Some people have the mentality “if I can’t do it right, I won’t do it at all”. While I actually think there is definitely a place for that mindset, I don’t suggest it when it comes to diet and fitness. Many people get so caught up with what “the best” looks like, they don’t even try. I personally believe we must always try to do our best, even if it’s not the best. Better is progress and that is what most people lack.

For example, eating healthy whole foods is always better than prepackaged foods. However, if you aren’t able to shop, prepare, cook and pack the right food, the second best option becomes the best option for you because it is an option you are willing to implement. This is when low-calorie frozen dinners may be your best, even if it’s not the best.

No one who knows you better than you – and if you know you don’t have the time or patience to meal prep and count calories, then you may need to utilize prepackaged foods. Some people choose frozen dinners because it’s easier to track calories while others choose them because they lack the time (or talent) to cook. Whatever the case, you are doomed for failure if you are shooting for a diet solution that isn’t realistic for you.

What About Salt?

Many people are hesitant to do prepackaged foods because of the sodium intake. Yes, they are higher in sodium than fresh foods, but so is canned food, boxed food, fast food and even gourmet food. Ironically, many people will shun frozen dinners due to high-sodium, only to drive through a fast food joint and pick up a meal that’s even higher in sodium just because there are no labels to read for easy comparison.

I can’t help but cringe when someone wants to argue with me about high sodium foods and I see the person eating a “healthy” high-sodium sub or sushi roll with loads of soy sauce. Ironically, many people load their homemade meals with sodium simply because the sodium adds up quickly from all the canned sauces, broths, dressings and other flavorings added to their favorite recipes.

When I looked at sodium content in Lean Cuisines, most were all under 800 milligrams (which would meet the RDA if you are eating 3 meals a day). In order to get a better understanding of how sodium in frozen dinners compares with other foods, I pulled some random stuff out of my pantry (and also looked up some popular fast food items online). Take a look what I found.

High Sodium Foods

Campbell’s Tomato Bisque Soup 2,200mg (1 can)
1 6″ Kosher Dill Pickle – 2,090mg
Campbell’s Homestyle Light Chicken Corn Chowder – 1,580mg (1 can)
McDonald’s Premium Grilled Chicken & Ranch Wrap – 1,370mg
Subway Cold Cut Combo 6″ Sub (with no condiments) – 1,030mg
McDonald’s Premium Southwest Grilled Chicken Salad – 920mg
1 Cup Bush’s Canned Seasoned Black Beans -980mg
Subway 6″ Black Forest Ham Sub (with no condiments) – 800mg
1 Cup Publix Premium Basil and Tomato Sauce – 800mg

If sodium is a concern for you (you would know because your doctor would warn you about reducing sodium or you may have issues with swelling or family history of heart problems), most brands have low-sodium options (under 500mg). For those of you who need some low sodium options, see the last list below.

Shopping Frozen Meals

Now that we got the sodium issue out of the way, let’s talk about macros. Before I begin, I should tell you I am not a nutritionist or dietician. I specialize in fitness and I understand how to eat to lose weight, but I can’t address micronutrients and medical-related health needs. All I’m going to share today is what I do to stick to my caloric restrictions and nutrients I need based on my workouts.

How to Read Labels

The first thing I look for in a frozen dinner is calories. I try to choose frozen dinners between 300-350 calories. I have found if they are too low in calories, I end up being hungry in no time. The next thing I look for is protein content. I try to get 1/3 of my calories coming from protein. So, if I get a 300 calorie meal, I want to try to get as close to 25gms of protein as possible. If it’s 250 calories, I’m shooting for 18-20gms of protein. Sadly, many frozen dinners have under 10-15gms or protein – and those meals stay at the store.

The next thing I look for is fat content. I want a healthy amount of fat in my meal so the meal sticks with me and gives me the energy I need. If it’s too low in fat, I blast through the calories and get hungry fast. I shoot for 6-12gms of fat for a 300 calorie meal. If it’s too low in fat, I may even add butter, nuts or cheese.

Nutrient Timing

Lastly, if I am about to workout, I choose a dish with bread, pasta, potato or rice. However, if I’m eating at night and just going to sleep, I try to shoot for more veggies.

Of course these are just things I look for but I’m also not salt sensitive. Most brands now offer many options, from no preservatives to gluten free. Do the research and find out which meals meet your needs and stock up so you have some go-to meals for emergencies. (NOTE: Read my pros and cons below to see which brand may be the easiest to find what you need.)

The more prepared you are, the better success you will have even if you prefer to cook most of your meals. We always need some kind of back up plan. Remember, YOUR best is THE best every time!

Here are 3 popular brands you see in most grocery stores. (Note: Some of the products listed may be discontinued or out of stock since my research).

20 Low-Sodium Meals

Government guidelines recommend people consume less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day. If you eat three meals a day, you’ll want to stay within 800 milligrams of sodium per meal. If you are eating 5-6 times a day, you could reduce that down to 500 milligrams of sodium per meal, allowing more room for sodium in snacks, protein bars/supplements and condiments.

Smart Ones Lemon Herb Chicken Piccata – 370mg
Lean Cuisine’s Wood Fire-Style BBQ Recipe Chicken Pizza – 380mg
Lean Cuisine’s Monterey Jack Jalapeño Stuffed Pretzels – 380mg
Lean Cuisine’s Thai-Style Chicken Spring Rolls – 390mg
Healthy Choice’s Chicken Pasta Primavera – 390mg
Smart Ones Thin Crust Cheese Pizza – 410mg
Lean Cuisine’s Deep Dish Spinach & Mushroom Pizza – 420mg
Lean Cuisine’s Supreme Pizza – 470mg
Lean Cuisine’s Glazed Chicken – 470mg
Lean Cuisine’s Chicken Teriyaki Stir Fry – 470mg
Smart Ones Pulled Pork & Black Beans – 480mg
Lean Cuisine’s Chicken with Almonds – 490mg
Lean Cuisine’s Tortilla Crusted Fish – 490mg
Healthy Choice Sweet & Spicy Orange Zest Chicken – 500mg
Lean Cuisine’s Salmon with Basil – 500mg
Lean Cuisine’s Veggie Egg White English Muffin – 500mg
Lean Cuisine’s Philly-Style Steak & Cheese Panini – 500mg
Lean Cuisine’s Southwest-Style Chicken Panini – 500mg
Healthy Choice Pineapple Chicken – 510mg
Lean Cuisine’s Wood Fire-Style Margherita Pizza – 525mg

Pros & Cons:

Lean Cuisine Pro: Easy search and lots of high-protein and low sodium choices (over 20 choices under 500mg). You can search meals by fiber, protein, carbohydrates, sodium, calories or fat. And, it shows the number you are looking for on each item in the list so you don’t have to click on each individual meal to get the information you want.

Con: Overall, I really liked this site so I don’t really have a big con per say. However, it took a minute to figure out I could refine my search even more once I chose my category under product. Once you choose your preference of foods, like “high protein” or “no preservatives” foods, under “products”, you can sort by calories, fiber, protein, sodium, etc for a more detailed search.

Smart Ones Pro: Most detailed search engine. You can also search for what you are looking for, but it took a few clicks for me to figure that out. Once I got to All Products, I saw the filters you can choose to find what you need. The PRO for them is you can actually fine tune your search and only look for products in a certain range, like 20-24gms of protein, instead of over 15gms or just a generic “high protein” search. You can even apply different filters so you get the exact calories, fat, protein, fiber and even ingredients you are looking for.

Con: Not a lot of low-sodium high-protein choices. Complicated and hard-to-find search engine. You have to go to THIS PAGE to see the filters tabs.

Healthy Choice Pro: Quick search engine. Their easy search makes it easy to find things quickly, but the searches are preset. For instance you can search for products based on ingredients, etc or nutrients like low carb under 45gms, whole grains over 8gms, sodium under 500mg, fiber over 5gms, calories under 300 calories, fat under 5gms and high protein over 10gms (which is not high protein to me).

Con: Only 6 low-sodium meals. Harder to find nutritional info (more clicks) when searching. High protein search only includes foods over 10gms of protein (not that high).

Scripture of the Day:

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. – 2 Timothy 2:15

Why did I choose this scripture for this blog? Because it reminds me that all God wants is our best. Paul wrote to Timothy saying, “Do your best”. He didn’t tell him to be perfect or be the best. If we waited until we thought we could do the best, we would never get anywhere.

Mantra of the Day:

Do Your Best: Doing your best trumps doing the best if the best isn’t something you can do. – Bonnie Pfiester

DAY 19: Quick & Easy High-Protein Frozen Meals For Busy People