Hurry, Hurry, Hurry!! Always In A Rush? Frozen Foods That Are Healthy and QUICK!!

In our society today, we are busier than ever.  We have jobs, children, chores, activities and on and on and on.... I know that I sometimes have a hard time figuring out what to feed my family when time is short.  Frozen foods have pretty much been out of the question for me, as they are usually LOADED with sodium and sometimes with SUGAR, too!!  Sodium is a killer and it is VITAL to try to avoid salt when you can!!  Frozen foods can contain over 1000mg of sodium per serving!!   What alternatives do we have out there to turn to?
Here are some great frozen food ideas and suggestions.  There are also a few recipes included:

1. Dr. Oz suggests: Edamame, which are young green soybeans and are a great source of protein. Getting an adequate amount of protein in your diet can actually give your metabolism a boost. Just one half-cup serving of edamame provides 8 grams of protein – triple the amount of protein you’d get from most other vegetables. They steam in minutes and are perfect to eat as a snack or add to a salad.  Dr. Oz also provided a recipe with this info on how to incorporate edamame in a dinner: http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/ellie-kriegers-fried-rice-scallions-edamame-and-tofu
2. Veggie Burgers: Try an all natural meat alternative to burgers.  Here is a link to find out the top rated frozen veggie burger:  http://www.seriouseats.com/2010/01/taste-test-the-best-veggie-burgers-vegetarian-vegan-amys-morningstar-gardenburger-boca-burgers.html   Dr. Oz suggest Dr. Praeger's California Veggie Burger because it has no trans-fat, no saturated fat and no cholesterol. It’s packed with spinach, peas, carrots and soybeans. As a bonus (Dr. Oz goes on to say)  this veggie patty also contains oat bran, a great source of soluble fiber. Soluble fiber delays the emptying of your stomach and makes you feel full longer, which helps control weight.  Dr. Oz also provided this recipe to make your own!! http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/meatless-veggie-burger
3. Frozen Brown Rice:  Organic is best, but there are many brands out there in the mainstream grocery store that are selling frozen rice..  brown rice has more fiber than white, but white is still not that bad.  Just stick in the micro or heat up on the stove and you have an instant side dish!!  Add veggies before you steam!  Frozen rice usually come in a plastic bag to microwave.  I choose not to microwave plastic as there  have been studies linking pthalates being released from heated plastics.  I open up the plastic bag, empty the rice into a dish and cover with a piece of wax paper (unbleached) or a paper plate before I micro.  So add veggies before you micro and they will steam along with the rice!  Quick and yummy!
4. Gluten Free (if needed)  Pizza: The best one BY FAR is by SIMPLY SHARIS.  These are heart healthy and gluten free AND DELICIOUS!!  Here is a link to Simply Shari's list of pizza on their website:  http://www.simplysharis.com/catalog-1-Pizza.htmlhttp://www.simplysharis.com/catalog-1-Pizza.html
5. Anything KASHI brand:  This company seems to have the lowest sodium count in most of their frozen foods.  WEBMD.com suggest these 3 specifically as being delicious and lower in sodium that almost all frozen foods out there: Kashi Mayan Harvest Bake @ 380mg of sodium; Kashi Black Bean Mango @ 380mg; Kashi Sweet and Sour Chicken also in at 380mg!!  

Lastly, here is a link to Dr. Oz's FROZEN FOOD SMACKDOWN!  "Do you know which packaging is best for your food? The answers will surprise you. Dr. Oz reveals healthy choices in the frozen food aisle." http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/frozen-foods-smackdown