Frozen foods can be extremely convenient and satisfy a wide range of flavor preferences. These meals and snacks can help reduce food deterioration and waste at home, making it simple to eat healthily with little work in the kitchen. With so many frozen foods on the market today, not all are created equal. If you look around the frozen food section at your next grocery store, you’ll notice a wide variety of nutrient profiles, calorie numbers, ingredients used, and portion sizes. With so many foods to pick from, it might be difficult to narrow down your options. That’s where we come in with 10 of the worst frozen meals for weight gain.
Consider your nutrient requirements when selecting frozen foods for yourself. While some meals are designed to be low in calories for those attempting to lose weight, others have far more than 700 calories per serving. This significant calorie disparity can also be noticed in frozen snack foods. Furthermore, the protein content of frozen meals varies significantly. A choice with more than 20 grams of protein per serving will help you achieve your daily requirements while contributing to post-meal satiety. Finally, keep an eye on your sodium levels. Frozen foods are known for having high sodium content, which may contribute to water retention and high blood pressure, so choose wisely.
You may struggle to lose weight if you choose frozen foods purely for their convenience and flavor. Although the pancake-wrapped sausage is wonderful, several popular frozen dinners may cause you to gain weight. Foods with excessive calories per serving and high levels of fat, sugar, and sodium are the most likely culprits. If you eat frozen foods on a regular basis and have seen your weight creeping up, here are the ten worst frozen foods that could cause you to gain weight.
Blueberry Pancakes and Sausage On a Stick
Don’t be fooled by the blueberries in this dish. It has a substantial amount of fat and sugar in a little box. Not to mention that this cuisine is frequently consumed with syrup, which adds even more sugar to an already sweetened diet.
While 260 calories are not excessive for a snack or lunch, their composition is less than optimal. Added sugar is a source of empty calories, which means it offers energy with little vitamins, minerals, fiber, or protein. Furthermore, extra sugar in your food may contribute to high blood sugar, leading to weight gain and other health problems. Not to add that this snack only contains 6 grams of protein, which is insufficient for a meal.
FlaVorIce Pops
Many people remember These pops as a traditional summer delicacy for their flavor rather than their nutritional value. Of course, not all snacks must be healthful, but consuming these pops on a daily basis may result in weight gain. These pops’ calories are entirely made up of sugar, making them a substantial source of empty calories. While the calorie count per pop is minimal, foods high in refined carbs negatively influence fullness and may cause you to consume more, resulting in weight gain.
Haagen-Dazs Caramel Cone Ice Cream Bars
Yes, they’re delicious and creamy, but these Häagen-Dazs bars are one of the worst frozen meals for weight gain. They are not just high in fat and sugar, but the majority of the fat is saturated. According to the study, this is the more concerning type of fat that may have a harmful impact on your cardiovascular health. So, not only may these bars pack on calories, leading to weight gain, but they may also harm your general health.
Red Baron Fully Loaded Pepperoni Pizza
This pizza is a fairly concentrated source of calories, with roughly 400 calories per serving, only 1/6 of the pie. While it has adequate protein for a meal, a single serving contains more than 25% of your daily salt requirement. And, let’s face it, most people will eat more than one serving during a meal. High-calorie meals can quickly put you in a calorie excess for the day, resulting in weight gain.
Jimmy Dean Sausage Croissant Breakfast Sandwich
Morning is often the most hectic time for many people, so having a convenient meal is essential. While convenient, this Jimmy Dean croissant sandwich leaves a lot to be desired in terms of nutrition. This item contains a high percentage of fat calories, making it a high-calorie food. Items that pack a lot of calories into a small container can lead to weight gain, especially if they lack satiating nutrients like protein and fiber.
Lily’s Toaster Grills Grilled American Cheese Sandwich
Grilled cheeses, a popular comfort food, pack flavor in the simplicity of bread, butter, and cheese. While tasty, this alternative is high in fat, saturated, and sodium. Because of the nutritious balance, as well as the zero grams of fiber and two grams of added sugar, these grilled cheeses are likely to pack on the pounds. They won’t break the bank at 360 calories per sandwich, but as a poor source of calories, they may contribute to weight gain.
Banquet Original Chicken Nuggets
Chicken nuggets are a freezer staple that can be a convenient source of protein. Unfortunately, in addition to protein, these nuggets contain 12 grams of fat, which accounts for over half of the calories per serving. While they are created with white chicken meat, which has a lower fat and calorie content, they are still not good for your waistline. Furthermore, at 11 grams of protein, an adult may not find a serving especially filling.
Kellogg’s Eggo French Toaster Sticks Cinnamon
Who doesn’t enjoy French toast for breakfast? While frozen French toast with syrup is a quick and easy breakfast, it may be contributing to weight gain. It contains 14 grams of sugar per serving, which is more than half of the recommended daily limit of added sugar for women, and this does not include any syrup. Furthermore, with only 4 grams of protein, this meal is unlikely to satisfy.
Gorton’s Beer Battered Fish Tenders
Fish is a naturally lean protein that contains vital fatty acids such as omega-3. Unfortunately, these beer-battered fish tenders are also high in fat. If you rely on these to supplement your fish intake, you may be jeopardizing your weight loss efforts. Although they do include omega-3 fat, this nutrition can be obtained from sources that are lower in carbohydrates, fat, and sodium.
El Monterey Cheese Enchiladas Meal
What makes this food appealing? It is high in protein, which might help with satiety. Unfortunately, the high fat and sodium level, combined with the lack of fiber given the total carb amount, make it unsuitable for weight management. It also contains more than one-third of your daily salt requirement, which may contribute to extra water weight.
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