Is Lean Cuisine Healthy?

Is Lean Cuisine healthy?

Is Lean Cuisine Healthy?

If you're looking to lose weight with supermarket frozen meals, you're not alone. Hundreds of people rely on brands like Lean Cuisine, Healthy Choice, and Smart Ones to not only save time and money, but stick to their weight loss goals.

Lean Cuisine has become a household name and fills the frozen food shelves with meals like Macaroni & Cheese, Four Cheese Pizza, and Sweet & Sour Chicken. But are Lean Cuisines healthy?

Let's take a closer look to see what makes Lean Cuisine good for a diet!

Sodium

The very first thing that people think about when buying frozen meals is sodium. And for good reason. High-sodium foods plague the average American diet and are especially harmful for those with certain heart conditions.

So, how much sodium does an average Lean Cuisine contain? The good news is most meals fall in the range of 500 mg - 700 mg of sodium, making them a good choice for dieting.

The lowest sodium meal is the Thin Crust BBQ Recipe Chicken Pizza, which clocks in at 300 mg of sodium. Unfortunately, salt isn't the only thing missing from this meal, as this is one of the lowest ranking meals for taste.

If you want flavor without the salt, opt for the Chicken Ranch Club Flatbread Melt with only 430 mg of sodium. It always gets great taste ratings by Lean Cuisine fans.

Their latest line of meals boasts 20% More and are certainly more filling than the regular Lean Cuisines. But watch out for the sodium in these meals, since a bigger portion ultimately means more salt. 

Fiber

The healthiest frozen meals that support long-term weight loss should have 5-6 grams of fiber. This key nutrient makes the meal filling, which will help curb cravings. Studies have also shown that dieters who consumed more fiber were able to lose more weight. 

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Many Lean Cuisine frozen meals are low-sodium, but are they high in fiber? The numbers don't look outstanding.

On average, Lean Cuisine meals only have about 3 grams of fiber, which makes them not very filling. 

Dieters who use Lean Cuisine for their weight loss goals may find themselves hungry soon after eating one of the low-fiber meals.

Avoid the Salisbury Steak with Macaroni & Cheese, which only has 2 grams of fiber. Instead, try the Butternut Squash Ravioli, which has 7 grams of fiber. 

Sugar

A healthy frozen meal should, of course, contain very little sugar. But it can be hard to give up that cheap and tasty ingredient, and it still sneaks into many frozen entrées you'll see at the supermarket today.

So, does Lean Cuisine own up to its name in the sugar category? It surely does! The average Lean Cuisine contains about 7-8 grams of sugar, which is optimal for people trying to lose weight.

As long as you steer clear of the Sweet & Sour Chicken, Glazed Turkey Tenderloins, and Apple Cranberry Chicken, you'll avoid the whopping 20+ grams of sugar they contain. 

Try the Lean Cuisine Grilled Chicken Caesar if you're staying away from high-sugar meals, since it only has 1 gram of sugar. It may be low in fiber, but it's still a good choice for a healthy lunch.

All in all...

Since Lean Cuisine frozen meals tend to be low in sodium and sugar, they are good options for those looking to integrate healthy and convenient meals in their routine.

But Lean Cuisine is good for a diet plan only if you stick to certain meals. Not every meal is going to offer the best nutritional value for your buck, so be sure to double-check the labels.

Choose Lean Cuisines that are low in sodium and high in fiber and you'll be on the right track. In fact, many of the new meals are focusing on plant-based ingredients, which will provide a boost of fiber and protein.

As time goes on, you'll notice that Lean Cuisine, along with their frozen meal competitors, will be offering healthier meals. They'll follow the trends, sure. But overall, consumers are demanding higher quality ingredients and lower levels of preservatives and chemicals. With this demand comes innovative and new ideas, hopefully in the form of more delicious, portion-controlled meals. 

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