a healthy choice meal for dinner tonight!

csch79

They aren't the best choice but you can definitely lose weight using them. A lot of them are very high in sodium if that matters to you. I have an occasional one for lunch but that is about it.

otr12

I see them in peoples diaries all the time. Too much sodium for me, personally. But I usually keep one in the freezer for when I just don't feel like making food.

Remember when they came in metal trays and you made them in the oven? I can't remember how I lived when I didn't have a microwave.

juliapurpletoes

NO! Too full of sodium and not really satisfying. Better to learn to cook good foods healthfully! Most sustainable...... this is not a race but a lifestyle

saadler

I buy them when they're on sale. You'd be surprised how few calories some of them have -- even ones that aren't labeled as "light" or anything. Sometimes I get the mac & cheese ones (but make sure they're lower than 300 cals) and make a meat and veggie with them for a whole meal. It saves time and it's delicious.

lgrace42

I eat Lean Cuisine and Smart Ones for lunch and dinner every day and still lose weight. My nutritionist said they aren't the best because of the sodium, but they are ok.

Washingtonian

I probably have one each week for dinner......and watch my sodium the rest of the day.

Sunjenk

I also keep 1-2 in the freezer for when I don't want to cook / have few calories but am craving something specific (so many types!!)

capNramsey

I think it's okay to eat them occasionally, but I limit to lunch time at work. It's just quick. And I find the steamer meals are the best and usually contain more veggies and less sodium than some of the non-steamer options. Healthy choice is my favorite. I've been losing while eating them, but I only have them a few times a week for lunch.

vikesfanmb

Definitely high in sodium which is a trouble spot for me. But you just have to read the labels carefully and make good choices. I usually eat a few per week for lunch at work, etc.

Timeforme714

Lean cuisines are actually pretty good as far as sodium goes - much better than eating out!

ahappyapple

I like to eat them sometimes, but it is a small amount of food. I always have to have a veggie or a fruit on the side.

atomdraco

Well, process food is just not good for you. When we get to older age, we won't be able to eat as much and the best way to keep healthy is that every bit you eat should be nutritious food.

To enjoy a healthier weight lose and lifestyle, try:
* eat whole food
* enjoy more fruit and vegetable
* eat lean protein
* portion size, portion size, portion size
* exercises (especially strength training, which not great for weight lose, but help with stronger bones and less bone mass lost)

Hearts_2015

I buy them when they're on sale. You'd be surprised how few calories some of them have -- even ones that aren't labeled as "light" or anything. Sometimes I get the mac & cheese ones (but make sure they're lower than 300 cals) and make a meat and veggie with them for a whole meal. It saves time and it's delicious.

But what about the Fat & Sodium levels, also some have shared the amount of veggies etc. aren't a full portion, same as protein.

I'm sure a once in a while a frozen meal won't harm anyone but anymore than once in a while seems like it'd have the opposite effect on creating a healthy lifestyle change.

SusanMcAvoy

I eat lean cuisine all the time. I'm aware they can be high in sodium so I watch my sodium the rest of the day. So far I've lost 24 pounds and I eat lean cuisine at least 5 times a week for dinner. I add broccoli or spinach to it to make it stretch. It's a nice meal. The raviolis are awesome. So isn't the salmon basil.

jbucci1186

YES!

i ate 2 lean cuisines every day for at least 4 months. I also ate other things with them, usually a sandwich and a fiber one bar.

i don't eat them any more, but they were incredibly helpful to me in the beginning.

timidury

I pick them up for lunch occasionally if I don't feel like packing lunch before work. They're super-high in sodium, though, so watch your intake for the rest of the day!

There was a time in college where I would buy them on sale and eat them for lunch and dinner everyday... I was super skinny!

funkyspunky871

I used to eat them for lunch all the time. I had a nice little thermos bowl to take to school, so I just warmed up a Lean Cuisine in the morning, scooped into the thermos, and ate a slice or two of bread on the side. It was the only thing that kept me full back then. Every now and then I'll have a TV dinner, but instead of bread, I add a side of canned vegetables or something. The Lean Cusine steam bags are VERY good... The macaroni and beef has to be my favorite though, followed by Sante Fe Rice and Beans (that might be Smart Ones, I'm not sure at the moment) Oh, and Smart Ones has incredible desserts!!!

So, nope, nothing wrong with TV dinners. Sodium smodium. Who gives a hoot? Unless your doctor has told you that you need to be tracking sodium, don't. It stresses people out WAY too much.

atomdraco

The way you lose weight should be more careful and different than many younger people here.

A great reading "Senior Weight Loss":
http://www.livestrong.com/article/244694-senior-weight-loss/

Stacera

I eat the Lean Cuisine Market Creation steamer meals for lunch during the week.. buy like 5 of them keep them in the freezer at work.. they're not bad and I normally add some fruit to also balance them out.. I feel full and the calories are low.

tabithon

I lost weight for a time eating them for dinner every night, but the sodium is killer. I didn't achieve my final weight loss until I ditched the boxed meals and started eating healthy, prepared meals. I take one entire weekend and cook, then seal the food into the portions that I will eat for dinner, and freeze. So I have healthy, quick meals through the week for a month until I do it all over again. This helps keep my sodium under control, and also helped to lower my blood pressure. Just a suggestion as an alternative to tv dinners for those of us who are strapped for time during the week.

EmilyQC

Well, process food is just not good for you. When we get to older age, we won't be able to eat as much and the best way to keep healthy is that every bit you eat should be nutritious food.

To enjoy a healthier weight lose and lifestyle, try:
* eat whole food
* enjoy more fruit and vegetable
* eat lean protein
* portion size, portion size, portion size
* exercises (especially strength training, which not great for weight lose, but help with stronger bones and less bone mass lost)

I agree... I think that pre-packaged meals are only teaching us how to be lazy and not put effort into the food that we eat... I personally don't care for anything processed. Look up "eating clean foods" its worth it for your body to steer clear of frozen pre-made foods and learn how to use portion control instead of having someone do it for you.

mynameiscarrie

The only ones that really fill me up are the Panini sandwiches..it sounds odd, a sandwich in a microwave, but they are SO GOOD. i don't eat them often though...

stephanie_m

When I was trying to drop weight right before i got pregnant with my second kiddo I used to eat one of those at least 4x's a week. It was just really convenient with working and having an infant. The first month I lost 24lbs (I was working out 6x's a week as well) Then I got pregnant with my second little one and it all went out the window... GR!

wyomingvirgo

I've lost so far a litte over 100 lbs before I found myfitnespal. I've used the occasional "FROZEN" meal as a substitue for a healthy cooked meal. Some guidlines to follow would be: Calories 200-300, Carbohydrate Less than 40 grams, Protein At least 14 grams, Fat Less than 10 grams and Finally Sodium less than 750 mg.

I hope this helps!

eveunderground

As others have said, they're not the best choice, BUT because they are portion controlled and calorie controlled you can definitely lose weight by eating them. It's basically the same concept as Jenny Craig style dieting with the pre-packaged meals. For anyone who has a hard time with portion control and hates cooking, frozen dinners are not a bad starting point. I never eat them anymore, but when I first started out I ate them every day for lunch....I just always picked the ones in the 250-350 calorie range. Initially they're not so bad since there is a lot of selection, but after awhile you will get sick of them....hopefully by that time you'll be ready to try out cooking your own healthier meals and portioning them out the same way for leftovers/lunches...which is what I do now.

srp2011

They're not the best but I definitely have them sometimes - particularly nights when I get home late from running and don't want to wait 30 minutes for my food to cook, plus prep time. I really like Healthy Choice and the Lean Cuisine fish entrees. Yes, you can lose weight on them. High in sodium, but that won't keep you from burning fat. Balance it out with some fresh fruit and veggies, and drink your water.

suzycreamcheese

yeah i used them quite a lot when i was on weightloss, id get the weightwatchers ones that were often under 300 or 350 cals, and team them with loads of vegetables.

I thought they were a good way to halve the calories of my average evening meal, and can be very good if you find portion control tricky.
Watch the sodium though. Some are better than others

DorkothyParker

I ate them several years ago getting down from the 20 lbs I gained after marriage. I haven't been eating them these last 20 lbs, though.
It's not even a "clean eating" thing with me, I just would rather eat other foods. Also, the ratios don't work for me. Not enough protein.

Emmadennewitz

I would not recommend eating tv dinners for weight lose. Too much sodium and not a healthy choice. Your better off taking the time to prepare your own food from fresh ingredients. If time is a problem try preparing meals ahead of time for several days at a time.