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Preparing healthy meals throughout the day is key for everyone’s successful weight loss journey. Luckily, fixing up a fresh breakfast, lunch, or dinner doesn’t always mean you need to spend a ton of time in the kitchen either. It’s perfectly fine to resort to frozen meals every now and then, but there are some frozen foods you should definitely be wary of.
Some freezer foods are actually bad for you due to their fattening ingredients. Even seemingly “healthy” frozen foods can be loaded with ingredients that can cause bloating and stomach fat.
Let’s think of the meal times you have the least time available to cook. Breakfast probably comes to mind, right? Busy mornings are a great time for healthy frozen meals you can zap up in a pinch. However, many breakfast frozen meals can lead to weight gain so it’s important to follow certain rules when browsing the grocery store aisles.
According to registered dietitian Jackie London for TODAY, there are simple tips and tricks you can follow when choosing your frozen foods. “Check labels and look for more of the good stuff, aka whole-food ingredients that are recognizable (e.g. 100% whole-grains, eggs, beans, etc. as the first ingredient,” London explains. London further recommends looking for meals that are filled with protein and fiber so that you stay feeling full and satisfied long after breakfast is over.
Following such tips is so important when choosing which frozen breakfast burritos, bowls, and sandwiches you add to your grocery cart. It’s essential to look for the whole-ingredients that London suggests because a lot of frozen meals can actually be such unhealthy choices.
Registered dietitian Gabrielle McGrath reveals that you don’t have to avoid frozen foods altogether if you stay away from certain ingredients and make it a point to focus on the nutritional value of what you’re eating. McGrath recommends keeping a close eye on things like how much sodium, saturated fat, and trans fat your meal contains. It can really be as simple as that!
What are some of your favorite healthy frozen foods? Let us know your go-to quick meals in the comments below!
