In a study, women who ate healthy, portion-controlled frozen entrees for two meals each day, and then rounded out their daily diet with appropriate portions of foods from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Guide Pyramid, lost more weight over an 8-week period than women who chose their own meals.

If you include frozen entrees in your diet, keep a close eye on sodium content, especially if you have high blood pressure or are salt sensitive; frozen entrees tend to be high in sodium. Choose selections containing lean protein, vegetables, and whole-grain sides instead of meals that have fried or breaded foods or desserts, which tend to be high in fat and calories. The most effective strategies for weight loss involve balancing your caloric intake with your energy expenditure. That means eating a nutrient-rich, calorie-poor diet that fuels you throughout the day. Also, complement your diet with a fitness program that increases muscle mass, improves insulin sensitivity, and burns extra calories. A recent study revealed that women who ate two healthy frozen entrees daily plus one meal based on the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Guide Pyramid experienced greater reductions in weight, body fat, total cholesterol, and fasting insulin than women who self-selected their foods. Researchers speculate the built-in portion control of frozen entrees may explain the findings.