Frozen dinners have been around since 1954 when the Swanson brothers packaged together a traditional Thanksgiving dinner–turkey, peas, stuffing, and sweet potatoes–and based their advertising campaign on the new technological craze of that time: television.

Frozen dinners are still a hit today because many of us are busy with our daily lives, or we may just have a lack of cooking skills. But we all know how challenging it is to pick a frozen dinner. We are bombarded with dozens of frozen dinner variations, all from different brands. Some may be more expensive than others, but are they really that much different?

The answer is yes. There are tastier frozen meals that are actually healthy for you. To make things easier for your next shopping trip, we have listed the best frozen dinners for your taste buds and for your health.

 

Kashi Chicken Pasta Pomodoro (280 calories)

Kashi is also known as the Seven Whole Grain Company, so you know you can’t go wrong with this frozen pasta. Includes grilled white chicken, red peppers, yellow summer squash and zucchini, and whole grain penne pasta with tomato, garlic and basil sauce.

 

 

 

Banquet Chicken Fried Chicken Meal (350 calories)

Not all Banquet frozen dinners are delicious and healthy, but this fried chicken meal has thinner breading on the chicken, meaning less calories. Also comes with country style gravy for the fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and corn.

 

 

Bertolli Mediterranean Style Chicken, Rigatoni & Broccoli (400 calories)

Filled with chicken, rigatoni and broccoli, this frozen pasta dinner has “healthy” written all over it. You can make it your own by adding in spices and flavors, or just follow the instructions on the back of the bag.

 

 

 

Evol Bowl Teriyaki Chicken (260 calories)

Evol’s lean and fit frozen entrees are packed with low calories and fats, but high in protein, which is what you want in a meal if you’re trying to be healthy. Along with grilled white meat chicken, it comes with brown rice, broccoli, carrots, snap peas, green and red bell peppers, and teriyaki sauce.

 

 

 

Kashi Lemongrass Coconut Chicken (300 calories)

Another Kashi frozen dinner, but instead of using white or brown rice, this meal uses oats, wheat and quinoa as substitutes. Also comes with chicken breast, broccoli, and sugar snap peas, topped with lemongrass and coconut sauce and coconut flakes.

 

 

 

Gourmet Dining Shrimp Stir Fry (200 calories)

When you see this bag in the food isle, it certainly does not look like 200 calories. However, the serving size suggests to use just half the bag. With only 200 calories and 1 gram of fat, this delicious American interpretation of Asian cuisine will not leave you feeling guilty.

 

 

 

 

Amy’s Light & Lean Pasta & Veggies (200 calories)

Packed with broccoli, bell peppers, and delicious rotini pasta, and at only 200 calories, this pasta & veggie meal doesn’t even taste or look like a frozen dinner.

 

 

 

 

 

Healthy Choice 100% Natural Tortellini Primavera Parmesan (230 calories)

This steam cooked frozen entree is vegetarian but packed with flavor. Made with fresh veggies and tender tortellini.

 

 

 

 

 

Smart Ones Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo (300 calories)

With only 4 grams of fat and 300 calories, this frozen meal comes with white meat chicken with rotini pasta and broccoli in white alfredo sauce. Just be careful when you make it since it needs to steam in a bag.

 

 

 

 

 

Chicken & Spinach Alfredo from Healthy Choice (220 calories)

This frozen dinner is packed with healthy ingredients such as white chicken breast, whole grain penne pasta,  and spinach and tomatoes, all in alfredo sauce. It’s also loaded with iron and only 4.5 grams of fat.