Can Healthy Choice Meals Help You Lose Weight?
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Can You Lose Weight With Healthy Choice Meals?

Can You Lose Weight With Healthy Choice Meals?
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Jody Braverman, CPT, FNS, RYT
Updated on September 2, 2025
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Healthy Choice meals are low in calories and may be a better choice than many other frozen meal options. While preparing your own fresh, healthy meals may be best for weight loss, Healthy Choice meals can still be a part of your weight loss plan.

Healthy Choice Meals

Healthy Choice meals were originally developed in collaboration with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to offer easy, healthy frozen meals. They comply with the FDA's guidelines for sodium, fat, and cholesterol intake, and can be a convenient choice for weight- and health-conscious consumers.

While there are a wide variety of meals to choose from in the frozen food section of your local grocery store, many are high in saturated fat, refined carbohydrates, or other ingredients that may not fit into a healthy diet.

Healthy Choice meals may be a good option if you're trying to lose weight, but it's still important to read each product's label to make sure it fits into your weight loss plan.

Protein and Fiber for Weight Loss

Dietary fiber and protein are both important for weight loss. Dietary fiber helps you feel full without adding calories and can help lower your blood sugar and cholesterol.

 Protein also helps you feel satisfied by decreasing hunger hormones and increasing the number of calories that your body burns at rest.

Healthy Choice meals are high in both dietary fiber and protein. However, some meals contain white rice, which has had the bran and fiber removed during processing. White rice digests more quickly than brown rice and can have a bigger impact on your blood sugar level.

 While other ingredients like vegetables may help provide enough fiber, choosing meals with whole grains may be a better option for weight loss.

Calorie Considerations

To lose weight safely, the National Institutes of Health recommends reducing your calorie intake by about 500 to 700 calories per day.

 Reducing your calorie intake more than this can lead to nutrient deficiencies and make it difficult to maintain weight loss due to a slowed metabolism.

The number of calories you need to maintain your current weight are based on factors like age, height, and weight. You can estimate your daily calorie needs with a calorie calculator.

Most Healthy Choice meals provide about 200 to 300 calories.

 While their low calorie count can help reduce your daily intake, eating Healthy Choice meals alone may not provide enough calories, depending on your needs.

If your calorie needs are at the lower end of the spectrum, replacing one or two meals with a Healthy Choice meal may be sufficient. However, if your needs are higher, they may not provide enough energy unless your other meals are more substantial.

Comparing Healthy Choice Options

When choosing a weight loss meal, it's important to look for products that provide enough calories, are low in sugar and refined carbohydrates, and are a good source of protein and fiber.

 Healthy Choice Power Bowls and Simply Steamers contain more vegetables and fiber than some of the other product lines.

Power Bowls

Healthy Choice Power Bowls are balanced meals with natural protein, high-fiber vegetables, and whole grains.

Spicy Black Bean & Chicken Power Bowl (grain-free):

  • Calories 200
  • Saturated Fat 2 grams (g)
  • Protein 20 g
  • Carbohydrates 19 g
  • Dietary Fiber 7 g
Basil Pesto Chicken Power Bowl (grain-free):

  • Calories 220
  • Saturated Fat 2 g
  • Protein 19 g
  • Carbohydrates 19 g
  • Dietary Fiber 7 g

Simply Steamers

Similar to Healthy Choice Power Bowls, Simply Steamers offer a variety of high-fiber, high-protein dishes, including vegetarian and gluten-free options.

Southwest-Style Chicken Burrito Bowl:

  • Calories 280
  • Saturated Fat 2.5 g
  • Protein 20 g
  • Carbohydrates 36 g
  • Dietary Fiber 6 g
Meatball Marinara:

  • Calories 280
  • Saturated Fat 2.5 g
  • Protein 18 g
  • Carbohydrates 36 g
  • Dietary Fiber 6 g

The Takeaway

  • Healthy Choice meals are low in calories and comply with FDA guidelines for fat, cholesterol, and sodium intake. They are also high in protein and dietary fiber, which can help with weight loss.
  • If your daily calorie needs are on the lower end, Healthy Choice meals can be a good addition to your weight loss plan. However, you may need to supplement with additional meals or snacks if your calorie needs are higher.
  • When choosing Healthy Choice meals, look for options that are higher in fiber and contain whole grains, like brown rice or whole-wheat pasta.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. About Healthy Choice. Healthy Choice.
  2. Dietary fiber: Essential for a healthy diet. Mayo Clinic. December 11, 2024.
  3. Moon J et al. Clinical Evidence and Mechanisms of High-Protein Diet-Induced Weight Loss. Journal of Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome. July 23, 2020.
  4. Klein S. Brown rice versus white rice: A head-to-head comparison. Harvard Health Publishing. November 8, 2024.
  5. Healthy Eating Plan. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
  6. Jaime K et al. Risks Associated With Excessive Weight Loss. StatPearls. February 29, 2024.
  7. DRI Calculator for Healthcare Professionals. U.S. Department of Agriculture.
  8. Healthy Frozen Meals and Treats. Healthy Choice.
  9. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025. U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. December 2020.
  10. Classic Power Bowls. Healthy Choice.
  11. Spicy Black Bean & Chicken. Healthy Choice.
  12. Basil Pesto Chicken. Healthy Choice.
  13. Southwest-Style Chicken Burrito Bowl. Healthy Choice.
  14. Meatball Marinara. Healthy Choice.
Meet Our Experts
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Julie Cunningham, MPH, RDN, LDN, CDCES

Medical Reviewer

Julie Cunningham has been a registered dietitian for more than 25 years. She is a certified diabetes care and education specialist (CDCES) and an international board-certified lactation consultant. She has served as the president of the Foothills Chapter of the North Carolina Dietetics Association (NCDA) and has been a member of the executive board of the NCDA.

Ms. Cunningham received a bachelor's degree from Appalachian State University in North Carolina. She subsequently completed a master's degree in public health nutrition at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Ms. Cunningham has worked in women's and children's health, cardiology, and diabetes. She is the author of 30 Days to Tame Type 2 Diabetes, and she has also written for Abbott Nutrition News, Edgepark Medical Health Insights, diaTribe, Babylist, and others.

A resident of beautiful western North Carolina, Cunningham is an avid reader who enjoys yoga, travel, and all things chocolate.

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Jody Braverman, CPT, FNS, RYT

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