Prepared Meals

Reviewed By:
Lynn Grieger, RD

Prepared meals basics

The pitch is that if you're sick of planning meals and cooking, you choose one of these plans that provide all your food in prepackaged meals. Just heat and eat.

You buy prepackaged foods daily or weekly that provide all of your meals and snacks. You don't need to worry about meal planning or portion control, and the meals are planned to meet most health guidelines.

There are several prepared meal plans that are available. Some allow consumers to buy a week's or a month's worth of breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks. Others offer individually priced meals that you can buy in your supermarket .

Upside of Prepared Meals

• You don't have to do anything - all the calorie counting and portion control is done for you.
  
  
• Nowadays there is a huge selection of prepared meals available in supermarkets, offering everything from mac and cheese to chicken tikka masala.
  
  
• Some prepared meals are healthy and can provide you with a balance of protein, carbohydrates and fiber - if you make sure to read the nutrition facts label and list of ingredients.

Downside of Prepared Meals

• These plans are expensive. Some dinners can cost close to $5 each, and subscriber-based meal plans may cost even more.
  
  
• Prepared meals do not teach habits for lifelong weight control. When you stop buying the meals, you're likely to go back to old habits.
  
  
• Some prepared meals have a very high sodium content, which can lead to high blood pressure and other health conditions.
  
  
• In some places, there may be limited variety. And if you've bought a month's worth of food and you don't like the meals, you're stuck with them.

Are Prepared Meals for You?

This chart can help you see how prepared meals fit your goals and lifestyle concerns.

Lynn Grieger, RD on Prepared Meals

Replacing all your meals with prepared meals is too simplistic and too expensive to continue for a lifetime. However, low-fat, low-sodium prepared meals are a good one-off option for someone who wants to eat a healthy balanced meal in a hurry.

iVillagers on Prepared Meals

"I started a diet last year of almost 90 percent frozen dinners (Lean Cuisine, Healthy Choice and Weight Watchers) plus fruit and a few low-fat snacks. I have lost 85 pounds and have only 40 pounds to go till my goal weight. I spend the same amount of money for food, but all my meals take six minutes or less -- and no dishes!" -- An iVillager

"I tried Nutrisystem some years ago and it didn't work for me. After a while the food started to taste like sawdust." -- An iVillager

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