When Homemade Doesn't Happen: The Best Frozen Meals
We've all been there. But just because you've got nothing fresh to whip up doesn't mean the state of your diet has to suffer. Here, 11 nutrient-packed dishes that are ready when you are.
Birds Eye Voila! Garlic Chicken This one-pot, no-chopping-required meal of corkscrew pasta, white-meat chicken, and veggies in a garlic cream sauce tastes slow-simmered, even though it's ready on your stovetop in mere minutes.
Per serving (12/3 cups): 240 cal, 8 g fat (2 g sat), 29 g carbs, 540 mg sodium, 3 g fiber, 11 g protein, 6 g sugar
Kim & Scott's Gourmet Pretzels Pizza Pretzel Oozing cheese and tangy sauce, this soft bread twist tastes like two guilty pleasures in one. But surprise-it's lower in fat and calories than the average cheese-pizza slice.
Per pretzel: 250 cal, 3.5 g fat (1.5 g sat), 41 g carbs, 240 mg sodium, 3 g fiber, 10 g protein, 3 g sugar
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Smart Ones Morning Express French Toast with Turkey Sausage Skeptical about nuking toast? One bite proves that the cinnamon-swirl bread stays decently crispy while the peppery sausage links plump up nicely.
Per package: 280 cal, 8 g fat (2.5 g sat), 38 g carbs, 570 mg sodium, 2 g fiber, 14 g protein, 18 g sugar
Dewafelbakkers A+ Cinnamon All-Natural Sweet Potato Pancake How's this for a batter upgrade: Whole-grain spelt flour (a cousin of wheat) fills you with fiber, while sweet potatoes are loaded with the antioxidant beta-carotene.
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Amy's Light & Lean Black Bean & Cheese EnchiladaYou'll never believe this organic veggie wrap came from your freezer. Served with brown rice, sweet corn, and carrots, it's super-filling too.
Per package: 240 cal, 4.5 g fat (2 g sat), 44 g carbs, 480 mg sodium, 4 g fiber, 8 g protein, 5 g sugar
Healthy Choice 100% Natural Entrées Asian Potstickers
Skip the takeout: You can check off one daily serving of veggies and two and a half of whole grains with this Mandarin-inspired meal of vegetarian-stuffed dumplings (they taste positively meaty).
Per package: 340 cal, 4.5 g fat (1 g sat), 66 g carbs, 530 mg sodium, 4 g fiber, 8 g protein, 14 g sugar
Slim Foods That Will Fill You Up
Caesar's Spinach Gnocchi
Embrace the carby goodness of spinach-infused potato-dough balls, which are lower in fat, calories, and sodium than most frozen pastas, and gluten-free to boot.
Per serving (15 pieces): 170 cal, 3 g fat (0 g sat), 34 g carbs, 50 mg sodium, 2 g fiber, 3 g protein, 0 g sugar
Alexia Chipotle Roasted Sweet Potatoes & Vegetables
Make this all-natural Southwestern hash of sweet potatoes, black beans, sweet corn, and red bell peppers as a side, and you may end up eating nothing else.
Per serving (1 cup): 160 cal, 6 g fat (
Simple Asian Meals You'll Love
Veggie Patch Veggie Lover's Burger
This is no patty masquerading as meat; it's a thick, tender mixture of antioxidant-rich carrots, bell peppers, onions, and spinach that's delicious in its own right.
Per burger: 110 cal, 4 g fat (0 g sat), 16 g carbs, 390 mg sodium, 2 g fiber, 3 g protein, 3 g sugar
Lean Cuisine Garden Vegetable Dip with Pita Bread
Dunk toasty pita pieces into a warm mixture of Asiago cheese and sliced broccoli, carrots, and spinach; repeat. If only all veggies came in such a luscious dip form.
Per serving (1 pita pocket and 1 container dip): 190 cal, 5 g fat (2.5 g sat), 29 g carbs, 440 mg sodium, 2 g fiber, 6 g protein, 4 g sugar
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Dominex Eggplant Vegetarian Meatballs
In a bowl or on a bun, topped with your favorite tomato sauce, these low-cal "meat" balls recall eggplant parm and are packed with anthocyanin, a potent disease-fighting antioxidant.
Per 5 veggie balls: 90 cal, 2.5 g fat (
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