It’s true. Frozen dinners have become ridiculously healthy compared to what we shoved into our microwaves only a generation ago.
But all is not lost.
Taste testers such as those at Consumer Reports (CR) have cast a light on some of the latest and greatest frozen dinners based on their use of whole foods, scant additives, restrained sodium, and international flavors. Despite their diminished salt and saturated fats, they are constructed to titillate our taste buds.
CR’s assessments align with an earlier report by The American Frozen Food Institute showing that sales of frozen dinners and foodstuffs were up 48 percent in April compared to last spring. Manufactures of the meals can thank Covid-19 for the increase as consumers raced to overstock their freezers.
A blend of chickpeas and spinach mingling with barley and brown rice by Birds Eye Steamfresh Superfood Blends, for example, were among CR’s top picks from 30 other freezer-case meals it evaluated. Tasters applauded the lemony dressing in the mix.
Two others that received high ratings: Amy’s Light in Sodium Indian Mattar Paneer and Healthy Choice Simply Steamers Unwrapped Burrito Bowl. Both flaunt robust sauces, legumes, and high levels of fiber.
From a team of physicians and registered dietitians of the VeryWell Fit Review Board, Amy’s Light & Lean quinoa with black beans, butternut squash and chard fetched top honors for being flavorful, gluten-free and vegan.
The panel also cited 
a chicken and black bean bowl by Good Food Made Simple as “being best for people with diabetes.”
So where are those Salisbury steaks and turkey suppers that qualified as “TV dinners” many ages ago? They’re still out there and often on the cheap—but loaded with more sodium and calories than ever. Isn’t that right, Banquet, Stouffer’s, and Hungry Man?
Banquet and Hungry Man have always been junk food in a box. Swanson, though heavy on sodium, was the upper level back in the day. At least they used actual turkey instead of super processed stuff that only vaguely resembled what it was supposed to be. Let’s face it, they’re all crap, only to be consumed in times of extreme desperation regardless of how far they’ve come.
Can’t forget the junky wonderland that is the world of frozen pizza!! Those things dominate entire blocks of the freezer aisle and some would argue their prominent feature is very well justified. Pizza is pizza!
I know somebody who actual freezes garbage … why buy it
Too funny!!! Good one!
😂😂😂 I too know someone who freezes garbage! Cost nothing! How Innovative of them