Pre-made/ 'tv dinners' that are filling

Idahoheartmom
Idahoheartmom Posts: 53
edited September 25 in Food and Nutrition
I like the lean cuisine, smart choice, healthy choice etc microwave meals, to eat for lunches. (so i'm not tempted to eat mac and cheese with my kids!)

My issue is, is that some of them are so small and not filling at all.

Anyone tried different ones and found some that are 'better'/more filling than others?

I'd like to keep it under 300 calories.

thanks!!

Replies

  • Caper88
    Caper88 Posts: 418 Member
    There is none that I know of. You should really watch which ones you pick. The "tv dinner ones" are often really high in calories. The Lean cusine are normally lower cal but high in sodium and other bad things which allow them to be low cal.
  • Jacks6688
    Jacks6688 Posts: 19
    I love the Lean Cuisine pizzas and I think they're really filling, especially if you pair it with a light salad or some broccoli.

    Also - for breakfast or a snack I love the Smart Ones Breakfast Sandwiches with Canadian Bacon...it's only 210 calories and keeps you full for awhile.
  • AccioPancakes
    AccioPancakes Posts: 93
    One of my favourites is the lean cuisine spaghetti in herb sauce with veggies. I have no idea any of the nutritional info for it, though, because it's been a long time. I don't know where you live, but if you have access to President's Choice products, my favourite of the blue menu ones are the mac and cheese and chicken tikka masalla (although I probably didn't spell that right, but it's basically chicken with curry on rice). It's been awhile since I've had those ones as well.
  • thomaslh83
    thomaslh83 Posts: 79 Member
    The Healthy Choice Cafe Steamer brand have some great meals between 200-300 calories per meal. My favorite one is the Chicken Pad Thai. Very good meals!
  • SarahofTwins
    SarahofTwins Posts: 1,169 Member
    I usually eat the Healthy choice meals because they are pretty filling, especially the meat ones. (pot roast, fajita meat...etc) I lost plenty of weight from eating those meals.
  • Gymrat13
    Gymrat13 Posts: 4
    Try Kashi brand frozen meals!! Many contain whole grain and lots of vegetables. Sodium is lower, too.
    Chicken Florentine, Lemongrass Coconut Chicken, Pasta Pesto Primavera..and several others.
  • emdeegan
    emdeegan Posts: 219 Member
    green giant does microwavable veggies in sauce that are super tasty, low cal, high fiber and easy to heat up:

    http://www.greengiant.com/pages/products.aspx

    not exactly what you're asking for. but a quick, easy and affordable option.
  • pftjill
    pftjill Posts: 488
    In the package they do look very small. I always put mine on a plate, it just seems better that way. Plus if you use a smaller plate you can see that it is a pretty generous serving size. I think if you do that you will honestly feel more full. Maybe your brain is tricking you no. Or you can just do HUGE salads with lean meat and a light dressing. You can eat tons of lettuce and veg and be totally fine on cals. plus fruit is always good on salad, apples and crasins-yummy.
  • Idahoheartmom
    Idahoheartmom Posts: 53
    I've seen those steamed veggie bags but haven't tried them, I'll have to look at them!

    True...the tray looks so empty after the food is heated...transferring it to a small plate is a great idea!
  • NoAdditives
    NoAdditives Posts: 4,251 Member
    You shouldn't be eating processed foods like that and neither should your kids. My kids don't eat anything I wouldn't eat, I want them to be just as healthy as I am and that means not feeding them any junk.

    Instead of looking for frozen meals, why don't you find a cookbook or a some websites that have healthy recipes you can make yourself? Cooking really isn't all that time consuming and it's not difficult. Plus, knowing exactly what's in your food will make you much, much healthier!

    Also, you shouldn't be microwaving anything in plastic. All plastics leach out chemicals when microwaved and it's incredibly toxic!
  • NanoReefDiver
    NanoReefDiver Posts: 153
    Ditto on the Lean Cuisine Pizzas, delicious!
  • ahsongbird
    ahsongbird Posts: 712 Member
    i love the lean cuisine grilled sandwich things!
  • Gymrat13
    Gymrat13 Posts: 4
    Others to try are Amy's brand of vegetarian meals. THey have some fantastic Indian dishes & the Tamale w roasted vegetables is a favorite!
  • army_cobra
    army_cobra Posts: 136 Member
    There is no such thing as a healthy microwave dinner. If you truley wanna loose weight you need to cook for yourself. You also need to eat 6 meals a day. I do this and they are all small but they keep me full tell my next meal.
  • melsinct
    melsinct Posts: 3,512 Member
    You also need to eat 6 meals a day.

    You can't say that as a blanket statement, no one *needs* to eat 6 meals a day. I'm doing fine eating 3 meals a day and rarely snack. Bottom line: do whatever works for you, your body, and your schedule.
  • army_cobra
    army_cobra Posts: 136 Member
    [/quote]

    You can't say that as a blanket statement, no one *needs* to eat 6 meals a day. I'm doing fine eating 3 meals a day and rarely snack. Bottom line: do whatever works for you, your body, and your schedule.
    [/quote]

    6 meals is better for you then three. Most people that eat three eat alot more in there meals and get hungery before there next meal. If you have 6 meals your metabolism works harder and burns more cals than if you just ate 3.
  • FitPhysique
    FitPhysique Posts: 284 Member
    Try paring them with Low carb veggies or a salad. Also have a cup of veggie broth before eating them. Someone already suggesting it , putting them on a plate also helps. Just know that as you start to lose weight your stomach will also shrink and you'll be able to get full faster. Good luck.
  • Sarahr73
    Sarahr73 Posts: 454 Member
    I like to make my own tv dinners. When I do this, I do the cooking on the weekends and then package them into individual servings an put a couple in the refridgerator and the rest in the freezer. Then you can pull out one or two at a time and out in the fridge or pull one out when you leave for work if you don't have a fridge and it will be mostly thawed by lunch.
  • callipygianchronicle
    callipygianchronicle Posts: 811 Member
    I really think it’s ineffective to get preachy about what someone “should” and “shouldn’t” be eating. The OP has asked for advice on finding a a more filling pre-made meal. It’s a representation of where she is in this process. Sharing knowledge about the big nutritional and health downsides of eating these foods is one thing, but wagging fingers and doling out the shoulds and shouldn’ts is not productive.

    What I would say to the OP, is that the fact that you are not getting full on these meals is an opportunity to investigate the answer to a different question. What can eat that will be easy to prepare, make me feel full, and not take me over my daily calories? The answer to that question is a TON more food than you can get in a microwavable tray.
  • GreenTeaForDays
    GreenTeaForDays Posts: 166 Member
    Trader Joe's has some great frozen Indian food. I love the paneer tikka masala... 330 calories and very filling.
  • supercatie18
    supercatie18 Posts: 82 Member
    You should try "Lightlife" Meals.. They have 3 servings of vegetables and are much larger than the Lean cuisines. They're in the frozen section. They come in a few different types, one of them in Zesty Mexican and it has real peppers and beans in it. Also the sauce packet comes on the side so you have the option of reducing calories by not using the sauce. I know what people say about eating frozen meals and it not being quite as healthy, but I also need something quick and easy that won't cost me calories!
  • kimmerroze
    kimmerroze Posts: 1,330 Member


    You can't say that as a blanket statement, no one *needs* to eat 6 meals a day. I'm doing fine eating 3 meals a day and rarely snack. Bottom line: do whatever works for you, your body, and your schedule.

    6 meals is better for you then three. Most people that eat three eat alot more in there meals and get hungery before there next meal. If you have 6 meals your metabolism works harder and burns more cals than if you just ate 3.

    I agree... also there have been studies that show that the more often you eat the more SURE your body will become that you will feed relatively soon, so it wont feel like it needs to hold onto the food you just fed it... when you wait longer inbetween your meals your body will be more cautions... not saying that you wont lose weight... just not as much as fast.


    to the OP no "tv dinners" are good sure they are better than a candy bar, but not by much.. you are much better off cooking something from scratch!
  • sandram82
    sandram82 Posts: 615 Member
    Personally I find all of them to be too high in sodium to make it worth eating!!! Try a sandwich, soup, salad, or make a pita for lunch, low cals and lower sodium!
  • TripleJ3
    TripleJ3 Posts: 945 Member
    While the majority of the time I make all my meals ahead of time and rarely eat store-bought frozen meals, I keep a Kashi meal, usually the Red curry chicken on Lean cusine the pumpkin ravioli. None I find very filling but always pair with an apple or more veggies for those days I'm running late or life just got in the way.

    But if I'm not out and about after eating one of those I would just keep wandering back into the kitchen after an hour or so.

    Try to make your own frozen meals. Make a recipe, divide it in freezable containers for grab n go. But even I have my days where I have the choice of drive thru or a frozen meal.
  • MeliciousMelis
    MeliciousMelis Posts: 458 Member
    I really think it’s ineffective to get preachy about what someone “should” and “shouldn’t” be eating. The OP has asked for advice on finding a a more filling pre-made meal. It’s a representation of where she is in this process. Sharing knowledge about the big nutritional and health downsides of eating these foods is one thing, but wagging fingers and doling out the shoulds and shouldn’ts is not productive.

    What I would say to the OP, is that the fact that you are not getting full on these meals is an opportunity to investigate the answer to a different question. What can eat that will be easy to prepare, make me feel full, and not take me over my daily calories? The answer to that question is a TON more food than you can get in a microwavable tray.

    Agreed. Sometimes I will have a lean cuisine...and on the days I don't there is always a different level of sateity that I feel. So it's an individual process....

    To the OP- try the Kashi frozen meals, or an Amy's -- those are going to be more nutritionally sound, and the Kashi especially will have more whoel grains in it, and fiber.

    Keep asking the good questions! :)
  • atomiclauren
    atomiclauren Posts: 689 Member
    Hands down IMO Amy's can't be beat - there are also lower sodium versions of a few of their meals (though none in stores near me :grumble: ).
  • jizenna
    jizenna Posts: 49
    There is no such thing as a healthy microwave dinner. If you truley wanna loose weight you need to cook for yourself. You also need to eat 6 meals a day. I do this and they are all small but they keep me full tell my next meal.

    I agree on the 6 meals a day, most nutritionists will recommend doing this. If you feel hunger your body will prepare for starvation which means it will hang on to fat that you probably want to lose. I guess you can sort of think of it as "tricking" your body, it has to know it's not going to starve.
  • Cbandelier
    Cbandelier Posts: 217 Member
    I don't eat them very often, but in general I have found that the ones with a meat item are more filling. If they are rice or pasta-based, I feel like I haven't eaten anything and am still hungry. I do like the Healthy Choice meals better than Lean cuisine, probably because they have dessert, lol.
  • sbwood888
    sbwood888 Posts: 953 Member
    I usually just add a piece of fruit or a salad or maybe a yogurt and that seems to fill me up.
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