prepackaged meals (i.e.lean cuisine, smart ones)

I don't eat them every day. But when you're so tired and beat, it's good to have on hand. But I wouldn't use them all the time for meal replacement. Your body needs more than that to go on. And I agree with bulking them up with veggies.

They're total ****. High sodium levels, small portions, and they don't even taste great. Why don't you spend an afternoon (Sunday, maybe) and prep some things for the week. You can make a big batch of soup/chili, marinara/meat gravy for pasta, prepare some vegetables and meats, etc. Separate those things into tupperware, freeze some of the soup/chili and sauce, and you'll have food on hand throughout the week.

Another tip is burritos - buy burrito ingredients and make them all ahead of time. Just make them, wrap tightly in foil and stick them in the freezer. Whenever you want one, pull one out and microwave it for a couple minutes. You can do this for regular burritos and breakfast burritos.

They're total ****. High sodium levels, small portions, and they don't even taste great. Why don't you spend an afternoon (Sunday, maybe) and prep some things for the week. You can make a big batch of soup/chili, marinara/meat gravy for pasta, prepare some vegetables and meats, etc. Separate those things into tupperware, freeze some of the soup/chili and sauce, and you'll have food on hand throughout the week.

Another tip is burritos - buy burrito ingredients and make them all ahead of time. Just make them, wrap tightly in foil and stick them in the freezer. Whenever you want one, pull one out and microwave it for a couple minutes. You can do this for regular burritos and breakfast burritos.

I have been doing this for a while now. It is really helpful!

one or two a week is ok, but not every day. The sodium in one meal is equal to what you are supposed to be having in a whole day.

And, if you're playing short order cook, maybe it's time to stop. If one wants chicken, but 2 want pasta, and another wants a sandwich, I'm sure it's hard. But, in my house, we had one dinner for everyone, and I think I'll do that if I have kids. Maybe offer a really picky eater a sandwich or something easy, but don't let making 5 things for everyone else get in the way of feeding yourself something healthful. Also, if your kids' meals are too unhealthy for you to eat, maybe you should evaluate what you're serving them very day. I am nanny to a very picky eater, so I get that it must be hard, sometimes I prefer not to eat what she eats because of health. But, there should be some things that are decently healthy that please most, if not all.

They're total ****. High sodium levels, small portions, and they don't even taste great. Why don't you spend an afternoon (Sunday, maybe) and prep some things for the week. You can make a big batch of soup/chili, marinara/meat gravy for pasta, prepare some vegetables and meats, etc. Separate those things into tupperware, freeze some of the soup/chili and sauce, and you'll have food on hand throughout the week.

Another tip is burritos - buy burrito ingredients and make them all ahead of time. Just make them, wrap tightly in foil and stick them in the freezer. Whenever you want one, pull one out and microwave it for a couple minutes. You can do this for regular burritos and breakfast burritos.

^^ All of this.

I am on a 1370 cal/day diet and I work out every morning. I eat lean cuisine for dinner I want to say about 5 out of 7 days. I have lost 9 lbs in the last two weeks and feel just fine. I don't feel sluggish or hungry and am drinking a TON of water. I like the lean cuisine meals and I can buy two weeks worth of them for $20 dollars. I understand everyone else's concerns and comments about them and the sodium levels are pretty high, but overall I like them. If a major concern is the high sodium, just buy the "low-sodium" ones. But if you have time, pre-cooking your meals and freezing them may work better for you.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/535871-how-to-burn-off-sodium/

I am on a 1370 cal/day diet and I work out every morning. I eat lean cuisine for dinner I want to say about 5 out of 7 days. I have lost 9 lbs in the last two weeks and feel just fine. I don't feel sluggish or hungry and am drinking a TON of water. I like the lean cuisine meals and I can buy two weeks worth of them for $20 dollars. I understand everyone else's concerns and comments about them and the sodium levels are pretty high, but overall I like them. If a major concern is the high sodium, just buy the "low-sodium" ones. But if you have time, pre-cooking your meals and freezing them may work better for you.

I do the same exact thing. I am single and enjoy eating a big variety of food...otherwise, I would get bored. I tried the cooking in advance route and I'd rather be playing outside! I add a salad to my lunch and extra veggies to my dinner. According to MFP, I am under my sodium level every day. On the weekends, I usually cook all my meals.

Sometimes I feel like I'd be satisfied if I never learned to cook and just ate Healthy Choice all the time. Then an hour later I realize I'm hungry again. I like them, but they just don't fill me up like my homemade rice cooker chili would. Just cook a big batch of rice, tomatoes, beans, meat, veggies, and whatever else and portion into tupperwares.

I also don't mind the sodium. I need to eat a high sodium diet or else my blood pressure will drop to dangerous levels and cause me to be faint all the time. I learned that lesson when I first started MFP.

I don't eat them because they are too expensive. But I used to eat them. I hated the Healthy Choice and Lean Cuisine. They are too small and taste bland. I used to like the Weight Watchers ones, but they still need to supplemented. They are just too small.

I have Smart Ones, Lean Cuisine and Healthy Choice in my freezer for emergencies or a change of pace once in a while. I cook homemade dinners most nights and cook extra. I have a Ronco Rotisserie and cook rotisserie chicken all of the time. I cook roast beef or roast pork in there as well. I also cook meals on my George Foreman grill. So whatever I am cooking, I cook extra. That way I have extra meals that are just reheat and eat. There are SO many easy to make things with the leftover rotisserie chicken, including soups and casseroles and stir fry. All of things are quick and easy.

So I guess that is my "trick" is that when I cook, I cook extra or more than one thing at a time so that I have lots of leftovers in the refrigerator.

They're not junk food, but they're also very processed and not too good for you. Twice a day--that's a lot.

But I understand your situation. Just dealing with three kids had me completely frazzled. It's nice to say that you should make your own and freeze it, but reality is reality.

I would suggest exploring some other options, though. If you by any chance have a Trader Joe's near you, their frozen foods are made of better ingredients and taste much better, too. you might find making a quick taco or burrito in the microwave just as easy...some pre-cooked chicken, a little lowfar cheese, corn tortilla, a dab of refried beans from a can and some salsa. There are things you can do, if you think creatively, that take very little more time and effort than one of those meals.

I've just discovered the world of Lean Cuisine, they were on special so I bought some. Contrary to many, I like the taste, possibly a psychological affect of not having to prepare it makes me feel special I've had 2 in the last week and I find the portion size perfect. The variety is great and I plan to eat them regularly (1-2 times a week), if you're losing weight, do what works.

Personally I would never have them, I'd rather have beans/scrambled egg on toast or a jacket potato with tuna and salad or something. It take s minutes to make and healthy and fool of good nutrients.

I have 3 children and work 60+ hours a week and I cook homemade food. We all eat the same food, if they don't like it tough. If it's something completely different then I will portion it out separate, for example, curry, rice and vegetables; I'll put them on their plate side by side rather than the curry on top of the rice, if they don't like the curry they can eat the rice and vegetables.

You would be better cooking one pot wonders to save you a lot of time and bulk up with tons of vegetables. for breakfast you could always pre-pare a fruit salad and have with some low-fat yogurt. Or quick scrambled egg, you can make that in the microwave too and will be better for you.

Hope you find something that works for you. x

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