Frozen meals have come a very long way from the infamous TV dinner used as a meal in a pinch. The choices were few and far between then but today’s frozen meals offer a much greater variety and the taste has significantly improved. One of the most popular frozen meal line for the health conscious person is Lean Cuisine, made by the company Stouffers.
What Is Lean Cuisine?
Lean Cuisine is a name that has been around for more than thirty years and has reportedly evolved with the changes observed in the industry. The landscape of culinary culture has become more diverse, with an increased demand for companies to deepen their understanding about health and wellness.
The company states that it is on a mission to bring the best flavors from every corner of the world to the consumer. From sweet and spicy Korean beef to Mexican-style enchiladas. The meals from Meal Cuisine are closely monitored by their in-house nutritionist, ensuring that each meal is healthy as well as delicious.
Lean Cuisine supposedly makes sure their meals are high-quality by following a simple three-step formula:
- Create a popular recipe that is sure to be liked.
- Use trusted, real ingredients to bring it to life.
- Finally, Lean Cuisine uses only the best culinary cooking techniques to prepare it. The meal is frozen to keep it fresh and then delivered to the customer’s door.
What Kind Of Meals Are Available And How Much?
Lean Cuisine sorts their available meals by nutrition, country of origin, ingredients and product line such as comfort foods and morning snacks. At the time of publishing this article, there is no way for one to purchase through Lean Cuisine’s website, but the company does give the locations of its distributors where a purchase can be made.
The price of a meal is determined by the type of product ordered. Prices vary from $10.99 to $17 depending on the size of the meal.
Health Benefits of Lean Cuisine
The majority of Lean Cuisine’s product line consists of frozen entrees that can help one control their calories and portions of foods. In people who are dieting, these two elements are pivotal when it comes to losing weight. Without these elements in one’s diet, there is a good chance that the dieter will be unable to lose excess weight. With Lean Cuisine, counting calories and weighing food is unnecessary to get the appropriate portion size.
Another considerable benefit of Lean Cuisine is convenience. One simply pulls a meal out of the freezer and into the microwave for a hot meal. The vast variety of meals offered by the company means that they’re able to cater to a number of different tastes.
The Negatives of Lean Cuisine
While the meals offered by the company are certainly quick and easy to prepare, the company is not completely safe from criticism. Some of the drawbacks of Lean Cuisine include the following:
- While everyone’s tastes are different, the food offered by the company isn’t the best on the planet. This may seem obvious already. Frozen meals have come a long way since TV dinners, but they can still taste dry and uninteresting.
- The meals offered by Lean Cuisine tend to be high in sodium. This is something that can be seen across the board. Frozen meal companies address the flavor inadequacy by increasing the amount of sodium in their food. The result is that it can be unhealthy for some people in the long-term.
- Another trait that is typical of frozen food companies is their reliance on processed grains such as white rice. In this case, Lean Cuisine is no exception. The result is that the food tends to be low in fiber.
- Dieters that eat food from Lean Cuisine exclusively may miss out on the nutrients found in fresh fruits and vegetables. These organic foods contain necessary vitamin profiles that can not be found in frozen meals.
- In addition to the above, relying on Lean cuisine for one’s sole source of sustenance may leave one both hungry and lacking in important areas of nutritional health. The problem stems from the small portion sizes and processed starches. The meals are designed to be light and only contain between 200 and 400 calories, which makes them ridiculously small and unhealthy by implication.
Danger of Lean Cuisines
In 2008 the USDA sent a recall notice to Lean Cuisine. The government agency ordered a recall of several thousand Lean Cuisine meals on the grounds that the food was contaminated with foreign objects and could pose a deadly choking risk. At least one customer of Lean Cuisine reported an injury from a small piece of plastic found in the meals. This was a one time event for the company and should not raise serious concerns.
Are Lean Cuisines Unhealthy?
While not a substitute for a regular cooked meal, taken as a convenience food Lean Cuisines are arguably healthier than what can be found in most fast foods. However, the meals as a whole are lacking in certain essential vitamins and healthy portion sizes. In comparison to other frozen foods they may be a healthier option because they do not contain preservatives.
If one seeks perfect health, it may be advisable to limit the amount of frozen and convenience foods. Eating Lean Cuisine as a ‘sometimes’ food when one is in a time pinch is probably harmless, but eating it all the time isn’t going to help the aspiring dieter reach their health goals either.
Recommendations To Make The Most Out Of Lean Cuisine
If one does decide to eat Lean Cuisine, there are some precautionary measures one can take to increase the food’s health quotient. Here are some suggestions:
- Limit the frozen foods to one or two meals each week
- Include low-fat dairy such as yogurt, cheese or skim milk
- Eat a piece of fruit or vegetables with the meal from Lean Cuisine – this is to both increase the satiation and to boost the nutrient count
- Regulate one’s sodium intake after eating a frozen meal
- If one does decide to eat Lean Cuisine on a regular basis, it is advisable to take supplements that balance the absence of fibre and other minerals not found in the meals
- It is a good idea to take fish oil tablets to ensure an optimal balance of Omega-3 and Omega-6 acids.
The Bottom Line – Is Lean Cuisine Recommended?
The meals from Lean Cuisine can provide some of the dietary requirements one needs to function day to day. Their food is certainly not a replacement for fruit and vegetables, or a prepared meal. But it is still healthier than ordering deep-fried Chinese or visiting the local fast food shop.
The criticism of Lean Cuisine stems from an overuse of their product, and does not realistically reflect their product quality as a whole. It should be considered that virtually any food, whether it is thought of as healthy or not, cannot meet the dietary demands of the human body by itself.
Lean Cuisine simply offers an alternative to junk food and is recommended to be eaten in moderation, which is the same advice that could be applied to any product line of foods, frozen or not. When taken sensibly and as a supplement, not a replacement, for a nutritious diet, the meals from Lean Cuisine fulfills their promise of providing a convenient hot meal in a hurry.
