Best Frozen Foods for Weight Loss

Learn about the diet-friendly foods available to you so you can safely and wisely navigate the frozen foods section of the supermarket.

The frozen food aisle can be a dangerous place for any dieter. It’s not just the ice cream and ready-to-fry foods to be wary of. Hidden sugars and salt lurk in seemingly healthy prepared meals as well. Get smart and fill your cart with only the best. Some are also excellent time savers, so you can get more done in and out of the kitchen.

Edamame, young green soybeans, are a great source of protein. Getting an adequate amount of protein in your diet can actually give your metabolism a boost. Just one half-cup serving of edamame provides 8 grams of protein – triple the amount of protein you’d get from most other vegetables. They steam in minutes and are perfect to eat as a snack or add to a salad. 

To cut back on your meat consumption, try an all-natural veggie burger. Dr. Praeger’s California Veggie Burgerhas no trans-fat, no saturated fat and no cholesterol. It’s packed with spinach, peas, carrots and soybeans. As a bonus, this veggie patty also contains oat bran, a great source of soluble fiber. Soluble fiber delays the emptying of your stomach and makes you feel full longer, which helps control weight. 

If you love brown rice, but hate the amount of boiling it takes to get it just right, try Trader Joe’s frozen organic brown rice. It cooks in only 3 minutes, has no sodium, no cholesterol and no trans fat. Each grain of rice is individually frozen to lock moisture in. A one-cup serving can give you 10% of your daily fiber intake and plenty of antioxidants. 

If you're going to indulge, consider ice cream made with real cream, as it'll be less likely to contain artificial sweeteners. For a smart dessert, try Julie’s Organic Ice Cream Petite Juliette Sandwiches. Unlike other low-fat or low-calorie desserts, these 100-calorie treats are not only made with real ice cream, but each one has only 6 grams of sugar – half the amount found in other diet ice creams. 

By D. Oz