Frozen Diet Meals: Good or Bad?

While the allure of healthy prepared meals fresh out of a box may be intriguing – are these frozen diet foods actually good for you?
frozen diet meals

While the allure of healthy prepared meals fresh out of a box may be tempting, are these frozen diet foods actually good for you?

Pros

Frozen diet meals like Lean Cuisine, Weight Watchers and Healthy Choice offer a wide range of options – you can find everything from breakfast sandwiches to pizza to Chinese noodle dishes. Those in favor of these packaged meals are all about the ease of use.

Top 5 Pros
•    Portion controlled
•    Ready in minutes
•    A wide variety to choose from
•    Easy to transport and store at work
•    No cooking skills required
Cons

Folks on the opposing side argue that convenience will cost you.

Top 5 Cons

•    Loaded with sodium – most brands have a at least 25-percent of the your daily recommendation

•    Unappetizing odor and fake taste
•    Lots of unrecognizable ingredients, little real food

•    Pricey - $4 a box may not seem like a lot but cost can pile up quickly

•    Not a long-term solution to healthy eating (do you want to rely on these meals forever?)

Bottom Line: What’s more important? Eating real whole foods or taking the effort (and creativity) out of meal prep? If convenience trumps quality, you may want to reconsider how much you value your health.

Tell Us: We feel a taste test coming on. Which brands would you like us to try?

You Might Also Like:

Dana Angelo White, MS, RD, ATC, is a registered dietitian, certified athletic trainer and owner of Dana White Nutrition, Inc., which specializes in culinary and sports nutrition. See Dana's full bio »

Next Up

Diet 101: Ayurvedic Diet

Ayurvedic eating is pretty much the opposite of a fad diet — it’s existed for some 5,000 years. Here’s what you need to know about doshas, kitchari bowls and eating mindfully.

Diet 101: Low-FODMAP Diet

Here's what to know about the new diet.

How to Meal Prep on a High-Protein Diet

Keep these nutritionist-recommended tips in mind to keep your meals balanced and safe to eat.

Exploring The MIND Diet

The MIND Diet has the potential to cut the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in half and keep the brain more than seven years younger.

How to Put Your Freezer to Work, Plus Frozen Meals Made Fresh

Learn how to safely freeze food, plus find Food Network Kitchens' easy recipes for kid-friendly dinners that can be made ahead, frozen and baked later.

These Handmade Frozen Dumplings Are My Family’s Favorite Meal on the Fly

This impossibly perfect dinner comes together in a matter of minutes.

Is the Atkins Diet Healthy?

At the height of the low-carb craze, Atkins was king. While many folks claim to lose weight following this plan, registered dietitians and other health pros are not fans — here’s why.

The Best Plant-Based Frozen Meals You Can Buy, According to a Nutritionist

Add these vegan and vegetarian picks to your cart the next time you're stocking the freezer.

The Spanish Meal

Dining in and out in Spain

What Is the Vegan Military Diet?

For one thing, it’s not in any way associated with the military.