Favorite Healthy Frozen Meals?

[zl55lz]

Breakfast, lunch, or dinner favorites, with emphasis on (at least as an opinion) healthy.

 

[tutan]

It’s hard to find low sodium frozen concoctions. Nevertheless I like Impossible patties and nuggets on sale at Costco now.

 

[pjm-7]

A quick favorite vegetarian meal for me is Amy's Greek Spanakopita Wrap. It's made with organic chopped spinach and feta cheese. It is 300 calories with 12g of protein and 4g of fiber. The downside is 13g of fat and 810 mg of Sodium. I can usually find them at the more natural types of grocery stores.

 

[rk911]

Does ice cream count? My wife likes Stouffer's frozen lasagna.

 

[Aerides]

it would help to define healthy, as there are many definitions:
low fat
low cal
low carb
high protein
low sugar
low sodium
etc.

Personally I've never seen any that struck me as good and healthy, but there are some that are less-bad that can do in a pinch.

 

[Retired Expat]

I have a freezer full of healthy frozen meals. I Cook up a storm, package up the food in vacuum bags with a protein, veg and a little bit of starch. Freeze and then vacuum. organic or at least as organic as possible, no MSG, added sugars, salt etc. Oh and so much cheaper!

 

[The Cosmic Avenger]

If you're near a Trader Joe's, their frozen meals are excellent, and there is plenty of variety. My current favorites are their pork soup dumplings, japchae, pepperoni mac & cheese, char siu bao (really, they're close to the good ones in NYC, which is saying a lot), chiles rellenos, and kung pao chicken. There are plenty of other great ones, too, just listing my faves.

 

[Healthy Lifestyle]

If you're near a Trader Joe's, their frozen meals are excellent, and there is plenty of variety. My current favorites are their pork soup dumplings, japchae, pepperoni mac & cheese, char siu bao (really, they're close to the good ones in NYC, which is saying a lot), chiles rellenos, and kung pao chicken. There are plenty of other great ones, too, just listing my faves.

Now there are a few healthy meals?

 

[Tadpole]

As a get-anywhere choice I get Healthy Choice, usually one of the Steamers. Easy microwave, dump top bowl into the bottom bowl sauce, and enjoy. I tend to detest the other brands of "healthy" TV dinners.

 

[audreyh1]

Frozen meats and veggies are great, but commercially prepared meals? They add too much bad stuff IMO. Easy to make excess at home and freeze leftovers.

 

[Koolau]

it would help to define healthy, as there are many definitions:
low fat
low cal
low carb
high protein
low sugar
low sodium
etc.

Personally I've never seen any that struck me as good and healthy, but there are some that are less-bad that can do in a pinch.

I agree. How DO we define "healthy" when it comes to foods in general and frozen foods specifically? My DW loves frozen pot pies (like Marie Callendar) but I can't say they're particularly healthy.

I hesitate to introduce another "factor" to the concept of "healthy," but much of our so-called "un-healthy" processing has made food much more "affordable" to a lot more people. Processed foods are much easier (cheaper) to ship and store.

On the basis of lack-of-food as "un-healthy", I see a trade off. I can't quantify it, but I tend to think it's an important factor to consider before condemning "processing" per se.

Returning you now...

 

[Qs Laptop]

As a get-anywhere choice I get Healthy Choice, usually one of the Steamers. Easy microwave, dump top bowl into the bottom bowl sauce, and enjoy. I tend to detest the other brands of "healthy" TV dinners.

^^ This ^^

Look at the sodium content of some of the other brands. Just looking at the sodium content in Marie Callender's raises my blood pressure! Try it next time you go to the grocery store. Lean Cusine's are not so bad on sodium, but I don't like the flavor.

Healthy Choice Steamers General Tso Chicken is OK, actually has some flavor. I can tolerate Healthy Choice Beef Teriyaki. Otherwise, I occasionally eat Stouffer's single serve lasagna. But that's about it for me--2 frozen dinners.

 

[brett]

I have a freezer full of healthy frozen meals. I Cook up a storm, package up the food in vacuum bags with a protein, veg and a little bit of starch. Freeze and then vacuum. organic or at least as organic as possible, no MSG, added sugars, salt etc. Oh and so much cheaper!

My spouse does exactly the same. When she make a lasagna, soup, etc 3/4 of it ends up as individual meals in the freezer. Ditto when I make Penang Curry, Pad Thai, etc. Only two of us and it is not worth cutting the recipe down for 2. Just as easy to make it for 6 or 8 and freeze. The bonus is that we know exactly what ingredients are used.

Since retiring and changing our diets I find that some of the those commercial food products taste a little 'chemically' to me. We have cut out just about all of it from out diet, along with fast food joint dining. And we feel better for it.

 

[Midpack]

When I was working and many years after for lunch I ate mostly Amy’s with some Evol, Lean Cuisine and others mixed in. Once we moved closer to Trader Joe’s, they’re the only frozen meals I still eat, for lunch a couple times a week. Mostly TJ’s Mandarin Style Orange Chicken Bowl, Steak & Stout Pie, Carne Asada Burritos, Bean, Rice & Cheese Burritos, various Mac & Cheese (French Onion, Hatch Chile, Pepperoni, Reduced Guilt), Indian (Butter Chicken, Tikka Masala, Vegetable Biryani), Pizza (BBQ Chicken, Roasted Garlic & Pesto), etc. The standout: This not really “pizza” is fabulous.

 

[ziggy29]

It can be tough, because it largely depends on what you consider "healthy". Some people with heart conditions (or family history of it) may emphasize lower saturated fat and cholesterol; others with hypertension may emphasize low sodium. As mentioned already, some of the Healthy Choice steamers aren't bad (just hate all the plastic). And most of these frozen meals are sodium bombs to varying degrees.

That said, my wife has recently developed (or at least recently had a diagnosis of) an allergy to milk, and as far as ready-made foods go, it is darned near impossible to find dairy-free stuff that is not vegan. As a result, we are making a lot more of our own meals, and I'm getting good at finding substitutes for dairy with things like coconut milk, cashew milk, and dairy-free renditions of sour cream and cream cheese, among other things.

 

[6miths]

Frozen mixed vegetables from Costco.

 

[Badger]

What may be healthy for one may not be healthy for another. Lots of things to consider as Aerides posted.
Any prepared meals that I have tried starting with TV dinners from decades ago to the more recent frozen meals have not been very palatable. It is also more healthy to use fresh produce and make your own to freeze for later convenience. This way you have complete control over the ingredients.

 

[sengsational]

We don't do pre packed frozen meals... ingredients lists are a long as your arm and someone else sets the portions. But a frozen turkey breast, throw it in the big crock pot on low, sprinkle a packet of Lipton Onion soup mix and come back in 6 hours. Eat it hot with nuked frozen veggies. No preservatives, no nitrites, and good, plentiful protein for a reasonable cost. And tons of turkey sandwiches for leftovers.

 

[Healthy Lifestyle]

We don't do pre packed frozen meals... ingredients lists are a long as your arm and someone else sets the portions. But a frozen turkey breast, throw it in the big crock pot on low, sprinkle a packet of Lipton Onion soup mix and come back in 6 hours. Eat it hot with nuked frozen veggies. No preservatives, no nitrites, and good, plentiful protein for a reasonable cost. And tons of turkey sandwiches for leftovers.

I like your turkey recipe, but not sure what is in that processed Lipton Onion soup mix.

 

[sengsational]

Yeah, there are a few preservatives in the soup mix. I thought about mixing my own spice mix, but didn't do it.

 

[pb4uski]

We usually keep a couple "bag meals" in the freezer for nights that we just want something quick and simple. Not the healthiest, but convenient and ok on occasion. Typically, they are rice based along with vegetables and a protien with a sauce and cook up in a skillet in 10-15 minutes. Usually about $10/meal and we get at least one meal out of it and sometimes a little leftovers.

 

[audreyh1]

I like your turkey recipe, but not sure what is in that processed Lipton Onion soup mix.

ONIONS, SALT, CORN FLOUR, HYDROLYZED SOY AND WHEAT PROTEIN, SUGAR, PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED PALM OIL, CARAMEL COLOR MALTODEXTRIN, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS, MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE, DISODIUM PHOSPHATE, ARABIC GUM, DISODIUM INOSINATE AND DISODIUM GUANYLATE

 

[CaptTom]

I've been known to package my own "leftover" frozen meals. Works great with something like turkey, potatoes, gravy and a vegetable. I use the microwavable plastic containers the Chinese food take-out places around here use. I feel like I'm not wasting as much plastic by re-using them. At least, that's what I tell myself.

I find the frozen offerings in the stores overpriced and way too small. To me, 8-10 ounces isn't a meal, it's a side dish. And the prices they want lately make me even less likely to buy them. Look at the price per pound some day and ask yourself if you can do better.

Oh, and making them myself means I can use ingredients, and in quantities, I consider "healthy" for me.

 

[pacergal]

If I purchase a ready made frozen meal, it is usually the Healthy Choice brand.

 

[Gotadimple]

In the freezer section at Costco Bibigo Rice, Chicken Teriyaki and Vegetable bowls. 6 to a box for about $18. One bowl is 2 meals for me - especially when I add cut up fresh veggies as a side. Still cheaper than individual frozen entrees at the grocery store. Also consider fresh meals made to go in the cooler at most grocers - about $9 for one meal, but serving size is 2.3 portions. Some are good - some are not.