5 convenience foods that are actually healthy

CookingLight.com


Cooking Light recipes rely on the freshest ingredients possible, but there are some convenience products that make even the freshest cooking easier and faster. Through years of recipe testing, we've learned that there are great time-cutting products out there that meet our standards-for nutrition and flavor. When buying any prepared foods, read labels carefully, paying particular attention to sodium. We've identified our top 10; comment below and tell us your favorites.

1. Jarred Pasta Sauce

A good basic bottled marinara sauce can make quick work of so many dinners-from spaghetti and meatballs to lasagna-plus it makes a great quick pizza or dipping sauce. Instead of creamy white sauces, choose tomato-based sauces, which are lower in calories and provide valuable nutrients. In our taste test of store-bought pasta sauces, we selected Rao's Homemade Tomato and Basil Marinara Sauce as our top all around pick, and our choice for the greatest value was Classico Tomato and Basil Pasta Sauce. Both are available in major supermarket chains.

See More: Superfast Italian Recipes


2. Rotisserie Chicken

Rotisserie chickens are a convenient and healthy choice whenever a recipe calls for cooked chicken. Always remove the skin before chopping or shredding the meat. They're available in a variety of flavors, and all are great options since most of the added sodium will be discarded with the skin. We especially love shredded rotisserie chicken in Chicken and Guacamole Tostadas or Chicken and Glass Noodle Salad.

See More: 100 Easy Chicken Recipes

3. Bagged Greens

Bagged greens of all types are now widely available, including spinach, arugula, kale, mustard greens, and watercress, just to name a few. It costs a little more, but buying bagged greens saves you the time and trouble of removing stems and removing excessive grit. Bagged greens require little more than a rinse and spin and they're ready to go. We love them for making quick work of both baby spinach and turnip greens in Winter Greens, Asiago, and Anchovy Pizza or the base for a quick weeknight side salad.

See More: Ultimate Reader Recipe Contest Winners and Finalists: Salads and Sides


4. Fresh Pasta

Don't limit yourself to dried pastas; many grocery stores carry fresh pasta in the refrigerated section. One of the healthiest choices among fresh pasta is the 100% whole-wheat variety. Made with whole-wheat flour, this type counts towards the recommended 3 servings of whole grains you need a day; plus, it provides a healthy dose of fiber. Stuffed pastas that contain cheese, such as this ravioli, have a higher fat and calorie level, but when prepared the right way can be a good option.

Fresh pasta recipes: Quick Crisp Ravioli with Roasted Tomato Sauce, Pasta with Fresh Tomato-Basil Sauce, or Warm Tortellini and Cherry Tomato Salad

See More: Dinner Tonight: Pasta

5. Canned Broth

For soups, stews, sauces, and more, a quality canned broth can save a cook countless time in the kitchen. Sodium is a clear concern with canned broth, as well as taste, so we put low-sodium stocks and broths through our Taste Test panel to find the best. Our all around favorite chicken broth is Swanson's Less-Sodium, Fat-Free Chicken Broth. It's inexpensive, easy to find, and is a stand-by in our test kitchens. The pick for best vegetable broth was also by Swanson's, with their Certified Organic Vegetarian Vegetable Broth.

Test kitchen tip: Simmer canned stock or broth with a bay leaf, whole spices, or dried crushed herbs that fit your recipe's flavor profile to boost taste.

See more: Taste Test: Low-Sodium Stocks and Broths

Continue Reading: 5 More Healthy Convenience Foods

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