10 Instant Foods That Can Help You Lose Weight & 10 Unhealthy Ones To Avoid
10 Instant Foods That Can Help You Lose Weight & 10 Unhealthy Ones To Avoid
Instant Win Or Instant Regret?
In today's whirlwind of deadlines and demands, the siren call of instant food is almost impossible to resist. Convenient meal options are so often associated with being highly processed and unhealthy, but not all of them are created equal. Just because you're short on time doesn't mean you have to sacrifice your health and your waistline. If you value clean eating but don't have time to meal prep, it's imperative to arm yourself with knowledge and read those labels! To help you help yourself, here are 10 instant foods that can help you lose weight and 10 that will surely derail your diet goals.
1. Amy's Kitchen Bean & Rice Burrito
Amy's Kitchen prides itself on using whole, organic, plant-based ingredients. Its burritos contain high amounts of dietary fiber and protein, are vegan, and low in fat. Seek out the "light in sodium" options if you're watching your salt intake.
2. Healthy Choice General Tso's Chicken
Many products market themselves as healthy but really aren't. Fortunately, with Healthy Choice products this isn't the case. The General Tso's Chicken is low in calories, saturated fat, contains no preservatives, and is high in protein.
3. Saffron Road Chicken Biryani With Basmati Rice
Saffron Road emphasizes high-quality, whole ingredients, are low in saturated fat and added sugars. The Chicken Biryani With Basmati Rice uses chicken raised without antibiotics and packs in 18 grams of protein.
4. Amy's Kitchen Lentil Soup
As far as instant foods go, you can't get much better than Amy's Kitchen Lentil Soup. It's an excellent source of fiber, contains whole, organic ingredients, is low in saturated fat and calories, and contains zero added sugars.
5. Nature's Path Instant Oatmeal
Oatmeal is one of the best ways to start your day as it packs in a healthy dose of fiber, is rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals, and is a good source of protein. However, it's important to pay attention to the sugar content in some of the instant sachets as too much added sugar and flavoring can almost negate the healthy qualities.
6. Sabra Hummus Cups
If you just need to grab something quick for lunch, Sabra hummus cups are a great convenient option. The main ingredient in hummus is chickpeas which are fantastic sources of protein and fiber. Hummus also contains olive oil which is a healthy fat, and Sabra doesn't use any added sugars. Just be careful with the sodium content.
7. Frozen Edamame
Did you know your favorite sushi restaurant appetizer comes in a convenient frozen format? Just steam them in the microwave and sprinkle on some sea salt for the perfect high-protein and fiber snack. They're also a great source of a variety of vitamins and minerals.
8. Wholly Guacamole Mini Cups
Guacamole is a perfect, naturally gluten-free, and plant-based healthy snack. It's rich in monounsaturated fats which helps lower "bad" cholesterol, and is high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. It's also minimally processed with simple ingredients.
9. Seeds of Change Organic Quinoa & Brown Rice
Seeds of Change Organic Quinoa & Brown Rice is a high-quality microwavable instant product consisting of healthy grains and seasoning. Ready in 90 seconds, it's the perfect answer for when you're too short on time to cook quinoa or rice from the dry grain. Whole grain rice and quinoa are both excellent sources of fiber, complex carbs, and nutrients.
10. SkinnyPop Original Popcorn
When you're in a snacky mood, don't reach for the potato chips. SkinnyPop Original Popcorn is a much healthier option. It has simple ingredients, no added sugars, is low-calorie, and is much lower in sodium than most other snack options.
Now that we've covered some of the most nutritious and diet-friendly instant foods on the market, let's talk about the unhealthy ones to avoid.
1. Kraft Mac & Cheese
It may come as no surprise that the highlighter orange cheese powder that comes with Kraft Mac & Cheese is highly processed and unhealthy. KD is astronomically high in sodium, and refined carbs, and lacks fiber or any notable nutritional content.
2. Instant Ramen
Considering its abysmal nutritional content, it's astonishing how many people subsisted on instant ramen through their university years. It's extremely high in sodium, refined carbs, unhealthy fats, and artificial additives and preservatives.
3. DiGiorno Frozen Pizzas
While some frozen pizza brands are making an effort to offer lower-calorie ultra-thin or cauliflower crust options, the classic DiGiorno frozen pizzas are some of the least healthy instant food options you can buy. They're very high in sodium, unhealthy fat, cholesterol, added sugars, empty carbs, and depending on the flavor, processed meats which are known carcinogens.
Lenin and McCarthy on Wikimedia
4. Banquet Mega Bowls
Banquet Mega Bowls are some of the most unhealthy instant food products you can buy. They're shockingly high in sodium and unhealthy fats, calorie-dense, full of processed meats and other ingredients, and low in fiber.
5. Hungry-Man Boneless Fried Chicken Dinner
No matter how you slice it, fried chicken is never going to be healthy. However, Hnngry-Man managed to make it even more unhealthy by using highly processed ingredients, and packing it with sodium and added sugars.
6. Hot Pockets
Hot Pockets are basically highly processed mini pizzas so it's no surprise that they score low on health content. They're packed with empty carbs, preservatives, and calories, and contain a surprising amount of added sugars.
Lenin and McCarthy on Wikimedia
7. Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls
Cinnamon rolls are always going to be sugar bombs, but at least when they're made from scratch, they contain real ingredients. Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls are packed with additives as well as sugar, sodium, saturated fats, and refined carbs.
8. Velveeta Shells & Cheese Microwave Cups
Velveeta Shells & Cheese Microwave Cups managed to take an unhealthy dish and make it even less healthy. This product is highly processed, has a staggering sodium content, and has little to no nutritional value to speak of.
9. Cup Noodles Stir Fry
Cup Noodles Stir Fry may strike you as a convenient option for when you're low on time, but you'd be better off grabbing a slice of pizza. This product shares many of the same drawbacks as instant ramen in that it's extremely high in sodium, additives, and saturated fat.
10. Pop-Tarts
One of the most unhealthy products you can buy, Pop-Tarts may scream childhood nostalgia, but they're essentially the least healthy dessert you can buy disguised as a breakfast food. Their sugar content is through the roof and they're high in refined carbs, additives, and saturated fat.
