Some of those low-calorie frozen dinners are more like snacks than square meals. And, not only that - you're not getting enough veggies!
So says the research group that took some of the fun out of going to the movies when it reported last fall that a medium-sized bucket of theater buttered popcorn contains 43 grams of fat.The Center for Science in the Public Interest says low-calorie, frozen dinners are not an acceptable nutritional substitute for a well-balanced meal. And some of the portions are simply too stingy, the center said.
Many dieters who enroll in weight-loss programs purchase dieter-friendly frozen food entrees to ensure they're adhering to their program's daily vegetable, protein, bread and fat intake.
The frozen entrees are low-fat, low-salt and low-cal, because they're low-size, says the center. "Some of the portions are so small that they might better be described as snacks than meals or entrees."
For example, the center said, Weight Watchers Nacho Grande Chicken Enchiladas, advertised as "stuffed with chicken, beans, corn and red peppers," has one tablespoon of beans, one tablespoon of peppers and one-half tablespoon of corn.
But the company insists the frozen meals are entrees and not dinners. The company said dieters are told by their dietitians to supplement the entrees with a salad or additional vegetables.