Two new research studies presented by ConAgra Foods, Inc illustrate how single-serving frozen meals can help people eat less. These research studies, led by Kristin Reimers, PhD, RD,ConAgra Foods, reveal that popcorn and frozen meals are more satiating than snack and meal replacement bars. In fact, in the case of the frozen meal study, participants consumed fewer calories daily.
Registered dietitian and author of The Small Change Diet, Keri Gans, says, “This is great news for people who typically reach for popular meal replacement or snack bars when trying to cut calories, but want more flavorful food. While bars are convenient, eating a convenient hot meal like Healthy Choice® or Marie Callender’s® may be more satiating, as seen in these studies. This can translate into helping people eat less without feeling deprived.”
Researchers compared frozen meals to meal replacement bars to determine which was more satisfying. Study participants’ usual lunches were replaced with either a Healthy Choice or Marie Callender’s frozen meal, or a meal replacement bar. Participants reported less hunger – and had less desire to eat in the afternoon – when they ate a frozen meal instead of a bar over three days. Replacing a typical meal with a frozen meal resulted in the greatest average calorie savings: 500 fewer calories daily, potentially adding up to 3,500 calorie savings weekly.
These findings build on previous research showing that portion-controlled frozen meals may help individuals reduce calories in an easy, convenient way. When people are searching for a satisfying way to reduce calories, enjoying a frozen single-serving mea or a 100 calorie popcorn snack are choices with clear benefits, according to ConAgra.