Lean Cuisines, Smart Ones..Frozen Dinners?????

[CynthiaMTR 2]

Ive never been a frozen dinner kinda person, but many people love them because of the Portion Control. Ive been thinking about buying some for quick lunches and easy to document nutrition, but seems like they are all Pasta and many contain rice....the things we need to stay away from. I was able to eat two last week that were pasta based...lasanga..but I just went for my first fill today so by next week Ill be back on solids. There is no way I want to try any pasta ones with the stories ive head of people getting stuck on pastas, bread and rice. Any ideas of some good ones for lapband people from anyone that eats frozen dinnners/lunches on a regular basis. Just want to have as an alternative when I dont have time to prepare homemade meals.

[whobuddy711 1]

Love Weight Watchers quesadilla. 200 calories for one. Also buy grocerie store's deli meatloaf and have a bit with vegetables or a salad for a change.:thumbup:

[juliansmom2003 3]

Lean Cuisine Herb chicken is only 180 calories and 20 g of Protein. Their meatloaf w/ mac and cheese is about 220 calories and 23 g of protein. I'd look for anything under 260 calories and a decent amount of protein. Just be sure you're getting a lot of Water, since the frozen dinners are full of sodium. I eat them too, but I just need to make sure I'm getting enough water in to balance it all out.

[Loving everyday 0]

I bring a Lean Cuisine everyday to work, I buy the ones without the pasta's in there, of course I can never finish them but they are pretty yummy. They have a beef and vegtable one, (my fav) baked chicken, there are a few more I choose from just look really closely for them, they are there you just have to search them out...Good Luck!!

[marykb 0]

I have a question for the people that are eating the frozen meals: do you normally eat the whole dinner at one sitting, or do you split it up into more than 1 meal? I would love to have those, I've always liked Lean Cuisine, but am only able to have a total of 6 oz. of food a day until I lose all my weight. I didn't know if I could split up a meal like that.

[kimmyv 0]

I tried the frozen dinners at first. And even though I had eaten them in the past when trying to diet and liked most of them.... After being banded my whole taste for food changed.

Processed, frozen foods now taste like sawdust and chemicals to me. Partly because of how much we have to chew and also because as part of the journey I have been trying to eat "clean" and organic. I shoot for nothing refined, no high fructose corn Syrup, no hydrogenate/partially hydragenated oil, no white flour, no chemicals. About 80% of what I eat is clean, whole foods. It is amazing once you get past the carb and sugar withdrawals how good the food tastes vs processed. If it didn't have a mother or grow from dirt- I try not to eat it.

I create my own little smart ones Entrees. For example, this is what I did last week.

Sunday-- took organic chicken breasts, salt and peppered and a slight dusting of rice flour (optional)(tsp). Sauted each side (to just light brown not cooked thru) in tbl olive oil and then put into a 250-275 degree oven till cooked thru(my pan can go into the oven). You can do this will pork chop/boneless loins too. I usually cook a big pan of both and divide up.

Steamed broccoli (or i have sauted zucchini or asaparagus). What ever veggie you want!

I cut the chicken breast into 2 oz pieces and then weigh out 2 oz of veggie. Pack into containers and you've got 4 meals. Make a couple of different veggies for variety.

I will also make a pot of organic, gluten free risotto and dish a small amount of that in. Sometimes I can eat rice, sometimes not. Or I will slice and saute a couple baby potatoes with onions to put in for a little carb action.

I bring all the pre packed containers to work on Monday or Tuesday (depends which day I cook) and also leave 1 or 2 at home so I have options if I don't feel like cooking at night.

Just an idea.... Takes some getting used at first to get into the planning and shopping routine of it. We eat so little-- why not make it worth it!

[Nean4488 1]

I use to live on meals like this, partly because they were easy and partly because I am in college... but you really should read up on processed foods and all the salt that is in there... its so bad for you!!

[CynthiaMTR 2]

Thanks for all the replys and great ideas. I like the idea of cooking and prepakaging my own meals, because YES we do eat so little. Its amazing now how any little bit of left overs can be my lunch!!!! I just wanted to have some ideas of frozen foods that i can have ready for those days that I dont have anything home made. Good Luck everyone.