Smart ones, lean cuisine.... A good idea?

RandomMiranda

There are some mornings when I literally don't have 5-10 minutes to pack a lunch. I get up early, do my workout, etc. but sometimes it just doesn't happen and I remember that I still need lunch as I'm running out the door. I have a few frozen meals on hand for those times. It's better than most of the options I have available to me on campus.

JMSKCW

I eat them frequently for lunch because I like the variety. When I started MFP, I counted all of my sodium to make sure that I wasn't going overboard, especially by eating the frozen meals. I found that I was under my suggested sodium almost every day (usually by a considerable amount) even while consuming the Lean Cuisine or Healthy Choice meals.
Perhaps you could log your sodium for a week to see if the frozen meals are pushing you over the edge.
I also like to mix my lunches up with Healthy Choice Steamers (those have a lot of protein and are lower in sodium) with homemade lunches- that way I don't get stuck in a rut.

Flowerofgrace50

Bottom line is that you do what works for you. Quite a bit of healthy cooking along with Smart Ones, Lean Cuisine or protein shakes when you need to use them. Experiment with every idea available. Everyone is different and different things work for them. What works for you won't necessarily work for me and vice verse.

orangecrayon

It depends on which ones you're choosing and what choices you're making for the rest of your day. I found this Smart Ones Rigatoni with Vodka Sauce (looks very appetizing, though I haven't tried it yet) for 290 calories and only 490 sodium.
But then again, I'm in college and these are my "I really don't have time to make a meal, so here I go" dinners.

I prefer making my own. Have you heard of American Beauty pasta portions? 320 calories for a VERY good amount of pasta, you can add your own sauce (so you can adjust your sodium there), and then I add a basil leaf on top (for flavor....but it also adds potassium I've found). These pasta portions only take 5 minutes in the microwave and are extremely simple to make! (I just had one today--I control the sodium, and they are ALWAYS filling! )
There are so many fast meals that are relatively healthy and lower in salt content. But Lean Cuisine and Smart Ones aren't bad. I just wouldn't have them super often. (I did look at Healthy Choice, and though I haven't had one yet from what I've glanced they seem to be slightly lower in sodium? I'm not sure, though. You could look!)
Tortilla pizza - find a tortilla lower in sodium, (I don't add sauce, but just a little goes a long way!), a little mozzarella cheese, cut up a roma tomato, a basil leaf, some mushrooms (not from the can), maybe some spinach....yep. Simple, but yummy and lower in sodium! And never forget salad!
I think I rambled a little, but there you go! Not bad, but just in moderation

strandedj

I think the meals are great for taste, convenience and portion control. They also fit easily into ones daily calories. I am not the food police, depending on how strict you want to be on your restrictions, I think they are fine and you will continue to lose weight.

shellgirl144

Generally, frozen processed dinners aren't really that good of an idea, but you have to make your own decisions.

Here are some options:

What about making soups in the crockpot then freezing it in single serving sizes? You could grab that before you leave for work and it would probably be thawed before lunch so you don't have to warm it for long.

It doesn't take too long to throw salads together on your way out the door.

What about making extras of your dinner and throwing single sized servings in the freezer? You could quickly grab those like the soup and take them for lunch.

Someone else also suggested the nitrate free lunch meats so you could make a quick sandwich. Maybe grab an apple and a handful of nuts or some veggies and hummus and you have yourself a quick lunch.

laurenwarwick

I think the lazy comment above is a bit harsh.

I got wrapped up in all or nothing thinking. That I had to prepare all meals, all the time with all natural, all whole ingredients. And it started to get over whelming. Sometimes, in life when you are trying to balance a lot of things, you have to prioritize. And for me, sometime reading a second bedtime story to my son IS more important the cooking chicken for lunch the next day. When I do cook, I do enough to have left overs, but sometimes leftovers run out and it is just best to cut myself some slack and grab a frozen meal.

I have noticed that Healthy Choice seems to have stepped up their meals a notch. They seem to have decent ingredients. I ALWAYS add extra veggies. I buy those Zip 'n' Steam bags that Ziplock makes and toss veggies in that to steam in the microwave. (sometimes I buy pre cut/pre washed veggies to save on time, too, even though they are a bit more $!)

when you cook and freeze, what are your reheating suggestions? can you give some examples of things you cook and freeze? and how long do you hold on to them in the freezer??

sorry for all the questions, just never occured to me to do that and i think it's a really good idea, and definitely doable!!!

SPBROOKS68

A personal trainer I met with said they are fine to eat as long as you drink lots of water as the sodium will be washed out of your body - I eat them sometimes and do not worry about it since I drink 15-20 glasses of water a day.

Aeiro

Lean Cuisine is usually high in sodium when it comes to the meals that have sauce. Try buying sauceless meals instead if you're worried about sodium intake. LC provides good nutrients like iron and calcium and has no preservatives. Its also really easy to fit into your diet.

One Lean Cuisine a day eaten for Dinner is the best way to go. People usually eat larger portions for dinner because they feel like they've worked out and eaten healthy rest of the day, so a small pigging out is okay - and its not really. Eat one then brush your teeth so that you wont be tempted to eat more.

dentedcan

I use a lower calorie, moderate sodium Healthy Choice meal as the base of my dinner on weeknights. I usually add a 150 calorie baked chicken filet to bump up the protein. My daily sodium intake is always 1/3 under my daily goal. So if you can make it fit in your food planning, I don't see the issue.

greentart

I think these are fine in emergency situations, but overall, I find them to be absolutely disgusting. My stomach hurts afterwards, I feel bloated and gross, and I'm hungry not too long after.

It takes about 30-40 minutes in the oven for a chicken thigh to roast. You just leave it in there. Make yourself a salad, and suddenly, in 40 minutes, you have a fresh meal PLUS leftovers! I know it seems like a long time, but that's 30-40 minutes that you can still be doing other things. Someone else mentioned the crock pot. That's a great way to get the main protein for tons of meals, especially if you're only cooking for one.

I agree, that sometimes life gets hectic and you need something quick. However, my body definitely let me know that it didn't appreciate the generic, processed junk. Fresh is ALWAYS better.

Samiamy2k

This is war. I see it as two main battles, the first being the actual process of getting to a healthy weight, the second being maintaining that. Once you've gotten to a healthy weight range it's a lot easier to experiment, and you can be a little more flexible and forgiving of minor excesses. I don't like processed meals for any number of reasons which include all those above, but as well I don't like the corporate nature of the offering and allowing trans-national corporate scum my dollars. THAT BEING SAID: I used them for the following reasons:
1. They're low fat, portioned controlled no-brain meals. I don't have to think about it, I know that I"m under 300 calories. That allows me five meals a day in a 1500 calorie diet.
2. They're essentially the same program as both Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig offer. They're popular because they work.
3. I'm not particularly sodium sensitive, but I do augment the meals to the extent time permits. I just try to add fresh proteins and veggies, rarely carbs (except sandwich thins, english muffins and fresh tortillas- can't give up EVERYTHING) I don't use salt at all in my cooking, so it tends to balance out the processed sodium coming into my diet.
4. I only plan on using them during the actual weight loss part of my battle. Once I achieve a tenable weight range, I'll be far more comfortable preparing meals that might have leftovers, or might be a little higher in calories than I can afford now. Right now the last thing I need is temptation or room for error.

Point being, they're cheap, they're convenient, and if you're not at risk for hypertension or other sodium sensitive health issues, they're basically passably healthy- at least far healthier than our former diets. Ergo they have a high chance of providing success. Logic. Reason. Human nature. We have to include all of these in our calculations when we try to change habits. I say as long as you don't resort to meth or other drugs to loose weight and you do it in a relatively controlled, safe manner the weight is more danger than the drawbacks of the processed meals.

AMSull19

On a rare occasion I will eat these. A lot of time when I'm in a pinch, I resort to a low sodium soup instead or my favorite is to bring packaged salad and chicken to store in the fridge at work so I have a quick healthy lunch for a few days.

epie2098

you need to learn how to cook smart and snack smart. Using those are just being lazy. For instance, when you cook a chicken breat cook 5 instead of onw so you have a quick chicken sandwich or chicken salald to eat.

I don't think that is lazy, she might have a very busy schedule or may not know how to cook. I cook my meals before hand as well but for people who schedules are a bit busier it could be diffucult. OP i think it is best for you to try and cook your own meals but if you are in a rush for time, lean cuisines should be no problem,

I'm somewhere in between these views. I think packaged meals are great in food emergencies, particularly if you have dietary restrictions. But somewhere down the line, learning to cook is the best thing. I have a busy schedule too, so I make lunches and snacks for myself the night before, usually when I'm making dinner. That way, I'm in the kitchen once, but cleaning up etc. for multiple meals.

www.theleangreenbean.com has a weekly post devoted to how people prep healthy food for themselves for the week ahead. Even someone on shift work could get some ideas on how to take control of what and how they eat by prepping on their time schedule.

histomom

I always have a couple of Lean Cuisines or Smart Ones in the freezer for a emergency. Most of the time I try to bring left overs from dinner. But with a husband and two tweens in the house that is not always possible.

ruth3698

I used them in the past to lose 60 pounds....I would eat them every day for dinner and either a slim fast shake or lean pocket for lunch.That being said, I'm not doing that this time around.I do have them on ocassion but I'm now eating more real food that I can see myself eating for the rest of my life.They are convienent when you have no other choice, so I keep a few in the freezer.I've lost 20 pounds so far and this time I don't feel so deprived.

whosurdaddy107

They are extremely healthy! compared with all the crap out there. If you eat one cheeseburger, its nearly 760 calories and more sodium. I've been starting this diet with cereal, LC and slim fast...and no fast food. lost 9 lbs in 3 weeks. all it matters is calories. there's no such things as good or bad fat. keep it simple you will lose weight!

tanzmitpalmer

They're okay, and pretty dang tasty, but every time I told myself "I'm gonna GET HEALTHY!" and fell back on freezer-meals, I always, always failed. If you have more guts than I do, and can stick with it despite the convenience-factor (seriously, I think the convenience made it too easy for me to fall off the wagon), then I don't see much problem in 'em. Still, I'd recommend exploring healthy homecooked options along the way, so you can truly transition into a new lifestyle that is hardfast, so your dietary/fitness changes will be easier to maintain.

Karababy51

I will occasionally have one of the lower calorie Lean Cuisines when I'm short on calories for the day. Some of them are quite tasty and despite the high sodium content, have a decent amount of protein. A few of my favorites are the Glazed Chicken, the Roasted Chicken & Garden Vegetables and the Grilled Chicken Primavera!