Nah—keeping a … Later, commercials with burly NFL stars like Rocky Bleier and Mean Joe Greene pushed the idea that eating a frozen meal was macho. Hunks of lobster contribute to the 19 grams of protein. There are 10 grams of fiber in here, which is a lot for any frozen meal. Companies like Conagra (which owns Healthy Choice, Evol, and Frontera), Birds Eye, and B&G Foods (the producer of Green Giant) now all use IQF. You can see him tossing spirals, hustling across a grassy field, and wolfing down a bowl of cauliflower mac ’n’ cheese. Brands like Amy’s, Healthy Choice, the FishPeople, Salt & Sky, and Love the Wild are making their own wellness pitches, albeit not fitness-forward ones. . The company claims that about 60 percent of its customers are men. This organic rice and veggie bowl is made with organic tofu, brown rice, and vegetables, including mushrooms, broccoli, and spinach, for a wholesome vegan option. The trade-offs are that frozen foods go gooey when nuked and taste mostly of added sugar and salt. “I’m doing everything I can to eat clean and eat right, and that way I can live long and play long,” says the 31-year-old Super Bowl champion, who adds that he grew up eating cheap fast food and lost his dad at 55 to diabetes. (At Fit Kitchen, the calorie count is about the same.). Opt for frozen meals with 600 mg sodium or less, which is about a fourth of the daily limit of 2,300 mg. Replace the average ground beef-based meal with ground chicken at the foundation for a healthy alternative. A single slice of frozen pizza can pack a whopping 370 to 730 mg of sodium and more than 300 calories. In particular, the team focused on five nutritional components – calories, saturated fat, sodium, fiber, and protein. Healthy Choice. Six grams of fiber. They're also easy to prepare in the microwave, oven, or toaster oven. Here are the freshest, healthiest and most appetizing microwavable dinners. In 2015, American Halal bought Mediterranean Snack Foods, which makes lentil snack foods and was added to the Saffron Road line. While competitors may sell, say, an “organic vegetarian” item that sounds healthy, the meal itself might not be nutritionally balanced for high protein, high fiber, and low sodium. Most frozen meals don’t disclose the quality of their meats. It's packed with 26 grams of protein from antibiotic-free chicken and 8 grams of fiber thanks to kale, spinach, red quinoa, and whole-grain rice. In just under 10 minutes, this Italian Sausage and Rigatoni skillet meal will curb your hunger while keeping you on the right track by hiding away veggies, like carrots and peppers, in the sauce for a meal that’s nutritious and delicious. How to Live a Healthy Lifestyle This Year, Cookies That You Won't Feel Guilty Eating, Supplements and Vitamins to Add to Your Meals, The Best Microwave Ovens for Quick Weeknight Meals, 20 Healthy Snacks That Actually Keep You Full. Danielle is the food & drink editor for BestProducts.com, where she's been voraciously eating and drinking her way through the best oyster bars and pinot noir wines, and putting her knowledge as a cocktail consultant and connoisseur to use; her work can also be spotted on Thrillist and Delish. 18 years old, I wonder . A serving contains zero fat, just 3 grams of total carbs and only 1 gram of net carbs, and checks in with 40% of your day’s requirement for vitamin C … Sprinkle on any extra fresh greens or veggies you have in your fridge for an even healthier microwave meal. In the world of store-bought meatballs, it can be difficult to find a brand that doesn't pack their recipes with artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. These Italian-style entrees from Barilla are the most genius microwave meals we've seen in a while. This one was gluten free, had no preservatives, and boasted only 170 calories, four grams of fat, and 510 milligrams of sodium. . Frozen meals may conjure thoughts of freezer-burned, colorless foods. Okay, maybe it’s a little indulgent. We love the addition of toasted sesame seeds to sprinkle on top. Dr. Oz, investigative reporter Jenna Wolfe, and the show’s medical unit put frozen diet dinners to the test. Just pop it in the microwave for 3 to 4 minutes! Here are some of the best frozen meals to lose weight that are affordably-priced and widely available in supermarkets (ratings provided by iLoveThisDiet.com, The Supermarket Frozen Meal Diet Plan). The category saw nearly $5 billion in sales last year, a 4.5 percent increase as new products continue entering the market, according to market research group Information Resources Inc.The top-selling frozen pizza brands in the U.S. are Nestle-owned DiGiorno, Schwan’s Co.’s Red Baron and Totino’s Party Pizza, owned by General Mills. Frozen fruits and vegetables, frozen just after harvest, may have a higher vitamin content compared to fresh foods that have spent days on the produce shelf (and after even more days in transport). Simply heat on the stovetop or pop into the microwave for 4 to 5 minutes. Lean Cuisine famously makes "healthy" frozen meals. Sixteen grams of protein. Performance Kitchen dishes have between 10 and 20 grams of protein, less than four grams of sugar, and less than 500 milligrams of sodium. But that’s kind of the point. But think outside the blender, and add frozen fruit to pancakes and muffins as well. 5 Great Frozen Meals for Losing Weight! Eating clean means avoiding frozen meals at all costs, right? In fact, the grain bowl is about as far from the frozen meal stereotype as you can get. We love this Vegetarian Indian Curry made with Beyond Chicken Strips, roasted red potatoes, roasted cauliflower, green peas, lentils, and red quinoa in a savory curry sauce. Just pop it into a preheated oven, and you're ready to rock in less than 20 minutes. Choose meals that combine vegetables and meat for a satisfying entree—and check the label to make sure the sauces don’t sneak in sodium or added sugar. More: Frozen Pizza Brands We Absolutely Love. The serving size is generous, and the fiber (12g) from the whole-grain freekeh and black beans made it filling. Café Spice has a tasty solution with their line of microwaveable meals, including this Chicken Tikka Masala with Saffron Rice. Luckily, plenty of brands are coming out with heathy frozen meals (many of which are plant-based or vegan) and microwavable meals to help save you time, energy, and stress. But do these companies have what it takes to lure men back to the tundra of the frozen-food aisle? There are also non-frozen foods, like lentil chips and crackers, chickpeas, and broths. Mama Mancini's is redefining this norm with their yummy slow-cooked Italian-style entrees prepared using family recipes, including these all-natural Turkey Meatballs. If you haven't heard about cauliflower-crust pizza, it's time to tune in! Weight Watchers isn't the only way to eat like Oprah. We may earn a commission through links on our site. Frozen meals can be fine in moderation, as long as you know what to look for. And here’s the best part: You nuke it—in a microwave—for about 4 1/2 minutes, and the roasted vegetables don’t suffer in the nuking. 13 Christmas Candles for a Cozy Holiday Home, Christmas Gift Tags That Make Presents Extra Fun, 11 Gifts to Thank Our Nation’s Health Care Workers, 15 Snow Boots for Kids to Kick-Start Winter, CAULIPOWER Margherita Cauliflower-Crust Pizza, Café Spice Chicken Tikka Masala with Saffron Rice, Daily Harvest Butternut Squash + Chimichurri Harvest Bowl, Lean Cuisine Origins Sicilian-Style Pesto With Lentil Pasta, Beyond Meat Vegetarian Indian Curry With Beyond Chicken Frozen Entree, Michelina's Shrimp with Pasta and Vegetables, O, That's Good! Made with clean, real ingredients and Upton's tasty Bacon Seitan, this creamy and gooey vegan mac makes for one tasty microwave meal that's ready in one minute. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, Here's What Chris Hemsworth Eats In a Day, This Guy Tried Eating Like John Cena for the Day, Why Big-Time Athletes Are Selling Supplements Now, No, Vitamin C Supplements Will Not Save Us All, There's Only One Right Way to Defrost Chicken Fast, These 2 Bodybuilders Gave Up Sugar for a Week. Made with a vitamin-packed cauliflower crust, CAULIPOWER's Margherita pie is a crispy and delicious gluten-free alternative to traditional wheat-based pizza crusts. Frozen vegetables, especially peas and corn, are big hits with chefs. Not too shabby for $3.99, which makes it the most expensive option on this list, but still exceedingly affordable. This dish supplies 19 grams of protein and a whole bunch of flavor. Jan 14, 2017 Westend61/Getty Images. You may have seen dynamic health food brand Daily Harvest's line of frozen single-serving smoothies or soups trending on social media recently, but we think their newer line of Harvest Bowls are the best creation yet. That represents nearly $2 billion in new revenue for a $57 billion industry, according to a 2019 joint report by the American Frozen Food Institute and the Food Marketing Institute. "Wellness” is a big shift in a category that began as a way to offload surplus Thanksgiving turkey, according to Swanson company lore. Italian Skillet Meals, Italian Style Rigatoni, Get To Know Aldi With These 25 Lesser-Known Secret, This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. Keep the food fresher, the logic goes, and you don’t need so much sodium. Performance Kitchen also uses glamour shots of everyday people acting sporty, alongside photos of the seemingly delicious food and the sort of nutrition-stat porn often reserved for energy bars. Not all frozen meals are created equal. You may already be familiar with revolutionary plant-based power brand Upton's Naturals (they make killer vegan jackfruit-based Chili Lime Carnitas and more), but their new Pad See Ew is our latest obsession. This filling meal in Nestle's new line has a whopping 24 grams of protein and six grams of fiber for 370 calories, with no added sugar. Wilson’s only regret is that the glacier of terrible frozen options didn’t melt sooner. Find the healthiest frozen meal options . “There’s still plenty of frozen junk out there, but there are more healthy and delicious products appearing on the market,” says Jessica Cording, a registered dietitian in New York City. And consumers have responded: Sales of frozen food rose 3 percent from 2016 to 2018. Performance Kitchen Stroganoff Pasta with Chicken Meatballs, FIT KITCHEN Protein Bowls Moroccan-Style Chicken, This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. A British study found higher beta carotene and lutein levels in some frozen foods (IQF’d or otherwise), including broccoli, carrots, and Brussels sprouts, versus those that had spent three days in a refrigerator. Upton's Naturals Ch'eesy Bacon Mac is another downright delicious healthy microwave meal. From a 60-second black bean and rice bowl to guilt-free mac and cheese, try these healthiest microwavable meals to feel strong and save time and money. A post shared by Performance Kitchen (@myperformancekitchen). By the mid-’70s, Swanson was targeting men specifically with its Hungry Man line, tempting diners with massive portions of fried chicken. Top with a sprinkle of parmesan, and you're ready to rock. Initially, Luvo, which was founded in 2013, sold frozen meals under its own name, with most totaling between 300 and 400 calories. The best part? Frozen meals have come a long way since the TV dinners you ate as a kid. An entire meal packed with veggies, rice, and sauce, this Monterey Risotto Nourish Bowl features superfood ingredients, including butternut squash, kale, kohlrabi, and brown rice, dressed in a creamy garlic sauce. The key to low-carb meals is healthy replacements for your favorite starchy foods, and one of the best frozen foods in that role is riced cauliflower. September 24, 2019 Rick Kaselj Featured, Food, General, Healthy Eating. Satisfying. Healthy frozen foods for easy family meals May 17, 2019 04:51. Céline Bossart is a New York-based freelance journalist specializing in wine, spirits, food, and travel. Vegetarian, gluten-free, and ready in 60 seconds, these savory plant-based microwave meals are delicious served on top of leftover jasmine rice or quinoa. Our Top 10 Healthiest Frozen Meals. Frozen cauliflower, blueberries, and spinach also had significantly less nutritional degradation. Hungry Man continues to be one of the top-selling brands. If you're juggling long work hours or a hectic personal schedule, cooking a homemade dinner can be a daunting task. Amy’s Light & Lean products are lower in calories and fat than typical frozen meals but don't skimp on taste. Craving Indian takeout but looking for a healthier portion-controlled meal option instead? “Images promoting an active lifestyle are key to signaling the nutritional support we need to lead our busy and active lifestyles,” says CEO Christine Day. Sometimes it’s good to stock up on a few frozen meals in case you really don’t have time to prepare anything. Wildscape meals are a little pricier than the typical frozen meal, but the other perks made it worth the cost—and still cheaper than a meal out. If you're strapped for time or looking for a quick dinner for the little ones, this Tomato Basil Penne microwaveable entree is simple, easy, and ready in 1 minute. This content is imported from Instagram. Revolutionary health brand Beyond Meat is doing a lot of big things in the plant-based space, and their frozen entrees are no exception. 03/19/2019 05:45am EDT ... “Avoid brands that are packaged as meals and come with mac and cheese or fries. Kashi’s Thin Crust Pizza Roasted Vegetable has nine grams of whole grains, 14 grams of protein, four grams of fiber, and just nine grams of fat per serving. The first prepackaged turkey dinners were created in 1953. Roasted potatoes, black beans, and bell peppers sneak in a few vegetables. A Fit Kitchen spokesperson reports that men are also more likely to buy its meals. If you're juggling long work hours or a hectic personal schedule, cooking a homemade dinner can be a daunting task. Other companies later identified the true advantage of the all-in-one tray: It makes cooking and cleanup easier, especially for that era’s men, who might not have wanted to do either. But if you want a healthy frozen meal, look beyond the marketing to make sure balanced nutrition is below the ice. how much further I could go.”. Keep your freezer stocked so you've got quick, convenient meals whenever you need them. Our product picks are editor-tested, expert-approved. When the craving for comfort food hits, reach for Michelina's Shrimp with Pasta and Vegetables for a healthy option of an Italian classic. You didn't have time to whip up a killer homemade Southwestern-inspired meal? 11 Healthy Frozen Meals That You'll Actually Want To Eat. Simply add water or broth to the fill line, microwave for 5 minutes, and dig into your low-calorie, superfood-filled feast in a cup. From better-for-you frozen pizzas to wholesome grain bowls, here are 17 deliciously healthy frozen meals. The Best Food Choice When You Don’t Have Time to Cook, 14 Healthy Substitutes for Your Favorite Foods, 8 Great Nonstick Cookware for Healthy Cooking. The roasted cauliflower mac ’n’ cheese bowl, for instance, advertises 11 grams of protein, half a cup of vegetables, and five grams of fiber. Made with spicy chili peppers, fire-roasted corn, and poblano peppers, this hearty grain bowl is both tasty and filling. If you buy something from the links on this page, we may earn a commission. The mogul launched her own frozen food line called O, That's Good!, so anyone could get a quick, healthy meal without spending hours in the kitchen. And he isn’t alone. None of that matters, however, if Russell Wilson can’t convince you how good that cauliflower mac ’n’ cheese tastes. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. . We taste-tested healthy frozen meals. Our favorite flavor is this Indian Punjab Potatoes variety — green peas and tender potato chunks marinated in a spicy tomato-based stew with plenty of cumin, coriander, and ginger. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, Popcorn Tins Are the Gift That Keeps on Giving, 7 Tasty Store-Bought Pumpkin Pies for Fall, I’m Totally Obsessed With TRUFF’s New Pasta Sauce, 7 Thanksgiving Dinner Delivery Options for 2020, Tasty Thanksgiving Stuffing Mixes for Turkey Day, The Best New Halloween Candy to Fill Your Pumpkin, The 15 Best Whiskey Gifts to Give This Season, The Tastiest Pumpkin Flavored Snacks for Fall, We're Drooling Over These Tasty Foodie Gifts, Trader Joe's New Items Sound Beyond Tasty. Protein and fiber make meals more filling. Only two grams of sugar. For example, Hungry Man’s boneless fried chicken and waffles has 26 grams of protein (that’s good) but also 58 grams of sugar and 1,240 grams of sodium (that’s bad). There’s kale, but the bananas, raspberries, blueberries, and acai berries even it out. But to be taken seriously, fitness-focused frozen-meal companies like Performance Kitchen will need to upend the generations-old idea that TV dinners are for couch potatoes. Healthy Choice makes a surprising range of products, from Power Bowls with fiber and protein, to classic options like meatloaf and turkey breast. Men's Health participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. White-meat chicken, couscous, raisins, chickpeas, and tomato sauce deliver 24 grams of protein and a hearty 11 grams of fiber. One reason that may be true is that frozen-food companies are employing a technology to make their meals taste better. Here are the healthiest microwavable meals you can eat right now. Next came the Hungry Man–sponsored NFL highlight films, which gave diners another reason to stay seated. Their top-seller is this hearty and bright Butternut Squash Chimichurri Harvest Bowl. Yes, frozen fruit can boost the nutritional value of any smoothie, thanks to antioxidants and fiber. Some chefs said they enjoy brand-name items like Ben & Jerry's ice cream, Mrs. T's pierogies, and Eggo waffles. Aim for at least 15 grams of protein for meals containing meat; at least 10 g for vegetarian meals. (At Fit Kitchen, the calorie count is about the same.) 8 Cleanest, Healthiest Frozen Entrées You Can Buy. “To counteract this, frozen food manufacturers are trying to promote their products through popular trends around food, including tying them to wellness and fitness,” he says. Insider asked chefs about some of their favorite frozen ingredients, meals, sides, and desserts. It’s called individual quick freezing (IQF)—basically using a nitrogen blast instead of a typical freezer to seal in flavor and nutritional value at the molecular level, so they don’t degrade on store shelves. He considers Performance Kitchen to be almost his new superfood: “If I’d had Performance Kitchen when I was . If you're craving Indian food, but don't want to wait around for takeout, pop one of these easy-peasy meal starters from Tasty Bite into the microwave instead. By Marygrace Taylor. The TV dinner was all the rage back in the 1960s. Wilson wants “a healthy option that’s quick and easy” for himself, his kids, and probably even his R&B-superstar wife, Ciara. Made with organic lentil pasta, carrots, and spinach, this plant-based meal has a whopping 15 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber, making it a delicious and quick weeknight dinner solution. But Luvo rebranded its meals under the Performance Kitchen banner because it realized it had to sell fitness harder to distance itself from the competition. Everyone loved the convenience of just pulling a package out of the freezer, popping it into the oven and, a few minutes later, sitting down to … Initially, Luvo, which was founded in 2013, sold frozen meals under its own name, with most totaling between 300 and 400 calories. Made with chunks of free-range chicken served in a creamy spiced tomato sauce alongside fragrant saffron basmati rice, this yummy microwave meal is ready in under 5 minutes. The freezer aisle has been getting a much-needed revamp over the past few years, so there are more healthy frozen meals than ever before to keep you covered morning, noon, and night. Made with clean ingredients and ready in minutes, this vegan microwavable meal is a flavorful combination of tofu, veggies, rice noodles, and a savory soy-based sauce. Amy's Kitchen is a well-known household name in the healthy eating space, and their frozen entrees are some of the most nutritious options currently available in grocery stores. Delicious. Simply put: There’s a lot of cold, hard cash to be made. Pop a few of these meatballs into the microwave with a scoop of sauce, or add them to your favorite pasta for an easy, wholesome, and super flavorful weeknight meal. We get it! For a Whole30-compliant meal on the go, pick up one of these meals from Cece's Veggie Co. Zoodles are paired with organic marinara for a delicious meal in a microwave-safe tray. Not to worry — Healthy Choice has you covered with their new line of microwaveable Power Bowls. The first frozen dinner was produced in 1945 and before long they were all the rage as Americans dined on them in front of their TV sets.Though some things have changed, they’re still a popular option for people looking for a quick and easy meal, even if they’re not always the healthiest choice.. With 20 grams of protein, only 8 grams of fat, and 420 milligrams of sodium, this definitely is a frozen meal worth having (especially if you can cook up these easy tacos or sliders during the week)! You have to take food endorsements by athletes with a grain of salt, but it’s hard not to get sucked in by Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson’s infomercials on the Instagram account for Performance Kitchen, a new brand of microwavable frozen meals. This plant-based dish is friendly for the whole family, as it’s naturally gluten-free and vegan. Aug 27, 2020 Target. Choose meals that will satisfy. This content is imported from {embed-name}. These refrigerated Nourish Bowls from Mann's make lunch or dinner meal prep quick, easy, and delicious. Although this is more of a creamier option, it makes a pretty balanced meal thanks to the shrimp and a blend of broccoli and bell peppers for 11 grams of protein and only 5 grams of fat per serving. A delicious recipe from Lean Cuisine Marketplace, this Sicilian-Style Pesto frozen entree is packed with savory tomato goodness. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. How's that for a wholesome microwaved meal? The Healthiest Frozen Foods in the Supermarket We scoured the market for the best frozen foods available, so you'll have no excuses for swinging by the drive-thru. Beetnik prides itself on it. Why trust us? Ease of preparing: On the Menu was seen as the best brand for ease of preparing, narrowly beating Super Nature. Sweet … Pair with some of your favorite frozen meatballs—we like Beetnik Organic, Grass-fed Meatballs or Trader Joe's Frozen Turkey Meatballs—for a balanced meal. Mighty Spark makes a semi-homemade meal possible with frozen seasoned meat blends like this all-natural, sweet Thai chicken option. . We get it! Jordan Mazur, M.S., R.D., is the coordinator of nutrition and team sports dietitian for the San Francisco 49ers. Eggs and sausage provide 14 grams of protein. Fit Kitchen, a line that Stouffer’s started in 2015, offers bowls in masculine red-and-black packaging with super-sized callouts to their protein content, and it has teamed up with Tough Mudder for events. 5 Fat-Burning Tips for Losing Your Love Handles, Dr. Fauci's Advice for Keeping Your Immunity Up. The brand has frozen entrées like Black Bean Mango pilaf (vegan and made with whole grains) as well as frozen waffles and healthy pizzas. Variety of meals available: This year’s winner for best-rated frozen meals, Super Nature, was also the top brand when it came to variety of meals available, with McCain Healthy Choice and On the Menu not far behind. Another delicious option from Amy's, we love this better-for-you Cheese and Pesto Pizza made with whole grain crust, organic tomatoes, and basil as a fast and easy weeknight meal when time isn't on your side. Sanah is the associate editor at Prevention.com focusing on all things commerce within the health and lifestyle space. Today, the company makes single-serve frozen meals and bowls, as well as chicken nuggets, naan, and appetizers, like samosas. By Emy Rodriguez Flores. But the cheap-but-unhealthy stigma caused frozen-meal sales to cool a few years ago, says Jeremy Moses, an analyst for the research firm IBISWorld. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links. Big orbs of plant protein nestled in a bed of greens and grains. It’s like an old-fashioned microwave dinner, only actually good, and maybe even actually good for you. No one has to wash the dishes. The brand’s parent company, Luvo, counts New York Yankees icon Derek Jeter and Olympic swimming medalist Natalie Coughlin as brand reps. A total of 14 sample meals from six different brands were judged according to their nutritional content and taste. Just pour the contents of the container into your blender, blend, and gulp. Seeking validation, I asked Dana Hunnes, senior dietitian at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, to help me rank an assortment of frozen meatloaf meals by how unhealthy they are — from actually okay to get meat-wrecked, son. “I think every person will love it, and kids will love it, too,” he says in a spot dedicated almost entirely to the dish. So far, Performance Kitchen’s playbook seems to be working. These aren't the freezer dinners your mom made. These smart picks get the stamp of approval as a quick and healthy option.