The Worst Frozen Food Options You Should Never Buy

The frozen section of the grocery store is always a tempting aisle. It’s filled with pre-made dishes that make cooking easy and last a long time too, which is great value. This has become especially true while experiencing a pandemic, as many people still try to limit the number of trips they make to the supermarket. It’s no wonder then that the demand for frozen foods has increased! But you want to make sure you’re stocking up on the right frozen foods. There are many options that are not that good for your health.

Among the healthy frozen fruits and vegetables, there are plenty of pizzas, entrees, dinners, and desserts that line the aisles of the freezer as well. To help you make the best choices when browsing the grocery store, we’ve rounded up the worst culprits from the most common food categories you’re likely to come across. That way, you’ll know exactly which worst frozen food options to ever add to your cart. Stay away from those frozen foods and instead eat one of the 7 healthiest foods to eat right now.

Per portion: 410 calories, 22 g of fat (10 g of saturated fat, 0 g of trans fat), 840 mg of sodium, 36 g of carbohydrates (2 g of fiber, 4 g of sugar), 17 grams of protein

This frozen pizza from DiGiorno is the one you never want to touch. It’s high in calories, sodium, and saturated fat while lacking in fiber, and fiber is a nutrient that helps you stay full for longer. It also has a mile-long ingredient list. Nothing redeeming here!

Per bowl: 440 calories, 25 g fat (12 g saturated fat), 1470 mg sodium, 17 g carbohydrates (1 g fiber, 0 g sugar), 36 g protein

If you stop and eat at a Bob Evans restaurant, you know the breakfast options are pretty unique. The same can be said for the frozen meals that the chain also sells. This bowl is filled with sodium, over 1,400 milligrams.

Keep in mind that the American Heart Association recommends not exceeding 2,300 milligrams per day, approaching an ideal limit of no more than 1,500 milligrams per day for most adults. And that 36 grams of protein? That’s way too much, because ideally you don’t want to eat more than 30 grams of protein at one meal.

For 1 portion: 210 calories, 9 g fat (1.5 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 510 mg sodium, 20 g carbohydrates (0 g fiber, 7 g sugar), 12 g protein

Some boneless chicken bites seem like a good way to start a meal, especially if you’re getting ready for a movie night or watching a soccer game. But you wouldn’t want to feast on an appetizer with multiple types of sugars and a long list of preservatives, right? This option gets a jump.

Per meal: 500 calories, 14 g fat (2.5 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 950 mg sodium, 77 g carbohydrates (6 g fiber, 29 g sugar), 17 g protein

Part of the appeal of frozen foods is the convenience of having your lunch ready in minutes. This Marie Callender’s sweet and sour chicken dish, however, is overwhelming when it comes to sodium and sugar. Here you are for breaded chicken which is mixed with vegetables, pineapple, and a sweet and sour iced sauce, all over rice. While it has a serving of solid protein, it serves almost as much sugar as if you were eating three original Krispy Kreme frozen donuts. It’s just scary!

Per portion: 380 calories, 12 g fat (7 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 320 mg sodium, 63 g carbohydrate (1 g fiber, 51 g sugar), 5 g protein

A pre-made pie takes all the work of, well, having to bake a pie from scratch yourself! Not all pies are created equal. This Sara Lee lemon meringue cream option you’ll find in the freezer aisle serves 51 grams of sugar per slice. This is reason enough to leave him alone.

See, if you consume more added sugars than recommended by the American Heart Association, you could end up putting on weight. Not only is there a lot of research related to sugar and weight gain, but you’ll notice that sugary foods leave you less satisfied, so you’ll end up eating more.

Per portion: 330 calories, 14 g fat (7 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 920 mg sodium, 34 g carbohydrates (1 g fiber, 3 g sugar), 14 g protein

Serving a dollop of macaroni and cheese is always a hearty and comforting side dish. Reheating Stouffer’s version means you’re ready for another high sodium dish. You’d better make your own. (And just so you know it, this is the easy way to make healthier comfort foods!)

Per meal: 760 calories, 34 g fat (10 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 2,090 mg sodium, 76 g carbohydrate (4 g fiber, 8 g sugar), 39 g protein

This Hungry-Man Meal is one of the worst frozen dinner options you’ll find in any freezer aisle. This dish consists of two fried chicken patties that are served with macaroni and cheese. It sounds innocent enough, but the fact that it contains over 2000 milligrams of sodium is just not acceptable. In addition, it serves 760 calories and also contains a large amount of fat.

By container: 1380 calories, 84 g fat (45 g saturated fat, 2 g trans fat), 650 mg sodium, 134 g carbohydrate (1 g fiber, 106 g sugar), 29 g protein

These pints of ice cream are pretty tempting and if you want to treat yourself once in a while you should treat yourself. As long as you stay away from the Chubby Hubby flavor of Ben & Jerry (very popular). This blend of fudge, peanut butter, and pretzels makes for a frozen treat that’s high in saturated fat, carbs, and sugar. A single serving of this ice cream has more calories than if you had an order of chips and fries at McDonald’s …