The 7 Best Healthy Frozen Meals You Can Buy at the Supermarket
Cooking is nice when you’re in the mood, but not so much when you really aren’t. Like at the end of a long day, when you’ve already worked your butt off, and the last thing you want to do is work some more to make dinner. In these situations, frozen meals come in handy, especially now that there are tons of healthy and tasty options available. Though they used to be kind of a last resort, you can now find meals right in the freezer section that are just as healthy and flavorful as something you might have prepared on your own.
After taste-testing as many of the newest frozen meals we could get our hands on hands on, SELF editors picked these seven products as the winners of this year’s Healthy Food Awards. They all had to meet nutrition criteria created by registered dietitians to even be considered. And you can be sure they taste good, because we only included frozen meal options we’d actually want to eat on the regular. With options like butternut squash lasagna and orange-mango chicken, it’s no surprise why.
Courtesy of Brand1
Best Breakfast Sandwich: Jenny Craig Turkey Bacon and Egg White Sandwich
Everyone can agree that eating a breakfast sandwich is one of the best ways to kick off a day (or end your day—we don’t judge!). This sandwich has all the flavors you know and love from a good morning sammy, with plenty of protein and carbs to keep you energized and satisfied.
Per one sandwich: 200 calories, 7 g fat (2 g saturated), 22 g carbs, 3 g sugar, 11 g protein, 420 mg sodium
Suggested retail price: $5.69 for one sandwich
Buy it: jennycraig.com
Courtesy of Brand2
Best Beef Entree: Stouffers Sweet and Spicy Meatballs
When you don’t feel like rolling a bunch of meatballs yourself, this hearty, grain bowl-style dinner has you covered. Coated in a Sriracha-soy sauce marinade, it has a spicy, umami-packed flavor that’s irresistible—and has lots of fiber from brown rice and protein from tender meatballs made from a mix of beef and pork.
Per one container: 380 calories, 8 g fat (2.5 g saturated), 56 g carbs, 17 g sugar, 23 g protein, 760 mg sodium
Suggested retail price: $3.75 for a 12-oz. box
Buy it: target.com
3
Best Chicken Entree: Luvo Orange Mango Chicken
You don’t need to order takeout to get your hands on a satisfying orange chicken dinner. This meal uses mangoes and orange juice to get that sweet, familiar orange chicken flavor, and it’s extra satisfying because it’s served over a bed of quinoa and nutrient-rich veggies like edamame and kale.
Per one pouch: 310 calories, 9 g fat, (1 g saturated), 37 g carbs, 10 g sugar, 19 g protein, 470 mg sodium
Suggested retail price: $6.99 for a 10-oz. pouch
Buy it: amazon.com
Courtesy of Brand4
Best Lasagna: Lean Cuisine Butternut Squash Lasagna
To be honest, this lasagna is so good, you’ll probably find yourself craving it—at least that’s what happened to us. Filled with tender, perfectly cooked butternut squash and a luxurious goat cheese sauce, it’ll make you feel decadent AF, and you hardly have to do any work to make it. Even though it’s vegetarian, it has enough protein to keep you satisfied.
Per one box: 340 calories, 6 g fat (3 g saturated), 55 g carbs, 10 g sugar, 16 g protein, 570 mg sodium
Suggested retail price: $3.69 for a box
Buy it: leancuisine.com
Courtesy of Brand5
Best Vegan/Vegetarian Entree: Grainful Frozen Entrees: Chana Masala
The next time you’re in the mood for a spicy, hearty meal, reach for this chana masala. The Indian-style dish is filled with spices like cumin, garam masala, and turmeric, as well as a medley of grains and seeds like sorghum, quinoa, and fenugreek. And our editors confirm, it will make you feel great. “The meal was very hearty and filling, and the fiber and protein content is great to keep you full for hours after eating,” one wrote.
Per one box: 300 calories, 8 g fat (1 g saturated), 50 g carbs, 13 g sugar, 12 g protein, 160 mg sodium
Suggested retail price: $8.32 for a 10-oz. box
Buy it: amazon.com
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Best Frozen Pizza: O, That’s Good! Fire Roasted Veggie Pizza
Many frozen pizzas leave a lot to be desired, but this one will leave you desiring it. Loaded with lots of different veggies, it’ll make you wonder why you don’t eat all of your pizzas with a bunch of veggies on top.
Per ⅕ pizza: 280 calories, 9 g fat (3 g saturated), 40 g carbs, 3 g sugar, 12 g protein, 490 mg sodium
Suggested retail price: $6.99 for a 23.5-oz. pizza
Buy it: othatsgood.com
Courtesy of Brand7
Best Gluten-Free Frozen Pizza: Caulipower Margherita Pizza
Making homemade cauliflower crust is kind of a project. This frozen version of the trendy food takes care of the work for you, and we think it’s just as good as (if not better) than some of the other traditional pizzas in the freezer aisle.
Per ½ pizza: 330 calories, 15 g fat (5 g saturated), 37 g carbs, 2 g sugar, 12 g protein, 470 mg sodium
Suggested retail price: $12.50 for an 11.6-oz pizza
Buy it: amazon.com