When it comes to dieting, iceberg lettuce is out, and frozen meals are in. It seems as though you can’t even watch television without seeing a commercial for a new frozen meal or diet meal plan being advertised. In addition to popular lines such as Lean Cuisine and Healthy Choice, diet programs such as NutriSystem and Jenny Craig now offer their own meal products as well. So, if you’re looking to lose or maintain your weight, are frozen meals a good option?
pros.
1. Portion control. For most people, controlling portions seems to be a difficult task; especially if you’re trying to lose weight. Frozen meals provide instant portion control with no measuring or counting involved.
2. No more “guesswork.” Is it just me, or is the word “guesswork” used in every diet-plan advertisement? 
I’m pretty sure what they mean is that by eating these portion-and-calorie controlled meals, you can lose weight without any work or thinking involved. This is a huge draw to many people who don’t have the time or energy to learn about what weight loss/maintenance requires.
3. Convenient. Instead of having to get a ton of different ingredients at the grocery store or pack a full lunch, you can just grab a box out of the freezer, and you’re good to go. Not to mention that frozen meals are generally a healthier choice than their convenient counterpart – fast food.
4. Variety. One of the reasons I personally tend to opt for frozen meals is that I can eat something I wouldn’t necessarily make from scratch. For example, since I’m not always in the mood to make an authentic Indian meal, I can grab one of Amy’s frozen Indian meals instead.
This variety can also come in handy for people who get bored with normal “diet” foods. Sure, a Lean Cuisine pizza might not taste exactly like Papa John’s, but it sure is more exciting than celery sticks.
5. They can be tasty. Okay, so maybe this one is subjective. But I must say that frozen meals have come a long way over the years in the tasty department!
cons.
1. Unrealistic. To me, this is the number one drawback of frozen meals. First of all: sorry – but if you want to truly lose and/or maintain your weight, you HAVE to learn! It’s not about “guesswork” - it’s about knowledge. A diet consisting of only frozen meals is not going to teach you anything about how to live a truly healthy lifestyle.
Secondly, you most likely won’t eat frozen meals for the rest of your life. So while living off of frozen meals or following a diet meal plan may cause you to lose weight, you’re eventually going to have to learn how to eat healthy in the real world sooner or later.
2. High sodium. From what I’ve seen, most frozen dinners have easily over 500mg of sodium, with most closer to 600-800mg. Some are even 1000mg or higher! That means that one frozen meal can equal 1/4 to 1/2 of your daily recommended intake of sodium. To make a long story short – you’re blood pressure won’t be thanking you anytime soon.
3. Unnatural ingredients. Here is the ingredient list of a Lean Cuisine product that I randomly picked from their website.
….corn syrup solids? I think I’ve made my point.
4. Not enough produce. While meal plans like NutriSystem suggest eating extra fruit and vegetables with the meals, not everyone is going to do that. One of the main reasons people eat frozen meals is for the convenience of it; so they don’t have to buy anything else. But the produce content in frozen meals alone is definitely not suffice.
my take.
I definitely don’t think that frozen meals are the worst thing in the world. In fact, there are actually many frozen meals that I enjoy. My favorites are Kashi and Amy’s.
I’ve been known to enjoy a Lean Cuisine panini from time to time as well.
With that being said, I think that a diet comprised of only frozen meals is certainly not ideal. As I mentioned earlier, I think that meal plans are unrealistic and set participants up for failure because they don’t actually *learn* anything. Furthermore, I believe that fresh produce should be a main component of any healthy diet – whether you’re trying to lose weight or not.
I’m also a firm believer that you can lose and/or maintain your weight on food that is more delicious and healthier than what frozen meals have to offer. Instead of taking a diet program’s word for it (and spending mucho dinero in the process) why not put some time into experimenting with healthy foods and recipes? I hear that the healthy blogging world is a great place to start 
- What say you? What do you think about frozen meals and/or meal plans?
- What’s your favorite frozen meal?
The sodium content is scarily high in most frozen meals, but I’m with ya- I love Amy’s (especially Shepherd Pie), frozen Indian food when I can’t feast at a restaurant, and Kashi’s Mayan Harvest Bake… YUM!
I actually had never even had a frozen mean until about 8 months ago! I still have never had Lean Cuisine’s or anything like that. I have only had frozen pizza and Amy’s meals - which I love!
I am not a fan of them, but I think if they work for some people, that is fine. Sure, they aren’t very nutritious, but if someone is trying to control calories, they are a good sub occasionally.
I haven’t had a frozen meal since back in college when I though Lean Cuisines were God’s answer to the freshmen 15 (they weren’t!).
But I think it could be a good idea to have a few on hand for emergencies… I agree, KASHI has pretty tasty ones, so I’d eat those before any others.
As much as I try to stay away from frozen meals, I do enjoy them. If I do have to resort to having one I will mix them with some fresh veggies to not only make them healthier but also to make them more filling! Seriously, who is full after eating one of these things? One of my favorites is Smart Ones lasanga bolognese, it is very tasty! As an “alternative” I love Trader Joe’s tamales and burittos. Because they aren’t too bad I consider them a healthier option.
Every once in awhile I will have an Eating Right but I’d take a fresh big yummy salad any day!
I used to eat frozen lunches all the time for a while to help with the portion control thing.
I no longer eat them any more. I just prefer the taste of home cooked meals and knowing exactly what goes into them. Plus, I’m not sold on the taste of most of them. I’d rather make an easy sandwich then a frozen meal.
I think frozen meals are great in a pinch. I usually have one or two in my freezer and might eat them 1-2 times a month when I just really feel like doing absolutely no cooking.
I like kashi meals as well-havent tried many amys though! I need to!
When I was in college and already a healthy weight, my fridge was stocked with Lean Cuisines. I would eat two for lunch and two for dinner. I was not being calorie conscience, but my college didn’t have a meal plan and I didn’t really have time to cook. Needless to say I lost 7 pounds without even thinking! (Though moving to Philly and walking everywhere probably also helped)
I’ve since stopped eating them, just because I try to eat more ‘real’ foods. Every once in a while though, it’s nice to throw it in my lunchbox for work and not have to worry about packing anything. I love Lean Cuisines Roasted Turkey & Vegetables. Only 150 calories, so I would also eat it with fruit, a salad, plus a piece of chocolate for dessert. Fabulousss.
Hey,
I really have to say that y’all are so lucky to even have the option of eating a relatively healthy frozen meal. I think they are a good choice if you’re either in a hurry or want a treat (like pizza). But unfortunately we don’t have healthy frozen meals in Germany (where I live). The only kinds you get here are rather high in fat (in Germany we still have a lot of people who actually think fat is the only thing that makes taste). After a long day on the ward I’d love to just take a frozen meal out and pop it into the microwave.
The closest thing to that that we have are the WW dishes in the fridge section but they usually have to be eaten within a week or so. With the frozen you have the advantage that you can keep them stocked in your freezer for days when a craving hits or you just don’t feel like cooking!
So I personally think they are a good idea. Of course there are always weird people that see them as an every day food and a meal plan but that this is utopic is obvious!
I think for some people, it’s definitely a better option than maybe what they’re currently eating (i.e. fast food for convenience). I just heard on NPR the other day that the FDA allows nutritional data labels to be an average. So there might be up to (I think) 20% more calories, sodium, etc. than what’s labeled. Eating REAL food is definitely the best option!
i love amy’s products!!!! i agree that it shouldn’t be a daily occurrence to eat frozen meals (too much chemicals/sodium) but i think for the working gal or the non-cook that i am, they’re ok in moderation
I very rarely eat frozen meals and when I do it is an Amy’s dish. I get very frustrated with people who are on diet programs that are made up of the company’s food, because as you said, they are not learning! What happens when they are out at a restraunt? Do they ask the waitor to heat up a lean cuisine for them? I mean come on people, be realistic. There are so many delicious AND healthy options out there, just explore and find them!!
I agree! While there are some that I like (and I am not COMPLETELY against them), I think a healthy home cooked meal always tastes better and is healthier for you! xoxo
I used to use Lean Cuisines like they were going out of style! Then I got wise. I stay away from frozen meals for the most part but every now and then I have an Trader Joe’s or an Amy’s frozen meal. Their ingrediant list is MUCH better than Lean Cuisine!
Totally agree with you. Amy’s and Kashi are my go-to if I must eat them.
Your pros and cons are dead on girlie, as always. Kashi is SUCH a better alternative. Taste the difference and the label doesn’t lie. The Today Show had a whole segment on these dishes, crazy to think what they have to do to keep things frozen.
Stay fresh!
You hit the nail on the head on this one. I agree with everything you said! My favorites are also Kashi and Amy’s, and I like some of the Trader Joe’s brand ones.
I can count on one hand the number of frozen meals that I’ve had. I can never justify the cost for mediocre food! It’s rare that I can’t think of something just as quick to make instead of buying a frozen meal. But maybe I just haven’t tried the right ones yet!
i honestly have never had a frozen meal! i tried it ONCE from trader joes but threw it out bc it was so gross! I think they can work for some people with portion control, but not for every meal!! In a rut I would try the amys frozen meals!
I am not a fan of frozen meals.
First off the meat scares the bejesus out of me. It can be slimy or tough, just all around bad.
I hate the high sodium levels. In whole day I don’t consume the amount found in a typical frozen meal.
Also The sauce is too much for me. I like to taste my foods and not have them blanketed in some bland ‘sauce’.
The only time that i eat a frozen meal is when I dont have any leftovers to take to work for lunch, want to go to bed and not pack a lunch, or am running too late in the morning to pack a lunch… I like the healthy choice ones, but i do watch the sodium on those because they can get pretty bad! And, i only buy them when they are way on sale! I was unaware Kashi made frozen meals, but i think i will have to look for them now given all the great comments!
I used to eat frozen meals a lot during college. I still enjoy Amy’s and Kashi but only use them if I am feeling really lazy. Too much sodium and fresh food is just so much better!
I too love Kashi and Amy’s meals (especially the Indian ones) but have learned to limit my intake of them! I used to eat a Lean Cuisine for lunch everyday thinking I was being “healthy”, but thanks to health bloggers like you I learned that it really wasn’t all that great of a choice after all. The convenience factor is the biggest catalyst for me to choose a frozen meal but I try to plan things out a big more now so I don’t fall victim to the grab-n-go option.
I definitely prefer to stick with Amy’s for frozen meals - mostly her burritos! I actually don’t think I’ve ever had a Kashi meal. The Healthy Choice Pumpkin Ravioli is just beyond delicious, though!
i loved this post- read every word. I’m not a huge fan of frozen meals unless im in a huuuge hurry. Though I do agree with you that kashi & amy’s do apretty good job with some of their meals! & i alawys add veggies! I literally agree w/ every pro & con you listed, couldn’t have said it better myself!!
totally agree with you about frozen meals!! i rarely eat whole frozen meals (like lean cuisine) because i try to prepare in advance for times that ill need something to grab and go (so i usaully make extra portions of meals that i really enjoy because i know i might need to reheat it later) but i do think that things like frozen veggie burgers or frozen waffles are really quick and easy additions to breakfast/lunch etc. i try not to have my WHOLE meal come from the freezer but i dont think freezer goods are generally that bad - well at least the ones that are less processed/have less ingredients, like sun burgers, which only have 4 ingredients! crazy! (another frozen thing i really like are pre-made frozen pizza crusts.. theres a local san francisco company called vitolos that makes the best wholewheat organic cornmeal pizza crusts, and i like to just heat those up and eat it like bread!)
“Lose weight without thinking” hahah oh dear, don’t make people start thinking
I’ve seen the ingredient “mechanically separated chicken” in some frozen meals and I don’t know about you…but that absolutely disgusts me
I think a frozen meal is similar to a fresh meal…as long as it has wholesome, natural ingredients and is packing nutrients, then it’s fine!
i love kashi everything. i also love frozen meals, but only eat kashi brand or trader joe’s brand. as someone who works 2 nights per week and travels to school 2 nights per week, i need things that are fast and healthy. BUT i will only eat the aforementioned brands because they use healthy, whole and natural ingredients.
I don’t often eat frozen meals… every now and then I find myself wandering down that aisle, just to see what’s new… and if I’m at work and either didn’t plan + bring anything, or um, got hungry and ate my lunch as Second Breakfast. OOPS!
In THAT situation, I love Amy’s. I also love evol burritos - SO good!
and I don’t think I’d turn down ANY pizza, yo. Even frozen !
I don’t eat frozen meals all the time, but I do like having them here and there. They are nice option when I need something convenient or different from the norm. It’s always all about balance. I definitely agree that they aren’t helpful for someone trying to change their eating habits though.
I love this post. Our freezer at work is FULL of frozen meals and I get a million questions about how I “have time” to prepare my lunch every morning! I think I would rather get up 20 minutes earlier just so I could eat fresh food that doesn’t come out of the microwave!
There are very few frozen meals that I like, but I do use them every now and then. So convenient when I forget to make my lunch!
I agree that Amy’s is one of the better ones.
Yea, I am not a frozen meal person AT ALL. Which is funny because I dont cook and I complain that I have no time. But really, I’d rather go to the store twice a week for fresh ingredients to make a 5 minute salad than eat a frozen meal. But I’ve heard good things about Amy’s so maybe I’ll try them sometime!
The sodium and ingredients are enough to kill it for me personally. I ate plenty of these in college and when I first started to lose weight, though. Truth is, REAL food tastes better and if you learn to cook healthily you can create similar meals for less calories/sodium!
I can’t get over the crazy high sodium content in the meals. I guess they are convenient, but making a sandwich full of veggies isn’t too hard.
For the most part I try to stray away from frozen meals but sometimes I just can’t resist the allure of an Amy’s frozen burrito. Those babies are MONEY!
I haven’t found any good frozen meals, the options are very limited here.
I agree with the others that they can be a convenient option but don’t think they should be the main contents of a meal or diet plan; just like anything else.
I have not had a frozen meal in quite a while, but I like some of the frozen flatbreads Trader Joe’s carries as well as their various appetizers.
i think that frozen meals are okay in moderation - just like everything
I have to admit that lean cuisine makes a beastly pesto flatbread sammie and healthy choice makes the best pumpkin ravioli. But your right - its just not realistic (or good for your blood pressure) to eat them daily.
My thinking is pretty much along the same line as yours. I think the occasional frozen meal is fine but they shouldn’t make up someone’s entire diet. It’s important to know how to make your own healthy meals!
I actually haven’t had a frozen meal in probably 4 years. I just prefer to cook!
But I’m really curious about the Amy’s and Kashi meals!
For me, frozen meals are a back-up plan. If I know I’m going to be in a hurry and I won’t want to cook, it’s definitely better for me to have an Amy’s dinner in the freezer than, say, get fast food. That said, I try not to rely on them too much (which can be hard to do when you’re not much of a cook!).
I’ve never had a commercial frozen meal but I always make extra portions when I cook so I can freeze some and enjoy them on a busier day. You can freeze almost anything and you always know what’s on your plate!
I was the QUEEN of frozen dinners back in the day! But I don’t really eat them anymore. I will do frozen pizza though. I wish I could find the video, but there was an investigation on frozen dinners and the found that most companies sorely over or underestimated the amount of calories contained in the box.
[...] always have at least one frozen meal on hand (*my mini-fridge had a freezer, but not all do). While living solely on frozen meals probably isn’t the healthiest of decisions, it’s a lot better than ordering pizza or Chinese [...]