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10 Frozen Meals That Are Actually Good For You

By By Jill Waldbieser

©Women's Health Magazine
A girl’s gotta eat, but she needn’t spent hours over a hot stove. Enter our 2017 Super Market Heroes, where we’ve found the healthiest (and tastiest!) boxed, bagged, and canned goods around—all ready in 10 minutes or less. We worked with our team of nutritionists (Karen Ansel, R.D.N., Maureen Callahan, R.D., and Rachel Meltzer Warren, R.D.N.) to vet all of the winners to ensure that each one is fast and convenient, delicious, and genuinely good for you. And because they’re organized by grocery aisle, you’ll be in and out of the store in a superhero flash. Next up: Frozen meals.The freezer aisle of the grocery store generally doesn’t scream “health food.” Typically, freezer foods are sodium- and sugar-bombs, and don’t necessarily offer that much by way of nutrition. But these Super Market Heroes winners are a cut above the rest. Well-balanced meals, yummy snacks: These cold comforts will change how you think of icebox food.

 

GOOD FOOD MADE SIMPLE THREE PEPPER BEEF

This heat-and-eat rendition of a Chinese classic in a zippy honey and red pepper sauce makes for a surprisingly sophisticated meal. And not only that: it uses humanely raised meat and organic broccoli and comes in at under 400 calories.

AMY’S GLUTEN FREE BURRITO BLACK BEAN & QUINOA

Healthy upgrades like protein-filled quinoa instead of rice and extra veggies (broccoli and chard) make this burrito muy bueno. You won’t miss the meat (promise!), and the wrap is soft and pliable even minus the gluten.

CHLOE’S POPS STRAWBERRY

Now this is refreshing: Instead of watered-down frozen corn syrup, these ice pops are intensely fruit-forward, bringing a quarter of the vitamin C you need in a day plus a sorbet-like taste that’s way richer than its 60 calories would ever lead you to believe.

HEALTHY CHOICE POWER BOWLS CHICKEN SAUSAGE & BARLEY BOWL

Lean protein slashes fat grams, but you’ll never notice because kale and whole grains in a light garlicky sauce bulk up the full-tummy feeling of this superfood bowl. Even the container is made of plant-based fiber.

HILARY’S WORLD’S BEST VEGGIE BURGER

Mushy meatless patties have met their match in these grain- and veggie-packed disks, which have the texture of a fried chicken sandwich but none of the grease and fat. You can even pop them in the toaster to heat for maximum crispness.

YASSO FROZEN GREEK YOGURT SANDWICHES VANILLA

Vanilla bean-flecked fro-yo helps keep the sugar and fat to a minimum without giving up any indulgent goodness in these dark chocolate cookie sandwiches. And the hockey puck size is portion perfection.

LUVO THAI-STYLE GREEN CURRY CHICKEN

It may have record-low sodium levels and ring in at under 300 cals, but this bowl—with chicken, gluten-free brown-rice noodles, and bell peppers—is amazingly bold and flavorful from simmering in tart lemongrass, fish sauce, and lime.

BOULDER CANYON RICED SWEET POTATO

Looking to replace empty carbs with a more nutrient-dense option? It’s in the bag—literally. Nuke it, and in five minutes or less you’ve got grain-free, vitamin A- loaded “rice” as a side dish or a player in stir-fries or stuffed peppers.

SKINNY COW SIMPLY AMAZING SALTED CARAMEL PRETZEL

It’s okay to let cravings win when you feed them this mash-up of a candy bar and sundae. It hits all your pleasure points—sweet, salty, creamy, crunchy—for a fraction of the calories (160, to be exact).

ALEXIA MASHED BUTTERNUT SQUASH WITH BROWN SUGAR

Skip the labor-intensive cutting, roasting, and mashing and get straight to the good stuff: a fall gourd side with vitamin a, fiber, potassium, and a touch of brown sugar and organic cream.

This article originally appeared in the November 2017 issue of Women’s Health. For more great advice, pick up a copy of the issue on newsstands now!