Is this F-Word Good or Bad for Cutting Calories?

Chicken a l’orange – 210 calories

A number of years ago there was a heated debate in a forum I used to visit (which will remain nameless — way too many toxic people over there!). Some poor soul dared to suggest — *gasp* — frozen entrees as a way to help you control your portions.

“Are you crazy? Way too much sodium?” “Stupid suggestion. Eat fresh foods only!!1!” *

He simply said, “I’d rather grab a frozen meal than grab fast food.” *

* That’s my recollection of the conversation.

Is it better to not overload your meals with sodium? Sure. Are fresh foods better for you? I would think so. But the haters missed this guy’s point: when life gets in the way and you need a helping hand when it comes to food, take the lesser of two evils.

And I would agree.

I do my best to eat fresh foods for lunch, but when I’m plugging away in front of the computer for FitWatch, there are some days when I’m glad there’s a frozen meal in the freezer. Eating a frozen meal is much better than what I used to do: boil some water, throw in a ton of spaghetti and pig out. Or worse yet: skip lunch all together, get extremely hungry… and then pig out.

Instead, I eat a 200 to 300 calorie frozen meal (give or take), add in some veggies or fruit or a piece of cheese. If you’re looking to add more protein to the meal, throw in a bit of cooked lean chicken. No fuss, no mess, no guilt.

Some Tips When Buying Frozen Entrees

• Look for frozen entrees containing lean protein (such as chicken breast), vegetables and rice — and no preservatives.
• Avoid pasta and cream sauces (they’re usually high in calories).
• Worried about sodium? Look for frozen entrees with less sodium or ease up on sodium in other foods during the day. (If you’re on a sodium restricted diet, follow your doctor’s orders.)
• Check the calorie count on the label. Not all frozen entrees are created equal. Ladies, if it’s over 350 calories, you may want to avoid it (depending on how many calories you eat per meal). If it’s under 300 calories, you’ll want to add veggies to the meal (slice them up and throw them in to cook with the entree) and/or add in some lean protein, or have a piece of fruit as a dessert.
• Buy a couple of frozen entrees when they’re on sale and see how like them. Take note of the ones you like and that fit into your diet plan.

As with anything, moderation is key. Personally, I wouldn’t eat frozen entrees every day. But once in awhile — especially when it’ll stop me from overeating — why not?

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Tags: diet, frozen meals, Nutrition, portion control, sodium, Weight Loss