Make #HealthyChoices for Life with Healthy Choice Meals

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), two-thirds of American adults are overweight or obese, which puts them at increased risk for heart disease, diabetes and the metabolic syndrome. This disturbing fact urges us to make healthy choices for life so as to reduce our risk of getting hit by these horrible diseases. A good place to start is to watch what you eat on a daily basis.

Healthy Choice, the leading brand for frozen meals and treats, recently conducted a 30-day research study* where over 60 participants replaced 10 meals per week with a portion-controlled Healthy Choice meal for either lunch or dinner. Participants were also instructed to add 2-3 food items to their diet, such as fruits and vegetables, according to their caloric/gender needs.

The research findings show that, as part of a reduced calorie diet, eating Healthy Choice on a regular basis can lead to improved quality of life and dietary quality. Participants in the study (in both lunch and dinner substitution groups) lost an average of six pounds and trimmed their waistlines by about one inch. The quality of their overall diets was improved by increasing dietary fiber, reducing saturated fat intake by 50% and consuming 30% less cholesterol and sodium. In addition, they reported an increased sense of well being, having more energy and feeling healthier after just 30 days!

*The research was presented by the Rippe Lifestyle Institute at the Experimental Biology Conference in April 2011 and funded by ConAgra Foods.

Are you surprised by these new and exciting findings? I definitely am. I ate frozen meals primarily for convenience, but never expected them to deliver health benefits. The research study helped me feel better about keeping Healthy Choice products on hand.

In fact, brands with “healthy” in their name are held to a higher nutrition standard set by the FDA. Healthy Choice is the only major brand in its category that can call 100% of its products “healthy” as defined by the FDA. This means that each meal must be:
*Low in fat
*Low in saturated fat
*Controlled in sodium and cholesterol
*Supply at least 10% of the daily value for three beneficial nutrients (calcium, protein, fiber, iron, vitamin A or vitamin C)

Healthy Choice kindly provided me with 2 free product coupons for review. It was super easy to shop for Healthy Choice products because they are widely available in grocery stores, discount stores and club stores across the country. I'm deeply impressed by the variety of flavors Healthy Choice offers (about 70!).  I had a hard time choosing just 2 to try out. Healthy Choice meals prove that frozen meals don't have to taste like carbon. The Cafe Steamers and Steaming Entrees I tried were made with fresh-tasting, high-quality ingredients and delicious flavors. I was very pleased with the results of my taste test.

My husband and I are taking active steps to improve the overall health of our family. Here are three examples of the healthy choices we've made for a healthier lifestyle:

    *Use low-sodium recipes: When cooking, we consciously adjust the recipe to include less salty contents and to substitute salt with flavorful spices for a better taste.

    *Switch to low-fat or fat-free products: Whether consuming directly or using as an ingredient for cooking, we always opt for a low-fat or fat-free version of the product whenever available (e.g. milk, yogurt, cheese, broth).

   *Take Whole Grain foods as often as possible: When purchasing food items like bread, cookies, crackers, and pasta, we choose whole grain over other kinds to increase our dietary fiber.

Have you made any healthy choices to improve your quality of life? Feel free to share with us! Be sure to "like" Healthy Choice on Facebook for healthy eating tips and special offers.

Disclosure: I received free product coupons to facilitate my honest review. I was compensated for my time for writing this post. Research findings and product info were provided by the sponsor. All views and opinions expressed are my own.