lean cuisines: actually OK for you?

badr0mance

does anyone regularly (or frequently) eat lean cuisines? are they actually OK for you? i know they arent high in calories but sometimes frozen meals make me wary...

MIKE1SS

The sodium scares the crap out of me

blahblah123314

I was wondering that too although I know they're pretty high in sodium which can't be good.

ggus64

I eat them once in a while....no more than 2 or 3 times a month. They are low in calories but very high in sodium and they are "processed food" which I try to avoid as much as possible. I think they are OK to have once in a while if you are in a time crunch and have no time to cook....they are certainly better than going to the local fast food place for a "gut bomb"!!

ishallnotwant

I used to eat them when my kids were littler and I didn't have time to make myself something healthier. I really can't handle the taste anymore though. Frozen meals taste so processed and weird to me now...

If you are just starting out and they are a good way for you to eat low cal and not feel overwhelmed by a bunch of food prep, I say use them. I would eat a piece of fruit or a salad on the side. Maybe you could slowly work your way into making healthy, homemade versions as you go along...

BL_Coleman

I eat healthy choice, lean cusine, tuna or cracker combos for lunch every day. They might be a bit high in sodium but they have ALOT less than the chow hall at work does.

jmaffett

Packaged, frozen meals are excellent for portion control. The issue isn't the calories ... it's the SODIUM.

I use them occasionally, mostly for lunch when I don't have anything around the house that I can bring in to the office. Eat them regularly and then check your sodium chart here at MFP ... any prepared food is going to amp up the sodium, which is NOT good for you long-term.

TeaBea

I eat these sometimes. I wouldn't eat them everyday. If I have a lower sodium breakfast & a lower sodium dinner - it's no biggie.

Now - typically the veggies are pretty sparse. I like to cook my own & add to the meal. Example: Lean Cuisine Chicken Alfredo (YUM) ... I cook up some broccoli & throw that in there. Sometmes I'm in a rush ... and Lean Cuisines are waayy better than the alternative fast food.

These are way lower in fat that "regular" frozen meals. Just check out the stats for Stouffer's (red box) Mac'n Cheese - OMG! more than 2 times the calories as the Lean Cuisine version. The Stouffer's Mac'n Cheese "has 2 servings" even though the dish is like 2 oz. bigger - crazy!

jmaffett

I eat healthy choice, lean cusine, tuna or cracker combos for lunch every day. They might be a bit high in sodium but they have ALOT less than the chow hall at work does.

It depends on how the food it prepared at your "chow hall". Not all restaurant food is high in sodium, and there are always choices where sodium levels are lower. Stay closer to "real" food (i.e., fresh salad greens, tomatoes, broccoli, apples, berries, oranges, etc.).

jenhenning219

does anyone regularly (or frequently) eat lean cuisines? are they actually OK for you? i know they arent high in calories but sometimes frozen meals make me wary...

i used to eat them but the sodium is so high , i now make my own lean cuisine meals, i take the serving size of the package (example tyson all natural chicken breat 4oz) season it with mrs dash salt free seasonings and cook, then i make pasta and do the same thing cook the serving size and make my own sauce, cut up tomatoes, olives and garlic and onion and i puree part of the sauce and leave some chunky

ItsMeRebekah

The sodium scares the crap out of me

lol

kateroot

I've noticed some Healthy Choice meals have around 500mg of sodium.. Really not bad. I usually add broccoli or something to up the veggie content, and I don't eat them often because most of them are heavy on the carbs and light on protein. But they work in a pinch.

wellbert

Little high in sodium, but I get a lot of potassium so I don't sweat it. I eat them most every day for cost and convenience.

mrsgoodwine

Way too much sodium for me.

HotBodUnderConstruction

I used to eat them all the time...this is why I stopped.

1) High in sodium-- doesn't really matter all that much except I don't like feeling bloated.
2) Didn't fill me up-- 200 calories of any frozen dinner will hardly hold me up for more than an hour. 200 calories of fresh fruits, vegetables, and a lean meat will keep me full and satisfied for at least 3 hours.

Overall, as long as you maintain a caloric deficit I don't think it matters much (in terms of weight loss). However, I find that I'm hungrier when I eat them and that alone makes me too irritable

MrsWayneWV

If you find that frozen or pre-packaged meals like that are the best option for you, you can deal with the sodium by increasing your water intake and getting in a little walk after you eat them.

Oh, and be ready for a possible increase in weight due to water retention. 0_o

Of course, if you have hypertension or some other health issue affected by sodium I'd try to skip them.

RAFValentina

The sodium scares the crap out of me

Bit melodramatic...

kristilovescake

They're probably OK, but they're high in sodium, so I try to avoid them except for maybe once a month. They're probably a better option than most fast food options, but definitely not as healthy as making your own food and reheating.

I definitely wouldn't be eating them every day, unless you balance it out the rest of your meals by eating whole foods that are homemade. I think eating too many processed food is bad for you - no matter what the calorie count - but just my opinion.

Sabresgal63

I eat them everyday..............No matter what you buy that is processed is going to high in one thing or another. Some of the ones that I eat are not that high........just eat them if you like or consult your doctor:bigsmile:

kbw414

They're not organic.
And as others have said, they're a processed food which means they're full of chemicals and preservatives.

Personally, I wouldn't touch frozen meals.

FrozenTundra511

Like everything else.... moderation.......

LeanMeanFitnessMachine

I don't touch them - way too high in sodium for my liking.

SarahofTwins

I eat them a lot to include healthy choice meals. I do this because I have 3 kiddos under 3...then when I finally get a "break" I grab one of those and pop them in the microwave. I try to eat some veggies on the side and plenty of water. Personally they haven't affected me since I've lost 80+...its all about how much you eat :drinker:

MrsWayneWV

I used to eat them all the time...this is why I stopped.

1) High in sodium-- doesn't really matter all that much except I don't like feeling bloated.
2) Didn't fill me up-- 200 calories of any frozen dinner will hardly hold me up for more than an hour. 200 calories of fresh fruits, vegetables, and a lean meat will keep me full and satisfied for at least 3 hours.

Overall, as long as you maintain a caloric deficit I don't think it matters much (in terms of weight loss). However, I find that I'm hungrier when I eat them and that alone makes me too irritable

When I find myself getting hungry too early, I look back at what I ate and 9/10 I didn't have enough protein. For me, I need higher protein, fiber/roughage doesn't cut it. I get a fuller feeling, that lasts longer, from a boiled egg than serving of Fiber One cereal.

Wendysworld13

They are great for portion control - but don't have everything so add a side salad and drink lots of extra water on the days you do eat them.

Yes, they are processed, but this is a whole lifestyle change you are making and if it is not an easy transition you will likely quit, so start with small changes - portion control first - which Lean cuisine or any of the others assist with - then go to the other areas like making them yourself.

I believe there is a brand called Amy's which is all organic - if you can handle the price tag then the sodium is better. So are the healthy choices. Look around - and choose the direction you want to go

wellbert

They're not organic.
And as others have said, they're a processed food which means they're full of chemicals and preservatives.

Personally, I wouldn't touch frozen meals.

everyone I've bought has a 'no preservatives' label on it.

debloves2ride

I eat a frozen lunch probably twice a week - I was eating lean cuisine, but switched to the cafe steamers by healthy choice. close to the same calories, but less sodium (not much but some).

SarahBrown1979

The sodium scares the crap out of me

^^^^THIS^^^^ So high in sodium!

IrishHarpy1

I've eaten them just about every day during the work week for lunch for the past 450 days... they haven't had any adverse effect on me. Sure, they're a little higher in sodium, but there's nothing stopping me from cutting out additional sodium the rest of the day -- and I'm under my sodium macros about 99% of the time.

To each their own, I suppose...

deluda

Like everything else.... moderation.......

I agree. I'm eating them now due to the stressful week ahead. If not for that I wouldn't be eating. I drink lots of water each day hopefully that will flush the sodium.

alexbelly

I keep a lean cuisine on hand at work, in case I forget my lunch one day-otherwise I end up buying fast food.

.. and through the Lean cuisine points, I got a free lunch bag.

Home cooked & fresh food are always better, but Lean Cuisine is not bad on the fly.