Do you ever buy frozen foods at the grocery store? I’m sure you have. The main benefit of frozen foods is their convenience. Just pop them in the oven and it’s ready in no time at all – with no cooking required.
However, the frozen foods section is packed with dietary land mines that can sabotage your weight and health. So today I wanted to point out a few things to look for…and avoid…when buying frozen foods.
1. High Glycemic Load
Wheat flour, high fructose corn syrup, and other starchy ingredients are at the top of the ingredient list on most frozen foods. You’ll find that many have as many as 40 grams of carbohydrate per serving, with only a few grams of fiber. When you see that, this is your clue that you’re looking at a high-glycemic food that will spike your blood sugar, promote fat storage, and contribute to chronic disease.
2. Empty Calories
At first glance, it may seem that a packaged food provides decent nutrition (i.e. 10 grams of protein, 5 grams of fat, and 5 grams of fiber per serving). But look closer at where those calories are coming from. Clean organic sources of protein? Healthy fats? Nutrient-rich veggies? Probably not. The bulk of ingredients in frozen foods are low quality and devoid of nutrients (vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, etc).
3. Filler Proteins
There is a filler called “soy protein isolate” that is found in many frozen foods. The reason it’s in the food is because it’s inexpensive. Don’t be duped into thinking soy protein isolate is a health food. It’s definitely not. And it is in almost every packaged frozen food, including organic ones like Amy’s and Kashi.
4. Unhealthy Fats
The label tells you that your ready-meal contains polyunsaturated fat - but it doesn’t tell you whether it is omega-6 fat or omega-3 fat. Omega-3 fats are critical to our health but severely lacking in the typical American diet. Omega-6 fats, on the other hand, are overly abundant and are one of the primary dietary causes of inflammation…the cornerstone of disease.
5. Sodium
In order to get bland-tasting wheat flour, beans, and rice to taste good, manufacturers rely on salt. Too much sodium, coupled with not enough potassium in the diet, is a recipe for high blood pressure that can lead to heart attack and stroke.
Helping you reach YOUR Vibrant Potential,