Nothing is more convenient when you come home after a long day of work than having a nice hot meal waiting for you. But if that’s not a benefit that’s compatible with your lifestyle right now, frozen meals could be the next best thing. In just a few minutes, you can have something hot and satisfying ready and waiting on your dining table. But is eating frozen meals healthy?
Frozen food has gotten a bad rap for being high in sodium, preservatives, and other nutritional components that are considered unhealthy, like saturated fats. However, today’s frozen meals aren’t the same as those of past generations. Today you can get a wide range of healthy foods from the frozen aisle — think foods that are low in unhealthy fats, low in sodium, rich whole grains, designed for special diets, or free of questionable ingredients — or even a combination of these.
What should you look for? The specifics depend on your targeted nutrition goals, but generally, you can look for something that has reasonable sodium levels, that has appropriate calories for your diet, and that’s low in added sugars, saturated and trans fats, and cholesterol. Fiber content is important, and many people aim to eat at least 25 to 35 grams a day. Fiber is found in whole grains, vegetables, and fruits, which are also healthy additions to any meal.
It may be easier to find a general brand that is healthy overall than trying to evaluate multiple nutritional factors every time you go to the store. Why? Let’s use sodium as an example. The FDA notes that most people should consume no more than 2,300 mg of sodium a day. Of course it’s helpful to read nutrition labels and keep track of how much sodium you consume in a day, and you could look at the daily value (DV) on the label and keep track by keeping each meal under a certain percentage of your DV. Calculating this could entail a substantial amount of effort.
You can also make it simple by looking at brands more than specific nutritional values every time. Below are some top brands that create generally healthy frozen meals, in no specific order. Some brands are more expensive than others, but there are choices for most price ranges.
1. Amy’s
Amy’s is a popular brand of healthy frozen meals. They are all organic, and there are many vegetarian options, as well as some vegan choices. Since many of these dishes are meat-free, they’re generally lower in saturated fat. Amy’s also focuses on food allergies and restrictions, so you have options that are free of gluten, dairy, soy, tree nuts, and corn. Finally, they also have low-sodium options.
Some popular Amy’s meals include burritos, wraps, pizzas, soups, and entrees. Entrees include cheese enchiladas, macaroni and cheese, Mexican casserole bowls, and many more. You’ll also find family-size menu options in the lineup that include pad thai, vegetable lasagna, cheese enchiladas, and roasted poblano enchiladas.
2. Healthy Choice
Healthy Choice frozen foods are fast to prepare and are made from healthy proteins and vegetables. The company’s goal is also to provide reasonable or low amounts of sodium, saturated fat, and total fats. Their Power Bowls make for a convenient choice and have options for classic protein, vegan, vegetarian, and grain-free options. Other options include pizza, soups, classic entrees, and low-carb bowls.
3. Evol
Evol’s goal is to use fresh and high-nutrient ingredients. The company uses antibiotic-free meat and plenty of vegetables and whole grains. And, it never uses any artificial flavors or colors. You’ll find many gluten-free and vegetarian options in the product lineup — even some that are both gluten-free and vegetarian.
Popular meals include chipotle chicken macaroni and cheese, butternut squash curry, and chicken enchilada bakes, among many others.
4. Good Food Made Simple
This company started in 2011 with breakfast foods but expanded over the years to include other meals. It aims to create recipes using simple, whole foods without added unhealthy ingredients.
Popular choices include breakfast burritos and sandwiches, lunch and dinner burritos, and a variety of entrees. Entrees include white cheddar macaroni and cheese, ginger sesame noodles, cavatappi bolognese, cauliflower kung pao, and several different chicken dishes. There are some gluten-free and vegetarian options, and some items are peanut and tree nut-free. Their plastic is even BPA-free.
Whichever healthy brand you choose to try first, feel confident in knowing that you’re making a meal choice you can feel good about — and one that’s convenient, too. With some careful grocery shopping, you’ll be well on your way to enjoying hot, healthy, and easy meals any time.