Lean Cuisine meals...are they bad?

Hey, here is a question that may be stupid. I recently discovered Lean Cuisine meals. I love to cook so I've never been into the frozen meal thing. But a few days ago, I was walking past the freezer aisle and it just looked so delicious so I bought one of a could different kinds, and sure I would like any of them. Well, I love them all and have since bought a bunch more. On here, many of them have ratings of B or C, and to date, I have kept my average grade at an A-. Is this just because they don't have vitamins and other good stuff in them? It is just so easy to have a nice bowl of Special K for breakfast, and a Lean Cuisine for lunch and dinner. Add in two or three snacks, and I have no problem keeping a 1300 calorie intake. Last night I even had to eat some microwave popcorn to get up to where I need to be! What's the deal with the poor ratings?

I dont think its lack of nutrients.  I think what gets them is they, like most frozen food, are higher in sodium.  I still eat them all the time.  I just am sure to drink lots of water, and I try to cut out other areas of sodium for the day so i stay on track

htide

I had them too. I think, though, on days when you can avoid it, I wouldn't eat one for lunch and dinner-either or if you can.

I eat them all the time. They are easy~~ I think healtytide is right its the sodium.But I still lose ~~ Good Luck

A little high in sodium.  If I do get them I always make extra of what ever veggie they have.  Makes them more of hearty meal and I get the extra veggies.

I love them, Chicken Carborna is my fav.  With the sodium I limit it anyway, so I stay below the 2400 recommended.

Most only have 600-700 mgs of sodium

yeah, lean cuisine are pretty good.  I've moved into eating healthy choice though.  Lower sodium and more variety.  Seriously, I can get main dish, veggies, and a dessert in a healthy choice...and they're good too!

Give em both a shot, see which you like more.

I agree that it's the sodium in them that lowers the grade.  I eat them all the time, the grilled chiken is my favorite and it's very low in calories.

I alternate between them, Healthy Choice, and Smart Ones... Healthy Choice breaded chicken is by far my favrotie frozen meal, it amazes me how much better diet food tastes now then it did 15 years ago!

I don't think they are "bad". They are generally low in calories and rather balanced, considering it has protein, vegetables, and normally a carb somewhere. It is definitely the sodium that lowers the grade. But if your total sodium consumption for the day is under 2200mg, then you're fine.

they aren't too bad. there are a lot worse things you could be eating. but they are a processed food, which can be very detrimental to your health.

I haven't cared for many of the Lean Cuisine entree meals I've tried.  For those I like the Kashi ones better, especially Lime Cilantro Shrimp and Sweet and Sour Chicken.  The Lean Cuisine deep dish and brick oven pizzas are the best though.  They hit that carb craving without killing on calories.  I try to eat no more than one a day, too, to keep the sodium in line.

Lean Cuisine has a low-sodium line now... at least they do in Canada. They're not too bad for a quick lunch if you don't have to have gourmet food all the time. :)

Fantastic. I was just wondering if any of you knew something that I didn't. I don't have a sodium problem, my average is under 2000 mg for the day. And I also must say I love the fact that they don't have any preservatives! Thanks for all of your input! Oh yes, and on my new invented meal plan, I have lost 2 lbs this week so far! Yaaahh!

You can boost that overall grade to an A just by adding a serving or two of a green vegetable.  A cup of spinach or broccoli, for instance will boost your grade for the meal.

Frozen dinners are handy and easy, and they have their place, but they never have enough vegetables in them.

i recently discovered frozen meals, esp lean cuisine-My family is grown and my lifestye has changed. I  started to eat out instead of in-(my new life promoting more spontanaety)- i used to love to cook- but the leftovers just got "left" in the fridge-( or i ate double portions) I missed all of the variety of  cuisines-  

 lean cuisine satisfies my need for instant gratification- i cook a large amount of some vergetable that compliments the meal- i make a tub of brown rice to keep in the fridge and add a half cup of rice if i am especially hungry- and 6 minutes lateri have a delicious meal- oh- i always put the food into a shallow bowl so it looks like homemade- for the first time in four years i am at peace with a reducing diet- i figure the benefits of weight loss ( 40 to 50 pounds) will far outwieght any lack of nutrition- and i eat plenty of vegetables and fruits . i even boght a smell freezer so i can have plenty of choices- i love the kashi meals too- and for a splurge i will get a mexican ( none diet) dinnerto eat occaisionally

I have been surviving on their Spaghetti w/ Meat Sauce. They're so good! Heck, it's better than spaghetti I can make! I'll throw in a baked chicken or another variety every now and then. They work for me personally, but they get a lot of flack due to high sodium. The way I look at it is, which is better; me eating two Lean Cuisine's for dinner (560 calories, 9g fat) or two hamburgers and some chili cheese fries?