Healthy foods are essential, particularly for people who have just undergone bariatric surgery. However, there are days when you don’t feel like making something fresh and are contemplating preparing a frozen meal. While frozen meals aren’t the first thing people think of when considering healthy foods, some brands offer a variety of delicious and healthy frozen meals perfect for people who have just undergone bariatric surgery.
So what are the best-frozen meals for those who just got bariatric surgery? From convenience stores and groceries to the internet, we’ve searched far and wide and discovered a frozen meal that is equally delicious and healthy: Mediterranean-Style Salmon Pasta. From the name itself, it may be hard to believe that it’s a frozen meal, but we’ve also provided several other recommendations.
Please take in mind that we crafted this list from personal preference. While we may list a brand or product you’re not a fan of, it doesn’t mean that your taste is bad or vice-versa. Everyone has different opinions and preferences, which is how things work.
With that said, we are always updating our top food lists and guides to keep up with the current trends in the market. Without further ado, let us begin with the list.
Our Top Pick: Mediterranean-Style Salmon Pasta
Thanks to Performance Kitchen, you can enjoy the benefits of salmon with their Mediterranean-Style Salmon Pasta. Salmon is one of the best fishes you can eat, especially if you are conscious about your health. Salmon has omega-3 fatty acids, which can help prevent blood clots and reduce your triglyceride (a fat in your blood) levels.
This meal offers a lot of protein, 25g to be exact, making it an excellent source. Experts recommend at least 15g of protein per meal, and eating protein from a healthy source such as salmon can decrease the odds of developing diseases and early death. The meal comes in a 10.1oz serving which you can order as a one-time purchase or a subscription. Instructions are easy-to-follow, and you can cook it in the oven or microwave.
We feel that the Mediterranean-Style Salmon Pasta is the complete package. It gives you the health benefits of salmon and a healthy balance of sodium, carbs, and fiber. More importantly, it’s delicious, so you don’t feel like you’re being cheated when you opt for a frozen meal instead of a freshly prepared one. For that reason and many more, we chose this product as our top pick of frozen meals, perfect for people who just got bariatric surgery.
Summary Tables
Next are two tables presenting our findings after searching and tasting several frozen meals perfect for people who have undergone bariatric surgery.
The first one highlights three categories: value for money, healthiest option, and best overall frozen meal, while the other reveals the strengths and weaknesses of each dish. Have a look.
Top Choices
| Most Value for Money | Healthiest Option | Best Overall |
|---|---|---|
| Healthy Choice Barbecue Seasoned Steak With Red Potatoes | Green Giant California-Style Harvest Protein Bowl | Performance Kitchen Mediterranean-Style Salmon Pasta |
| Decadent barbecue steak and 16g of protein for only 300 calories is why we named this dish the frozen meal with the most value for money. You get a flavorful meal with a respectable amount of protein for a low amount of calories. However, the dish’s sugar content may entail that you skip dessert. | Despite not containing any meat, you won’t be starved for protein since this bowl comes packed with 14g of protein. It includes protein-rich veggies such as edamame, lentils, soybeans, sunflower seeds, quinoa, and other vegetables like corn, kale, carrots, peas, and grilled red peppers. | Thanks to Performance Kitchen, you can enjoy the benefits of salmon with their Mediterranean-Style Salmon Pasta. Salmon is one of the best fishes you can eat, especially if you are conscious about your health. Salmon has omega-3 fatty acids, which can help prevent blood clots and reduce your triglyceride (a fat in your blood) levels. |
Comparison Table: Pros and Cons
| Product Name | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Performance Kitchen Mediterranean-Style Salmon Pasta (our top pick/ best overall) | Great Source of Protein Contains Omega-3 fatty acids Contains balanced amounts of vegetables, fiber, sodium, and carbs. Flavorful and Delicious | Nothing in Particular |
| Healthy Choice Barbecue Seasoned Steak With Red Potatoes | Flavorful and Delicious Protein-rich for a Low-Calorie Meal. | It is slightly under the recommended 5g fiber serving per meal. You can add a plant-based side, like green beans, to the meal to increase it. Slightly high sugar content |
| Green Giant California-Style Harvest Protein Bowl | Contains a wide variety of protein-rich vegetables. (14g) It also has a healthy amount of other veggies. Only has 1.5g of saturated fat. | It may not be popular for meat lovers due to the lack of meat. It comes short of the 15g recommended protein serving per meal. |
| Amy’s Mexican-Inspired Veggies and Black Beans | Has a healthy assortment of delicious vegetables. Simple ingredient list Packed with fiber | Comes short on recommended protein serving, so you may want to add another protein source. |
| Evol Foods Balance Bowl | Falls within recommended sodium content per meal. Provides a wonderful balance of meat and veggies. Full of flavor | You may want to add additional protein and fiber sources to compensate for the meal’s barely sufficient fiber and protein content. |
| Lean Cuisine Korean-Style Rice and Vegetables Bowl | Ample amount of fiber. Edamame beans are a healthy protein source. | You may need an additional protein source to complete the recommended protein amount of 15g. |
| Kashi Sweet Potato Quinoa Bowl | Contains a substantial amount of fiber which helps promote fullness | Doesn’t contain many calories. You can remedy this by adding a side dish filled with calories and protein. |
Top Frozen Meal For People Who Just Had Bariatric Surgery
Healthy Choice Barbecue Seasoned Steak With Red Potatoes
If you want a flavorful and protein-rich dish, Healthy Choice’s Barbecue Seasoned Steak With Red Potatoes is highly recommended. The dish offers an appropriate amount of protein with its seasoned barbecue steak but has a low-calorie count, with only 300 calories per serving. While the meal’s whiskey BBQ sauce adds flavor, it also increases the sugar content of the dish, so you may want to hold off on dessert.
Green Giant California-Style Harvest Protein Bowl
Green Giant’s California-Style Harvest Protein Bowl doesn’t contain meat, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t come packed with protein. Thanks to a wide variety of protein-rich vegetables such as edamame, lentils, soybeans, sunflower seeds, and quinoa, you still get an appropriate amount of protein. It also contains other healthy and nutritious veggies like corn, kale, carrots, peas, and grilled red peppers. In addition, this dish only has 1.5 grams of saturated fat, which is significantly under the maximum of 5g per serving that experts recommend.
Amy’s Mexican-Inspired Veggies and Black Beans
Amy’s Mexican-Inspired Veggies and Black Beans dish may have simple ingredients, but it doesn’t disappoint in flavor. It delivers a healthy and delicious variety of vegetables, including sweet potatoes, zucchini, and corn, topped on a bed of riced cauliflower. However, you may want to add another protein source to this dish, such as leftover grilled chicken, or if you’re vegetarian, a sprinkle of cashews to make up for the lack of protein.
Evol Foods Balance Bowl
Fans of grain bowls would love the Evol Foods Balance Bowl, which is made with red rice, grilled chicken, and a half cup of vegetables, such as asparagus, in a basil pesto sauce. This frozen meal also falls under the recommended sodium content per meal serving, but you may want to add another protein and fiber source to get adequate amounts of these nutrients. For instance, add a hard-boiled egg and half a cup of fiber to your bowl.
Lean Cuisine Korean-Style Rice and Vegetables Bowl
Lean Cuisine’s Korean-Style Rice and Vegetables Bowl offer adequate amounts of fiber which contains 1 whole cup of vegetables, including kale, carrots, bok choy, and shiitake mushrooms. You also get protein from the edamame soybeans in the dish, but you may want to add tofu to increase the meal’s protein content.
Kashi Sweet Potato Quinoa Bowl
The Kashi Sweet Potato Quinoa Bowl features a bed of quinoa and brown rice paired with black beans, roasted sweet potatoes, and kale piled on top. The quinoa in the dish contains substantial amounts of fiber, which help keep you feeling full. The dish doesn’t contain many calories, which can be good or bad depending on who you’re asking. However, we recommend adding a plant-based side dish to increase this dish’s calorie and protein count so you won’t feel hungry later on.
Conclusion
While frozen meals aren’t the healthiest or most tasty source of nutrition for people who have just undergone a bariatric operation, not all frozen foods are bad. Some are delicious and healthy simultaneously while also being convenient and easy to prepare. Open minds can open up a new world filled with culinary adventures. The important thing is to find the balance between health and flavor so you can enjoy a healthy, delicious, and convenient meal.
That’s right! It doesn’t hurt to try as many options that are available to you. So what are you waiting for? Go to your local supermarket or online to order a nutritious and delicious meal today!
