Improve the nutritional value of frozen dinners Many (okay, most) frozen dinners are high in sodium. To keep sodium under control, look for meals with no more than 800 mg of sodium, 1/3 of the daily recommended maximum of 2,400 mg.

Unless you want to eat enough fat for the entire day in one fell swoop, pay attention to the total fat content of frozen dinners. The simplest method is to make sure the dinner you choose has no more than 30 percent of the daily value for total fat.

Remember that lower numbers are preferred for fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium. More is better when you're looking at fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium and iron on the nutrition label. In general, dinners that are fried, wrapped in pastry or served with creamy sauces are higher in fat and sodium.

What about calories?
Less is not necessarily more when it comes to calories. Dinner should provide at least 350 calories -- and 400 to 500 calories is preferable for active people. If you don't eat enough, cravings are sure to catch up with you before the night is over. Add a salad, piece of fruit and glass of skim milk to frozen meals to increase the total calories by 200 and improve the nutritional value at the same time.

Before you read the amount of calories, check the serving size. Typical frozen dinners range from 6 to 12 ounces in weight. A six-ounce dinner may not be enough to satisfy your hunger, while a 12-ounce dinner may lead to overeating. When in doubt choose a smaller meal and add vegetables, fruit and milk.