How to Pick a Frozen Meal That’s Actually Healthy

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As we head into the Holiday Season, many of us, like myself, look for quick and easy meals as this becomes one of the busiest times of the year due to end-of-the-year work goals and holiday commitments. It’s crucial for me to find nourishing meals in order to keep my energy level and focus up, however, sometimes that can be really difficult when time is limited and healthy frozen options are scarce.

That’s why I’d like to share with you my top 4 tips on how to pick a frozen meal that’s actually healthy!

1. Check to see how much protein is in the meal.

Protein is an essential macronutrient in our diet. It helps to keep our blood sugar levels stable, builds muscle and protects our gut, just to name a few. I always check to see how much protein is in a frozen meal because if it’s less than 5 grams, then this indicates that there may be a lot of unnecessary ingredients in there instead of the real deal. This is why I love Evive’s Tom Thaï. It has 12 grams of plant-based protein in just one wheel  (yes, one!!) which comes from the sunflower seeds and edamame. This makes me feel confident that this quick and nutrient-dense meal will keep me fuller for longer. 

2. Verify how much fibre is in the meal.

Fibre helps to pull toxins from the body while also stabilizing our blood sugar levels. On average, we should be getting about 45 grams of fibre each day, but, unfortunately, most of us aren’t even getting 20 grams. If you struggle to get fibre into your diet, add a few more servings of fruits and vegetables into your diet or try Evive’s Bam Chili! This frozen lunch has 7 grams of fibre in each wheel, which is incredible for a ready-made meal. Once you add your Bam Chili with rice, cauliflower rice or quinoa, you’ll be looking at over 10 grams of fibre for this meal. 

3. Analyze at the ingredient list.

This is probably one of the most important tips I could ever give! Read the ingredient list carefully and try to imagine what every single ingredient looks like outside of that package. When I go through the ingredients of Tom Thaï, Bam Chili and Mac Squash, I can picture every individual ingredient and I know that they are all incredibly nutritious. If you’re having a hard time understanding what the ingredient is, this may be a good indicator that it is not a clean product.

4. Make sure the sugar content is low. 

You would be surprised to see how many freezer meals are actually jam-packed with sugar, and I don’t mean the natural sugars which are coming from fruits or vegetables. Many products out on the market will actually have added powdered sugar in their meals to enhance the product. I love Mac Squash because not only is it low in sugar (6 grams for the whole wheel) but the sugars are coming from the most natural and beautiful vegetables like squash and carrots.

I hope you feel more comfortable now that you have this list of tips for freezer made meal shopping! Remember to use code JASS15 to save $15 off of your first online order of Evive lunches and smoothies!