Can you have Lean Cuisine and or Smart Ones, or are they too high in sodium

[LisaDomalewski 79]

Can you have lean cuisine or smart ones after you are on solids, or are they too high in sodium?

[samuelsmom 670]

Regular food that you cook yourself is a better option, however, the frozen meals can be convenient. If you are otherwise healthy, then they should not be a problem. Just be sure to eat lower sodium foods are days you have the box meals and get in plenty of fluids. If you have medical conditions such as high blood pressure, cardiac or kidney problems, then I would talk to the dietitian for professional advice.

[LisaDomalewski 79]

thank you! I do cook a fair bit, I will have to change some of the cooking to high Protein, low fat, low carb. My plan is to bring left overs some days for lunch, and a few days a week maybe opt for the frozen meals. My biggest downfall pre-surgery, my surgery is march 30th is lunch. That is where I really tend to over eat.

[bikrchk 1,313]

Funny. I used to LIVE on Lean Cuisine. I got FAT on Lean Cuisine! And yes, it's full of sodium and other nastiness that I should have limiting as I used to have high blood pressure. Today, with normal blood pressure, I tend to cook my own stuff. I don't really limit salt and by pressure is normal unmedicated. I cook because I'm pickier about what I put in my mouth as I'm only gonna get a little and I want it to TASTE GREAT. Frozen dinners fill the empty spot, but lets face it, they don't taste great. I keep a few around for those times I want to be really lazy or need something quick but rarely go there any more. I just freeze my own frozen dinners from the leftovers. WAY better!

Edited March 12, 2015 by bikrchk

[JamieLogical 8,727]

I wouldn't bother since I'd have to throw out a lot of the contents. It would be tough to find ones that had enough Protein and NOT a lot of starches. So many of them have rice or Pasta or potatoes....

[LisaDomalewski 79]

Funny. I used to LIVE on Lean Cuisine. I got FAT on Lean Cuisine! And yes, it's full of sodium and other nastiness that I should have limiting as I used to have high blood pressure. Today, with normal blood pressure, I tend to cook my own stuff. I don't really limit salt and by pressure is normal unmedicated. I cook because I'm pickier about what I put in my mouth as I'm only gonna get a little and I want it to TASTE GREAT. Frozen dinners fill the empty spot, but lets face it, they don't taste great. I keep a few around for those times I want to be really lazy or need something quick but rarely go there any more. I just freeze my own frozen dinners from the leftovers. WAY better!

I usually make enough to freeze half, so maybe I will continue to do that, and maybe have a few on hand for a lurch. I think Cooking healthy is the way to go!!!!!

[Veronica Page 488]

Not only high in sodium. High in everything else bad. They have sugar, carbs and loaded with unneeded ingredients. It is a safer bet to just cook. I cook enough for two-three meals to save time and to take for lunch and have found online some really great bariatric lunches you can make and take to work. Lil Protein boxes is what I take with deli meats and cheese and some veggies. Good luck!

[kyrickchick64 468]

Why would you want to? They're filled with garbage and taste like junk. I'd rather just bake some chicken breasts for 40 minutes @350 with poultry seasoning and salt and pepper and start there. Add vegetable medley and you have lunch

Or turkey and cheese roll ups. So easy

[Bluesea71 698]

I'm 11 months out from surgery. I have found one of the most useful things I have implemented is to have a weekend where I cook a few of my favorites and freeze them in individualized containers so they are there and ready to go when I need them. In a pinch, I do have a few frozen meals on hand, but they are high protein/low carb options. I will post one of my favorite brands that I found at Safeway. My favorite (cheesy chicken) has 26 grams of Protein and 8 carbs. At 11 months out I can eat about 3/4 of a container.   

[MichiganChic 3,262]

I think it depends on what you have, and how often. I got fat eating my home cooking - that was not fried or high in sugar. I never used frozen dinners for the first two years, but I'll tell you, I'm sick of eating the same things all the time, and I'm totally over cooking. The less time I spend thinking about and preparing food, the better. I use a lot of convenience foods these days, though most of it's pretty pure. Just this week I had a lean cuisine, and I ate the meat and left most of the Pasta. It was 18 grams of Protein and about 4 ounces of meat, so I am OK with that. I don't do it often, but like all things, I think it's ok in moderation.

[Cyrine 0]

My NUT said to get ones with fish, eat the fish, throw the rest away. I have to hunt for ones without breaking on the fish. It helps when I'm in a time crunch and need to grab something to take for lunch or schedule change and I need dinner pronto - no time to cook.

[Sunnybaby 95]

I have a few on hand and have them once a week for lunch. Can't finish the whole thing though so it's sort of a waste.

[Cleo's Mom 257]

When I was going through my 6 month pre-op diet for my lap band and met with the nutritionist every month - her office was full of the fake, plastic foods plus the empty boxes of all these diet dinners. She was a very strict dietician, too. So not everyone is on the same page nutrition wise - not even the nutritionists.

[heftyhoosier 30]

these meals are super high in Protein. Not in every city and we can't have everything in all of them, but they taste pretty good and are vacuum sealed. They don't have all the bad additives.

[LipstickLady 25,682]

Bleeeeeech! Now that I can only eat 1/2 cup or so, I want full flavored, tasty, yummy bites of real food, not frozen, bland, artificial globs of mush.

I couldn't finish an entire LC or WW meal if I wanted to. And I don't.

If you are looking for convenience, I totally understand. Ask your deli to slice you 5-10 super thin slices of your favorite beef, ham or poultry and the matching amounts of cheese. Make roll ups. I like horseradish cheese with roast beef, prosciutto and mozzarella, turkey and pepperjack with avocado... I make 10 or so and eat them as lunch or Snacks over 3-4 days.

Cooked shrimp, seafood salad, crab cakes, chicken salad... there are so many tasty options. Real food is the best.