Cold comfort: a frozen dinner for every diet.In the 1950s, frozen-dinner eaters chose between entrees like turkey and stuffing or fried chicken Fried chicken is chicken which is dipped in a breading mixture and then deep fried, pan fried or pressure fried. The breading seals in the juices but also absorbs the fat of the fryer, which is sometimes seen as unhealthy. and mashed potatoes n. pl. 1. Potatoes which have been boiled and mashed to a pulpy consistency, usu. with sparing addition of milk, salt, butter, or other flavoring. It is a popular accompaniment to a meat course [U.S., 1900's], providing bulk and calories to a meal. . By the '80s, it was more a question of turkey tenderloins or chicken parmesan Chicken parmesan, chicken parmigiana, or (Italian Pollo alla parmigiana) is a popular Italian dish. . Nowadays, before you even think about chicken or turkey, you choose a diet. You can boost protein with the South Beach Diet or Zone Perfect, count carbs with Cedarlane Carb Buster or Life Choice, or limit fat and calories with Healthy Choice, Michelina's Michelina's is an American frozen food company based in Duluth, Minnesota. Founded by frozen food tycoon Luigino Paulucci, the company is named after Paulucci's mother, Michelina. Today, Michelina's frozen foods has over 70 brands of food. Lean Gourmet, or Weight Watchers Smart Ones. You can go vegetarian vegetarian /veg·e·tar·i·an/ (vej?e-tar´e-an) 1. one who practices vegetarianism. 2. pertaining to vegetarianism. veg·e·tar·i·an n. One who practices vegetarianism. with Amy's, Linda McCartney Linda Louise Eastman McCartney (September 24, 1941 – April 17, 1998) was an American photographer, musician, and animal rights activist. Although at first she was best known for her marriage to Sir Paul McCartney, of The Beatles, she was later the author of several vegetarian , Green Guru, Celentano Celentano is the surname of:
Amy's offers less sodium, Lean Cuisine Lean Cuisine is a popular brand of frozen entreés and dinners sold in the United States, Canada, and Australia by Nestlé. The brand began as low fat, low calorie versions of Stouffer's products. Spa Cuisine serves up whole grains, and Lean Cuisine Dinnertime Selections pushes vegetables. Makes you wonder if you're you're Contraction of you are. you're you are you're be in the frozen-food aisle or the diet book section of Barnes & Noble. It's it's 1. Contraction of it is. 2. Contraction of it has. See Usage Note at its. it's it is or it has it's be ~have not as though every company targets health-conscious consumers. Banquet A banquet is a large public meal or feast, complete with main courses and desserts. It usually serves a purpose, such as a charitable gathering, a ceremony, or a celebration. Sometimes a banquet consists of only desserts, but it is advisable to include main courses as well. , Swanson, Stouffer's Stouffer's is a brand of frozen prepared foods available in the United States and Canada. Stouffer's is known for such popular fare as meatloaf, salisbury steak, lasagna, macaroni and cheese, and ravioli. It also produces a line of reduced-fat products under the banner Lean Cuisine. , and newer brands like Boston Market Boston Market (known before 1995 as Boston Chicken), headquartered in Golden, Colorado, is a chain of American fast-food restaurants. Founded in December 1985 in Newton, Massachusetts, the chain grew rapidly in the early and mid-1990s, filed bankruptcy in the late 1990s, and and Marie Callender's sell frozen dinners that make no promises other than to satisfy your taste buds taste buds taste npl → Geschmacksknospen pl and hunger. Take that as a warning. Marie Callender's meals are "still made with the care of Marie," as the labels point out. But Marie's Herb Roasted roast v. roast·ed, roast·ing, roasts v.tr. 1. To cook with dry heat, as in an oven or near hot coals. 2. To dry, brown, or parch by exposing to heat. 3. Chicken is also made with 530 calories, 12 grams of saturated fat saturated fat, any solid fat that is an ester of glycerol and a saturated fatty acid. The molecules of a saturated fat have only single bonds between carbon atoms; if double bonds are present in the fatty acid portion of the molecule, the fat is said to be , and 1,270 milligrams of sodium. Apparently, Marie couldn't could·n't Contraction of could not. couldn't could not care less about your arteries Arteries Blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood away from the heart to the cells, tissues, and organs of the body. Mentioned in: Adrenergic Blockers, Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors, Antihypertensive Drugs, Hypertension, Thrombolytic Therapy, or waistline. Boston Market offers "the finest ingredients creating great home-style home-style adj. Prepared or served as if in the home: a restaurant serving authentic home-style dishes. home taste that is always ready when you are." Ready with 23 grams of sat fat and 2,720 mg of sodium (more than a day's worth of both), in the case of its 880-calorie Meatloaf with Mashed Potatoes & Gravy. That's twice as damaging as a Swanson Hungry-Man Boneless Bone´less a. 1. Without bones. Adj. 1. boneless - being without a bone or bones; "jellyfish are boneless" Pork pork, flesh of swine prepared as food, one of the principal commodities of the meatpacking industry. Pork has long been a staple food in most of the world, although religious taboos have limited its use, especially among Jews and Muslims. dinner. The Best and the Brrr-ightest We walked right past all the salty salt·y adj. salt·i·er, salt·i·est 1. Of, containing, or seasoned with salt. 2. Suggestive of the sea or sailing life. 3. Witty; pungent; earthy: salty humor. , fatty fare. Anything with more than 4 grams of saturated fat or 650 mg of sodium we left on the shelf (and out of our chart). We limited Best Bites and Honorable Mentions to items with no more than 3 grams of saturated fat (that means about 10 percent of calories for a typical 300-calorie dinner). They weren't were·n't Contraction of were not. weren't were not hard to find. Many Healthy Choice, Lean Cuisine, Michelina's Lean Gourmet, and Smart Ones fit the bill. But all bets are off once you enter the health food store or aisle (see "Frozen Promises," p. 10). And wherever you shop, the bigger challenge is keeping a lid on sodium. Lighten light·en 1 v. light·ened, light·en·ing, light·ens v.tr. 1. a. To make light or lighter; illuminate or brighten. b. To make (a color) lighter. 2. the Salt Load Our sodium cutoffs--400 mg (for Best Bites) and 600 mg (for Honorable Mentions)--are actually quite generous. Middle-aged middle-aged adjective Referring to a person between age 45 and 65, used in taking a history. Cf Elderly, Older. and older people should get no more than 1,500 mg of sodium a day, and others shouldn't should·n't Contraction of should not. shouldn't should not shouldn't should exceed 2,400 mg. Swallowing swallowing or deglutition Act that moves food from the mouth to the stomach. The tongue pushes liquid or chewed food mixed with saliva into the pharynx. 400 mg to 600 mg in a 300-calorie frozen dinner means it's easy to go over the max by the time you hit a day's calories (2,000 for the average person). Yet many companies make liberal use of the salt shaker Shaker Member of the United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing, a celibate millenarian sect. Derived from a branch of the radical English Quakers (see Society of Friends), the movement was brought to the U.S. . The entire South Beach Diet and Curry Classics lines had too much sodium to show up in our chart. So did just about every Life Choice, Ethnic Gourmet, and Green Guru entree. In fact, only a few companies make an effort to cut the salt: * Healthy Choice. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the Food and Drug Administration, a "meal-type" food with the word "healthy" on the package can contain no more than 600 mg of sodium (or 480 mg for an individual food). What's more, all "healthy" foods have to be low in saturated fat. That's why every item in the Healthy Choice line was an Honorable Mention. (Exception: the Salisbury Salisbury, town and district, England Salisbury (sôlz`bərē) or New Sarum (sâr`əm), town (1991 pop. 36,890) and district, Wiltshire, S England. Steak just missed our saturated fat limit.) While Healthy Choice takes up just one line in our chart (it's an average of all varieties), if you're a frozen-dinner fan it might well deserve a lot of space in your freezer freezer the compartment in which meat and offal are stored at freezing temperatures of 10 to 16°F (-12 to -9°C) although there is a trend to lower temperatures of 0 to -22°F (-18 to -30°C). . * Amy's Light in Sodium. At 340 mg to 380 mg, Amy's three new Light in Sodium entrees--Black Bean Vegetable Enchilada, Veggie Loaf, and Vegetable Lasagna--have far less sodium than usual. (The lasagna, with 4 grams of saturated fat, just missed our cutoff.) Let's let's Contraction of let us. hope Amy is a trendsetter trend·set·ter n. One that initiates or popularizes a trend: "The Golden State, ever the trendsetter, reformed its property tax" New York. . * Rest of the pack. Sixty-seven of Lean Cuisine's 87 frozen entrees had too much sodium for a Best Bite or Honorable Mention. Ditto for 46 of 58 Smart Ones and 17 of 20 Michelina's Lean Gourmet. They need to try harder. Yet when those companies manage to trim the salt, they do it without sacrificing taste. In general, you can expect good flavor from any of the major brands. But once you get into smaller brands, especially those with veggie meats, taste is in the tongue of the beholder, as it were. Vegetables, Grains, etc. Salt and saturated fat are important, but they're they're Contraction of they are. they're be not everything. Frozen dinners should also offer something worth eating. Our Best Bite criteria didn't include a minimum for vegetables, fiber, protein, or other nutrients because that would unfairly penalize pe·nal·ize tr.v. pe·nal·ized, pe·nal·iz·ing, pe·nal·iz·es 1. To subject to a penalty, especially for infringement of a law or official regulation. See Synonyms at punish. 2. some entrees. For example, you can't expect vegetables in a (low-fat) fettuccine Alfredo fettuccine Al·fre·do n. A dish consisting of fettuccine in a rich cream sauce with Parmesan cheese. [After Alfredo all'Augusteo, a restaurant in Rome.] Noun 1. or fiber in a macaroni macaroni: see pasta. and cheese. That's why you still need to check the package's Nutrition Facts panel for fiber and protein, and scan the ingredients list for whole grains. Several brands--including Healthy Choice, Lean Cuisine, and Smart Ones--also let shoppers know how many servings of vegetables they're getting. But don't take that number too literally. A "serving" is supposed to equal 1/2 cup of cooked vegetables. But when we dissected dis·sect·ed adj. 1. Botany Divided into many deep, narrow segments: dissected leaves. 2. Geology Cut by irregular valleys and hills. Adj. 1. , cooked, and measured a few dozen frozen dinners, the veggies Veggies of Nottingham, also known as Veggies Catering Campaign, is a campaigning group based in Nottingham, England, promoting ethicalbum alternatives to mainstream fast food. didn't always match the number of servings listed on the label. In some cases, the amount was spot on. But in others, it looks like shoppers are being short-changed. For example, Lean Cuisine Cafe Classics Three Cheese Chicken contains two servings of vegetables, according to the box. But instead of one cup of cooked broccoli broccoli (brŏk`əlē) [Ital.,=sprouts], variety of cabbage grown for the edible immature flower panicles. It is the same variety (Brassica oleracea botrytis) as the cauliflower and is similarly cultivated. and red peppers red pepper: see pepper. , four of the six samples we looked at had 1/2 cup; the other two had just 1/3 cup. Bottom line: you can't count on a frozen dinner to put a big dent in your daily veggie quota quota In international trade, a government-imposed limit on the quantity of goods and services that may be exported or imported over a specified period of time. Quotas are more effective than tariffs in restricting trade, since they limit the availability of goods rather . Most healthier frozen entrees have just 250 to 350 calories--not much more than a cup of raisin bran Noun 1. raisin bran - bran flakes with raisins cold cereal, dry cereal - a cereal that is not heated before serving with milk. Since you'll need to add some food to turn your entree into a real meal, you might as well pump up the veggies by adding a salad.
Tip of the Iceberg
We didn't look at frozen entrees with more than 4 grams of saturated
fat or 650 milligrams of sodium. Best Bites and Honorable
Mentions have no more than 3 grams of sat fat. Best Bites also
have no more than 400 mg of sodium; Honorable Mentions can
have up to 600 mg. Within each category, entrees are ranked
from least to most sodium, then least to most calories, then most
to least fiber.
Frozen Entrees
Sodium
0 grams of (milli- Fiber
saturated fat Calories grams) (grams)
[check] [check] Celentano Vegetarian
Penne with Vegetables 220 190 4
[check] [check] Mon Cuisine Vegan
Meatless Italian
Shell Pasta 250 210 11
[check] [check] Mon Cuisine Vegetarian
Stuffed Cabbage 220 260 5
[check] Mon Cuisine Vegetarian
Spaghetti & Meatballs 360 440 9
[check] Celentano Vegetarian
Lasagne Primavera 230 530 6
[check] Celentano Vegetarian
Spinach Tofu Ravioli 260 540 6
[check] Gardenburger Meals
Meatless Citrus
Glazed Chicken 220 600 9
Celentano Vegetarian
Spinach & Broccoli
Manicotti 220 610 5
Celentano Vegetarian
Spinach & Broccoli
Shells 220 620 6
Gardenburger Meals
Meatless Sweet & Sour
Pork 310 630 4
1 gram of saturated fat
[check] [check] Organic Classics
Confetti Rice Pilaf &
Chicken with Honey
BBQ Sauce 330 240 2
[check] [check] Lean Cuisine Cafe
Classics Chicken a L'
Orange 230 340 2
[check] [check] Moosewood Pasta e
Fagioli 260 340 6
[check] [check] Trader Joe's Chicken
Vindaloo 300 340 3
[check] [check] Amy's Light in Sodium
Black Bean Vegetable
Enchilada or Veggie
Loaf (1) 300 360 7
[check] [check] Lean Cuisine One Dish
Favorites Penne Pasta
with Tomato Basil
Sauce 270 390 5
[check] [check] Trader Ming's Spicy
Kung Pao Chicken 340 400 3
[check] Mon Cuisine Vegetarian
Salisbury Steak in
Gravy 320 430 14
[check] Mon Cuisine Vegan
Moroccan Chicken 280 440 10
[check] Mon Cuisine Vegan Veal
Style Schnitzel 300 440 7
[check] Mon Cuisine Vegetarian
Grilled Steak 250 470 12
[check] Smart Ones Chicken
Mirabella 180 480 4
[check] Green Guru Kofta Curry 270 530 1
[check] Smart Ones Roast
Turkey Medallions or
Lasagna Bolognese (1) 220 560 3
[check] Smart Ones Fiesta
Chicken 210 570 5
[check] Moosewood Southwest
Cornbread & Red Beans 350 570 9
[check] Lean Cuisine One Dish
Favorites Spaghetti
with Meat Sauce 280 580 3
Lean Cuisine Cafe
Classics Glazed
Chicken 220 610 2
Lean Cuisine
Dinnertime Selections
Glazed Chicken 310 610 4
Lean Cuisine Comfort
Classics Herb Roasted
Chicken 190 620 3
Lean Cuisine Cafe
Classics Chicken with
Almonds or Shrimp and
Angel Hair Pasta (1) 250 630 3
Lean Cuisine One Dish
Favorites Chicken
Chow Mein or
Vegetable Eggroll (1) 260 630 3
Smart Ones Honey Dijon
Chicken or Shrimp
Marinara with
Linguini (1) 200 640 3
Lean Cuisine Comfort
Classics Roasted
Turkey & Vegetables 150 650 3
Gardenburger Meals
Meatless Meatloaf 180 650 7
Lean Cuisine Comfort
Classics Baked
Chicken or Honey
Mustard Chicken (1) 240 650 2
2 grams of saturated fat
[check] [check] Trader Joe's Vegan Pad
Thai with Tofu 390 160 4
[check] [check] Moosewood Spicy Penne
Puttanesca 300 380 2
[check] Organic Classics
Chicken Cacciatore
with Penne Pasta 340 410 3
[check] Lean Cuisine Cafe
Classics Steak Tips
Portobello 180 460 3
[check] Whole Kitchen Pad Thai
with Tofu 350 490 3
[check] Amy's Macaroni & Soy
Cheeze 370 500 4
[check] Smart Ones Ravioli
Florentine 220 510 3
[check] Smart Ones Lemon Herb
Chicken Piccata 250 510 2
[check] Lean Cuisine Comfort
Classics Chicken
Parmesan 280 510 3
[check] Whole Kitchen Chana
Masala 490 510 9
[check] Trader Joe's Chicken
Tandoori with Spinach 360 520 5
[check] Michelina's Lean
Gourmet Spaghetti and
Meat Sauce 280 530 4
[check] Lean Cuisine Spa
Cuisine Pork with
Cherry Sauce 260 540 4
[check] Lean Cuisine One Dish
Favorites Chicken
Enchilada 280 540 3
[check] Michelina's Lean
Gourmet Pasta in Wine
and Mushroom Sauce
with White Chicken 290 550 3
[check] Whole Kitchen Mattar
Paneer 380 560 2
[check] Lean Cuisine Cafe
Classics Asian-Style
Beef 210 570 2
[check] Lean Cuisine Spa
Cuisine Chicken Pecan 260 570 4
[check] Lean Cuisine Comfort
Classics Cheese
Lasagna with Chicken 290 570 4
[check] Lean Cuisine One Dish
Favorites Sante Fe
Style Rice & Beans or
Spaghetti with
Meatballs (1) 280 590 4
[check] Healthy Choice, except
Salisbury Steak (2) 290 590 5
[check] Celentano Vegetarian
Eggplant Rollettes 250 600 5
[check] Lean Cuisine One Dish
Favorites Three Bean
Chili 260 600 8
[check] Lean Cuisine One Dish
Favorites Macaroni
and Beef 270 600 3
[check] Smart Ones Three
Cheese Ziti Marinara 290 600 5
[check] Green Guru Pad Thai 380 600 4
Lean Cuisine
Dinnertime Selections
Grilled Chicken
Tuscan 270 610 3
Lean Cuisine One Dish
Favorites Asian-Style
Pot Stickers 320 610 3
Lean Cuisine Cafe
Classics Thai-Style
Chicken 230 620 2
Lean Cuisine Cafe
Classics Chicken
Marsala or Baked
Lemon Pepper Fish (1) 180 630 5
Lean Cuisine Comfort
Classics Southern
Beef Tips 250 630 3
Smart Ones Chicken
Fettucini 300 630 4
Lean Cuisine Cafe
Classics Chicken and
Vegetables 240 640 2
Lean Cuisine Spa
Cuisine Lemon Chicken 270 650 2
3 grams of saturated fat
[check] [check] Celentano Roasted
Vegetable Lasagna 300 350 5
[check] Trader Joe's Thai
Style Massaman
Chicken 390 500 3
[check] Smart Ones Broccoli &
Cheddar Roasted
Potatoes 250 510 4
[check] Lean Cuisine Cafe
Classics Chicken with
Basil Cream Sauce or
Three Cheese
Chicken (1) 250 510 2
[check] Smart Ones Radiatore
Romano 280 510 4
[check] Lean Cuisine Cafe
Classics Three Cheese
Chicken 230 520 2
[check] Celentano Vegetarian
Eggplant Parmigiana 350 520 6
[check] Michelina's Lean
Gourmet Fried Chicken 240 540 2
[check] Smart Ones Grilled
Chicken in Garlic
Herb Sauce or Penne
Pollo (1) 240 570 3
[check] Michelina's Lean
Gourmet Fettucine
Alfredo 250 570 2
[check] Lean Cuisine Cafe
Classics Fiesta
Grilled Chicken 250 580 3
[check] Trader Joe's Chicken
Masala 320 580 7
[check] Organic Classics
Macaroni & Meat Sauce 340 580 3
[check] Zone Perfect Chicken
Gumbo (shelf stable) 380 600 7
Michelina's Lean
Gourmet Chicken
Alfredo Florentine 270 610 2
Cedarlane Low Fat
Garden Vegetable
Enchiladas 280 620 6
Smart Ones Three
Cheese Macaroni 290 630 2
Lean Cuisine Cafe
Classics Honey Dijon
Grilled Chicken 220 640 2
Smart Ones Fajita
Chicken Supreme or
Tuna Noodle
Gratin (1) 270 650 3
Lean Cuisine One Dish
Favorites Lasagna
with Meat Sauce or
Swedish Meatballs (1) 300 650 3
4 grams of saturated fat
Amy's Light in Sodium
Vegetable Lasagna 290 340 4
Lean Cuisine Comfort
Classics Honey
Roasted Pork or
Meatloaf (1) 260 580 4
Healthy Choice
Salisbury Steak 360 580 5
Lean Cuisine One Dish
Favorites Cheese
Ravioli 250 590 3
Michelina's Lean
Gourmet Shrimp with
Pasta and Vegetables 260 590 2
Smart Ones Home-Style
Chicken 220 600 2
Smart Ones Santa Fe
Style Rice and Beans 300 620 6
Smart Ones Fettucini
Alfredo 270 650 3
Lean Cuisine One Dish
Favorites Macaroni
and Cheese 300 650 1
[check] [check] Best Bite.
[check] Honorable Mention.
(1) Average of the varieties listed.
(2) Average of the entire line.
Daily Values (daily limits for a 2,000-calorie diet): Fiber: 25 grams.
Sodium: 2,400 milligrams. Saturated Fat: 20 grams.
Source: manufacturers.
The use of information from this article for commercial purposes is
strictly prohibited without written permission from CSPI.
The information for this article was compiled by Heather Jones Heather Jones (born October 8, 1970 in Edmonton, Alberta) is a former field hockey player from Canada, who represented her native country at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. There she ended up in seventh place with the Canadian National Women's Team. and Danielle Weinberg. |
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