HEALTHY FROZEN MEALS

Frozen dinners are fast, convenient, and pre-portioned to avoid overeating. They are far better and less expensive than most fast food choices and it's okay to occasionally use these as your "go to" option.  The challenge is to find the ones that taste good, satisfy your hunger, and won’t sabotage your diet. 

Brands such as Kashi, Lean Cuisine, Healthy Choice, Weight Watchers Smart Ones, and Amy’s tend to be among the tastiest and most nutritious.  Look for meals that include one or more servings each of vegetables; whole grains; and lean meat, fish, or poultry. These are usually lower in calories and higher in vitamins and minerals, as well as fiber, which helps fill you up.  Stay away from any meals with cream sauces, gravies, or fried foods.  Skip those with dessert as well and add a piece of fresh fruit instead.  

Always read the nutrition label before buying, note the serving size to ensure you are getting one serving and also remember that less ingredients are best. 

Here are rules to consider when choosing your next frozen entrée:
-300-500 calories
-10-18 grams of total fat, or less than 30% of total calories from fat
-Less than 4 grams of saturated fat
-Less than 600 milligrams of sodium (NOTE: current dietary guidelines recommend that healthy adults under the age of 40 can safely consume up to 2300 mg of sodium per day.  If you are over 40 or have high blood pressure keep it under 1500 mg per day. )
-5 or more grams of fiber
-10-20 grams of protein

Here is a great website that will help you make the smartest frozen food choices

http://frozen-food.findthebest.com/