I like the Lean Cuisine pizzas...BUT only once in a while when I'm in a hurry! Any pre-packaged meal (even the canned soups) are loaded with sodium! I couldn't understand why I was retaining so much water all the time because I don't use salt on my food. At my WW meeting our leader told us NOT to eat those everyday, just once in a blue moon.

Good luck!

Betty said it - sodium. I used to eat them and then fell in-love with Lean Cuisines, as they were less in calories and just delicious, BUT the sodium got me. I also was disappointed thinking I was doing something healthy because they advertise so much about No Preservatives, however that doesn't mean no chemicals or hormones within the foods. The veggies and fruits are not organic - meaning sprayed with pesticides and the meats and chicken are not organic or green - meaning the animals are injected with hormones and antibiotics. I gave them up after that. I do eat Amy's organics when I have frozen meal, but again - sodium!

I don't eat them much this time around but the last time I joined WW I ate them quite a bit. I lost 40 lbs that time before I went off program. These days I try to eat more fresh foods though.

Hate to say it, but canned soups, frozen dinners and single serve popcorn are my lifesavers. I work long shifts, barely get time to get home and sleep before it's time to go back. I don't want to spend my remaining time cooking - I'd rather do see my DH, family and pets. It's frozen dinners or fast food - I think they are the lesser evil.

I've looked at the sodium content in some of these meals and didn't think it seemed like a whole lot. What is considered an acceptable daily intake of sodium?

Now canned soups I have noticed have a very high sodium content so I tend to avoid those.

To save money, I used to help my roommate make preportioned freezer meals for the whole week on Sundays. She used airtight, microwavable containers and could choose her own dishes with no preservatives. It usually only took about an hour to make a whole week's worth.

Where I work, low sodium diets are generally 4Gm or 2GM (4000mg or 2000mg) per day. I don't know what a regular level would be. I don't salt foods very often, and I don't have a health problem that is affected by sodium, so I don't worry much about it.

Those meals are not healthy if that is the bulk of your meals - too much sodium, carbs and not enough protein. I keep a few LC on hand for emergencies, but I mainly make extra for dinner and freeze my own meals.

I prefer to do a lot of my own cooking, but the frozen meals (Usually smart ones or healthy choice) are nice to have on hand, so I usually keep a few in my freezer. Twice a week I work late and don't get home until around 8pm, so it's way easy to just pop one of the meals in the microwave when I get home. I'm also a vegetarian and like the English Muffin/Egg/Cheese SmartOne breakfast sandwiches. I love egg sandwiches, but these, I know, are much better for me than the ones I had growing up. I have them on the weekends as a special "breakfast treat," as silly as that sounds.

I usually have a few in my freezer for emergency. My favorites are the meat lasagna and the quesadillas. I also like Amy's frozen foods (usually in the health food section). They are delicious, but a little more expensive.

Overall I think I can cook healthier and yummier food myself with fresh ingredient, and do that as a rule. Plus, cooking allows me to see "oh, this is what a real portion size is" so I feel like I'm learning more than just having it doled out for me in a pre-made meal.

Honestly, I don't see anything wrong with it. I use them everyday for lunch - and sometimes for dinner too if I don't have time. Everyone always complains about the sodium ... but what about the sodium in fast foods??? I've actually noticed that many of the Healthy Choices and Lean Cuisines aren't that bad in sodium content. Also, not every one has issues with salt.

I say anything that will make it easier on a person to stay on track is a good thing. Make sure you take a vitamin and try to get in some extra vegs & fruits.

I'm not sure the amount per day you should have, but My Step Mom who has high blood pressure, was told by her doctor to only eat foods with 5% or less of Sodium in them. If you look at the Nutrition label it will give you a Sodium percentage.

I agree that these frozen meals are loaded with salt and I also feel like once in a while its ok but most of your meals should be cooked. This way you learn how to cook healthier meals instead of relying on someone else to do it for you.

When I first started WW and was learning how to eat differently I used them a lot. Now that I am better at it and more willing to try new things I don't use them much at all. One time I did eat nothing but WW/LC/HC meals for a week to see if I thought I would like Nutrisystem and I felt terrible that whole week. I had headaches, muscle spasms, and an ongoing tummy ache. Everything in moderation is usually the best policy.

Mix-n-match things to have on hand at all times for quick meals:

proteins: frozen chicken breast, tuna packets, cottage cheese, hardboiled eggs, organic turkey bacon, canned salmon, microwaveable fish fillets

veggies: any (HUGE variety) fresh, frozen, canned. so easy: raw, steamed, or just nuked

fats: drizzle evoo on top of veggies, eat yolks, mayo with your tuna

carbs: a piece of fruit, a sweet potato, peas, pre make some brown rice once a week, corn

Make ahead recipes to portion out, freeze, and reheat as needed:
chili
mini quiche
meatballs
veggie soup

Mix-n-match things to have on hand at all times for quick meals:

proteins: frozen chicken breast, tuna packets, cottage cheese, hardboiled eggs, organic turkey bacon, canned salmon, microwaveable fish fillets

veggies: any (HUGE variety) fresh, frozen, canned. so easy: raw, steamed, or just nuked

fats: drizzle evoo on top of veggies, eat yolks, mayo with your tuna

carbs: a piece of fruit, a sweet potato, peas, pre make some brown rice once a week, corn

Make ahead recipes to portion out, freeze, and reheat as needed:
chili
mini quiche
meatballs
veggie soup
chicken broccoli cheese casserole