14 Healthy Frozen Meals You'll Feel Good About

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When packing lunches or rushing to get dinner together, sometimes you just need a quick fix. Instead of settling on greasy takeout, go for one of these healthy frozen meals.

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Everyone needs a break from cooking once in awhile—whether you’re burnt out from baking homemade sourdough during the lockdown, need some quick lunches to take to work or are just too busy to cook dinner on weeknights. It’s nice to have some no-fuss dinners on hand, and these healthy frozen meals are sure to do the trick.

Taste of Home’s food editor Peggy Woodward, RDN, says “I’m a proponent of frozen meals and sides and here’s why: If you’ve got a good option in your freezer, it might not be as healthy as making a meal from scratch, but it’s better than heading through the drive-through (or munching on a bag of potato chips for dinner when nothing sounds good and you don’t feel like cooking).”

It is important to keep in mind that not all frozen meals are created equal. When scoping out the frozen meal section, carefully examine the nutrition information. Peggy suggests a few things to look for:

• Ingredients: Can you pronounce all of them? The more whole foods the better. Look for whole grains, veggies and lean protein.
• Calories: Don’t be fooled into buying the meal with the fewest calories. For complete dinners, look for a total of 400-600 calories. If yours is less than that, round it out with what’s missing–maybe an extra veggie, whole grain or fruit on the side.
• Protein: If it’s a full meal or main dish, find options with at least 11 grams of protein per serving to keep you feeling full longer.
• Sodium: One of the biggest offenders in frozen meals and sides is sodium. Compare brands to find those with the lowest sodium.
• Fiber: For a sure sign that your meal or side is packed with the good stuff (veggies, whole grains and/or legumes) look for 4 grams or more of fiber per serving.