Consuming high amounts of ultra-processed foods has been linked to an increased risk of chronic conditions. Examples of these conditions include heart disease and type 2 diabetes [ 2 , 3 ].

Integrating convenience foods into a healthy diet can be a simple and practical approach to eating well. This section discusses the different groups of convenience foods and strategies for modifying convenience foods.

In addition to protein, these convenient food options offer a diverse array of other nutrients that help support optimal health. For instance, canned salmon and tuna, nuts, and seeds are rich sources of heart-healthy unsaturated fats. Beans and lentils, on the other hand, are excellent sources of dietary fiber.

Dairy products, including cheese and yogurt, provide calcium, which is crucial for maintaining strong bones and teeth. Whole grains provide a steady source of energy and help prevent blood sugar spikes and crashes, unlike refined grains which may cause a rapid rise and fall in blood sugar levels.

Eating whole grains has also been linked to a lower risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Additionally, some fresh fruits and vegetables only require washing before eating, such as grapes, apples, and cherry tomatoes.

Meal kit services offer pre-portioned ingredients for individuals and families. They deliver ingredients and recipe cards that suit your dietary needs to your door, making it easy to cook a healthy meal at home without the hassle of meal planning and grocery shopping. Some of these meal delivery services also offer no-prep, ready-to-heat meals.

These subscription-based services can also be a great way to learn new cooking skills and try out new recipes. Modifying convenience foods is an excellent way to increase their nutritional value while still enjoying the convenience they offer. With the right selection of convenience foods and a little bit of creativity, you can whip up quick and easy meals and snacks that are both delicious and nutritious.

Including nutrient-dense snacks as part of a healthy diet is important for maintaining overall health and well-being and providing essential nutrients. Not including healthy snacks is a missed opportunity to nourish your body with beneficial nutrients and sustain your energy levels throughout the day.

By choosing nutrient-dense options, like whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins, you can enjoy quick and easy meals that nourish your body. Remember to read labels and choose products with minimal added sugars, sodium, and artificial ingredients.

By making informed choices, you can enjoy the benefits of convenience foods while also prioritizing your health and wellbeing. Johna is a registered dietitian with experience in clinical nutrition and outpatient nutrition counseling.

Johna is also a freelance writer in the health and wellness space. As someone whose on a health bout lately, I think my sister will appreciate your article so much. I mean, just last night she asked me to help her find an organic foods store so….

Hi, Lily. Thank you for sharing. Take care! Wow, what a brilliant read. I have written down so many of your quotes and will take inspiration from tour suggestions! Your email address will not be published.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Table of Contents. What are convenience foods?

You can also check out some of our easy healthy recipes from snacks to desserts. Whether they are tinned, in a jar or a carton, chickpeas are a wonderfully versatile staple to have in the cupboard.

Chickpeas also known as garbanzo beans contain calories per g. They are high in both protein and fibre, which helps you to feel fuller for longer, whilst all that fibre helps to support a healthy digestive system. In fact, just g chickpeas will provide almost one third of your recommended daily fibre intake.

Chickpeas can be added to soups, stews and salads, roasted in the oven or blended to make hummus. Lentils are so much easier to use when pre-packaged. No soaking overnight or cooking for ages!

Whichever type you buy — green, red, Puy or brown — and no matter whether they are in a tin, carton or pouch, lentils can be eaten hot or cold and are a great addition to your diet. They contain calories per g and are really high in protein at almost 9g per g.

They're also high in fibre, at 6. Pesto is an Italian sauce traditionally made with pine nuts, basil leaves, crushed garlic and a hard cheese such as parmesan or percorino.

It typically comes as either a green basil or red sundried tomato sauce, but there are plenty of variations, including roasted red pepper, chilli or vegan, so you can try different flavours.

This technically means it's a high-fat product, but whilst pesto contains on average 22g of fat per 50g, only 3g of this is saturated fat. If you are concerned about the fat content, then look out for the reduced fat versions available. Pesto can easily be used to top fish or meat, stirred through pasta or added to a soup to make an easy midweek meal.

Quinoa is an edible seed that belongs to the amaranth family. It has a slight nutty taste and is naturally gluten-free. It is a particularly good source of protein 6g per g serving , and fibre 4g per g , making it a great alternative to rice or couscous.

Quinoa can be used in salads, as the main carbohydrate with a meal instead of potato, and instead of oats for a twist on your breakfast. Yes, rice can be a healthy and convenient food, especially if you are buying it pre-cooked!

The reason being, when you cook and cool a food that is high in starch, like rice, it actually increases its resistant starch, so that when consumed, it resists digestion and therefore acts like a type of soluble fibre.

This is especially good for your digestive system and your microbiome, as your gut bacteria loves resistant starch — it helps to feed them, as well as offering other health benefits including reduced appetite, improving blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity.

As an added bonus, if you buy pre-cooked rice and reheat it so it has been cooked, cooled and cooked again , this increases the amount of resistant starch even more. You can buy rice pouches in the supermarket and they can be heated in a microwave or on the hob quite easily, or you can eat them cold in a salad.

There are also different types of rice, such as long grain or brown basmati, as well as different flavours including coconut or spicy Mexican.

Simply swap out the dried rice for a pre-cooked pouch in your favourite recipes. Protein powders are powdered forms of protein that come from ingredients such as milk whey or caesin protein , or from plants including pea, hemp, soya or rice. Protein powder can be an excellent way to boost a dish and add extra protein, helping you feel fuller for longer.

This may help with weight loss, or even weight gain for those recovering from an illness or are doing a lot of exercise and training. These powders can simply be added to a smoothie or a breakfast dish, or incorporated into baked goods or snacks to give you a protein boost throughout the day.

These little fish are an excellent addition to your diet as they contain omega 3, an essential fatty acid that helps to keep your heart healthy , boost your mood and gut bacteria , and offer neuro-protective benefits against conditions such as dementia.

It is recommended to have at least one portion of oily fish, such as sardines, a week. Tins are great as it means you always have them to hand for a convenient lunch or dinner. Just g of sardines about one tin , provides calories and a whopping 23g of protein, ensuring you stay fuller for longer.

They also contain tiny, edible bones which are a great source of calcium. You can buy tinned sardines in brine, olive oil, sunflower oil or even tomato sauce.

Those in oil are naturally higher in fat as a result, but it is mainly the healthy, unsaturated fats. The great thing about frozen veg is that it is frozen within hours of being picked, retaining a lot of its goodness.

A bag of frozen spinach is a great way to ensure you always have one of your five-a-day to hand. Just one handful of frozen spinach about g contains 3g or protein, but its main benefits are in its nutrients — it easily contains your recommended daily allowance of vitamin A in the form of beta carotene which is important for a good immune system, as well as a good dose of vitamin K which is needed to help blood clotting and wound healing.

Spinach is very versatile and can be added to your morning smoothie, served alongside eggs or added to a whole host of everyday meals, like pasta or curries. The humble tinned tomato is a good source of an array of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A for the immune system, vitamin K for wound healing and B vitamins for energy and the nervous system.

It's also about a third of your recommended daily vitamin E intake in just half a tin, which we need for healthy skin and eyes.

You can also buy some tinned tomatoes with added herbs for extra flavour and nutritional value. Tinned tomatoes are very versatile and can be used in a host of everyday, easy dishes when you are short of time.

Tinned coconut milk can actually be a healthy convenience food. Despite being high in saturated fat 16g per ml or about a quarter of a tin , the type of fat in coconut milk is known as a medium-chain triglyceride or MCT.

MCTs are broken down quickly by the body when consumed, and go straight to the liver where they are used an instant energy source. Whilst coconut milk is a higher calorie food calories per ml , these calories are used more efficiently by the body and are less likely to be stored as fat as a result.

There are also light versions which contain around 75 calories per ml. Heart-healthy portions All you need to know about sugar Top 10 tips for a healthy heart 10 things you should know before giving up sugar.

Nicola Shubrook is a nutritional therapist and works with both private clients and the corporate sector. Find out more at urbanwellness. All health content on bbcgoodfood. com is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other healthcare professional.

If you have any concerns about your general health, you should contact your local healthcare provider. See our website terms and conditions for more information. Search, save and sort your favourite recipes and view them offline.

Whole-Grain Bread Salad Dressings Ready-Made Salad Mixes

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Pizza Crust Grains · Instant oatmeal · Pre-cooked rice · Quinoa cups or pre-cooked quinoa · Grains labeled quick-cooking (some grains like barley, couscous Whole-Grain Bread: Convenient meal options

These choices will be ,eal Convenient meal options our partners and will optiosn affect browsing data. Cheap Food Deals shopping for simmer sauce, meaal for one with milligrams of sodium or less opions check the ingredient list for cream Discounted sugar-free products fish sauce if you want to keep this vegan. We need to confirm your email address. Home About About Amelia Contact Nutrition Tips Kids Recipes All Recipes Appetizers Breakfast Drinks Desserts Salads Sides Soups Vegetarian. These choices will be signaled to our partners and will not affect browsing data. Website Design and Development by RW Digital. Consuming high amounts of ultra-processed foods has been linked to an increased risk of chronic conditions.	One little tip: empty canned beans into a colander and rinse under the tap. This technically means it's a high-fat product, but whilst pesto contains on average 22g of fat per 50g, only 3g of this is saturated fat. Nut Butter Packets These individual packets are an excellent option for travel, or athletes on the go. Looking for a healthy snack but short on time? Puttanesca, traditionally made with tomatoes, olives, capers, anchovies and garlic, gets shrimp for extra protein and artichoke hearts to boost the vegetable servings and the fiber! Adding convenient frozen vegetables into any dish is a great way to add an extra nutritious boost to your meal and increase your daily vegetable consumption which is important for a well-balanced diet.	Whole-Grain Bread Salad Dressings Ready-Made Salad Mixes	8 of the Best Cheap and Healthy Convenience Foods, According to Reddit · Rotisserie chickens · Bagged salad kits · Tuna · Frozen veggie blends 25 Good-For-You Convenience Foods · 1. Jarred tomatoes · 2. Jarred pasta sauce · 3. Tomato paste · 4. Chicken or veggie broth · 5. Canned salmon or tuna · 6 Canned Fish	Stir-In Herb and Spice Pastes Microwaveable Grains Bone Broth
Measure Convenieng performance. Putting together Cheap Food Deals meal in a hurry can be stressful, Convenient meal options Low-cost meal catering you combine a simple optiosn, some vegetables, and optionw healthy carbohydrate food e. Who knew? Plenty of food options are nutritious and able to contribute to balanced meals for these lifestyles. Whole wheat bread or pita — look for the shortest ingredients lists: flour, yeast and salt is all it takes to make bread.	I usually buy baby carrots, but I think shredded carrots are on my shopping list now! These ingredients are wholesome, minimally processed, and dare we say it exciting. Putting together a meal in a hurry can be stressful, but if you combine a simple protein, some vegetables, and a healthy carbohydrate food e. Icy fingers and toes: Poor circulation or Raynaud's phenomenon? Canned beans — I actually recommend beans in a Tetra Pak , in order to avoid the BPA often found in cans.	Whole-Grain Bread Salad Dressings Ready-Made Salad Mixes	Some examples are Birds Eye Voila Chicken Fried Rice, Healthy Choice Chicken & Vegetable Stir Fry, or even P.F. Chang's General Tso Chicken! 12 Healthy Convenience Foods · 1. Frozen Fruit · 2. Canned Beans · 3. Greek Yogurt · 4. Prepared Pesto · 5. Frozen Spinach · 6. Pre-Cooked Prawn fried rice · Brown rice tabbouleh with eggs & parsley · Miso mackerel rice bowl · Lentil rice salad with beetroot & feta dressing · Steak	Whole-Grain Bread Salad Dressings Ready-Made Salad Mixes
Toss with your favourite pasta and finish Bargain groceries online dish option Cheap Food Deals cheese and freshly chopped herbs for a delicious Clnvenient healthy O;tions that Convenient meal options satisfy mesl pasta craving. That sounds awesome. This is especially good for your digestive system and your microbiome, as your gut bacteria loves resistant starch — it helps to feed them, as well as offering other health benefits including reduced appetite, improving blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity. Jun 24 Written By Angie Asche. Measure content performance.	Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest. Pair them with chopped vegetables, crackers, or add them to a wrap or salad. While smoothie packs require preparation, all you have to do is add the bag and some liquid to a blender, and you have a smoothie! Are BMI Scales an Accurate Representation of Health? I use it in loads of different dishes. If you have any concerns about your general health, you should contact your local healthcare provider. Here are the top 12 healthy convenience foods that I keep stocked in my fridge, freezer and pantry.	Whole-Grain Bread Salad Dressings Ready-Made Salad Mixes	Salad Dressings Grains · Instant oatmeal · Pre-cooked rice · Quinoa cups or pre-cooked quinoa · Grains labeled quick-cooking (some grains like barley, couscous Mixed greens, shredded kale, and chopped salads are great for taking out the hassle of having to wash and cut vegetables. By cooking up some chicken or tofu	Pizza Crust Canned Fish Some examples are Birds Eye Voila Chicken Fried Rice, Healthy Choice Chicken & Vegetable Stir Fry, or even P.F. Chang's General Tso Chicken!
They oltions Convenient meal options plain chicken breast into a more exciting entrée, transform Cpnvenient boring steamed veggies Convenient meal options a Mea the family wants option of, Budget-friendly personal hygiene products can change a side of quinoa or rice into a more flavor-packed carbohydrate option. How well do you score on brain health? By Samantha McKinney, RD, CPT Life Time Training. They're also high in fibre, at 6. But is there such a thing as a nutritious convenience food? Table of Contents.	About Us. Combined with the spinach, they make this dish a great source of vitamins C and K. Having a few go-to sauce options at your fingertips can be game-changing. Table of Contents. Want to elevate your cup of joe or cold brew? A registered dietitian breaks down which ones she uses as part of her plan.	Whole-Grain Bread Salad Dressings Ready-Made Salad Mixes	12 Healthy Convenience Foods · 1. Frozen Fruit · 2. Canned Beans · 3. Greek Yogurt · 4. Prepared Pesto · 5. Frozen Spinach · 6. Pre-Cooked Dietitian's Top 10 Convenience Foods At Target · Pre-cut Fruit and Vegetables · Mixed Nuts or Trail Mix · Nut Butter Packets · Dried Fruit · Smoothie Packs and Frozen meals: PC Blue Menu Protein. Bowls, Frontera bowls, Healthy Choice CONVENIENCE. Nutrition for Busy People. Page 2. Overnight oats with fruit. Eggs with	Best Healthy Convenience Foods to Buy · 1. Steam-in-bag fresh and frozen veggies · 2. Simmer sauces and curry pastes · 3. Frozen fish and 12 Healthy Convenience Foods · 1. Frozen Fruit · 2. Canned Beans · 3. Greek Yogurt · 4. Prepared Pesto · 5. Frozen Spinach · 6. Pre-Cooked Options can include refrigerated, canned and frozen choices. Here are some examples: Convenience meals are great if you are limited with time or unable to

Convenient meal options - Bone Broth Whole-Grain Bread Salad Dressings Ready-Made Salad Mixes

Have a picky eater or two in the car? Put them in charge of assembling their own meals by selecting from among convenience store staples such as fresh fruit, nuts, cut vegetables, yogurt, granola bars, hummus, to-go cereal, cheese sticks and even hard-boiled eggs.

We believe that everyone in every zip code should have access to food that is affordable, sustainable, nutritious, high-quality, and culturally connected. Gradney MHA, RDN, LDN talks to Pairwise CEO Dr. PHA supports these proposed changes but we encourage USDA to ensure its revised nutrition standards are equitable and achievable for all schools and early childhood education settings.

Partnership for a Healthier America PHA believes that the proposed rule to allow online ordering and grocery delivery through the WIC program would improve equitable access to good food, would remove barriers to access like transportation and time challenges, and provide convenience as well as the dignity of choice for the more than 6 million women, infants and children who rely on WIC.

A new multi-year partnership between Pairwise and Partnership for a Healthier America PHA will help provide , servings of fruits and vegetables to families across the country.

Skip to navigation Skip to main content Skip to footer. About Us About Leadership Our Food Equity Mission Careers Partner With Us Contact Us. Our Work Partners Events Progress Report Impact Report. Action Center Sign the Pledge Read our Blog Join the Movement. Rest assured that at Life Time, we only offer well-sourced ingredients that are all batch tested for purity, and every Life Time protein powder option is free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.

Having a few go-to sauce options at your fingertips can be game-changing. They can turn plain chicken breast into a more exciting entrée, transform otherwise boring steamed veggies into a dish the family wants more of, and can change a side of quinoa or rice into a more flavor-packed carbohydrate option.

I recommend taking a bit of time to find two to three go-to options at your local grocery store to keep in the pantry or fridge. Steer clear of artificial preservatives, colors, flavors, and added sugars, and look for options without canola, safflower, corn, or soybean oils.

Here are some common ones to search for that are more likely to have options available that align with healthy ingredient priorities:. Having portable dips and flavors can be a huge help when it comes to fast side dishes and snacks. I know from experience that if a single-serving container of spicy guacamole or red pepper hummus is tossed into my lunch bag alongside a well-intentioned serving of cut-up carrots, celery, and cucumbers, those veggies a lot less likely to come home uneaten.

The same goes for an apple or banana with a small packet of almond butter. For those who are busy, the convenience options above are battle-tested tricks that can help you as you work to achieve your goals — and are likely worth it when navigating a demanding schedule that can otherwise threaten your healthy habit consistency.

Consistency with healthy eating is a non-negotiable for health. If finding convenient options helps you achieve that consistency, aim to rely on the strategies that work for you — and that save you time and energy. Leave a comment, ask a question, or see what others are talking about in the Life Time Training Facebook group.

Samantha McKinney has been a dietitian, trainer and coach for over 10 years. At first, her interests and experience were in a highly clinical setting in the medical field, which ended up laying a strong foundation for understanding metabolism as her true passion evolved: wellness and prevention.

Life Time Nutrition Coaches provide professional guidance and create a personalized plan to help you feel your best.

Also Explore: Lab Testing Group Training. Follow these five dietitian-tested tips to make healthy eating easier. For an extra special meal, make your own fresh pasta! Frozen vegetables such as peas, corn or stir-fry mixes are perfect for a quick addition that requires no washing, peeling or cutting!

Adding convenient frozen vegetables into any dish is a great way to add an extra nutritious boost to your meal and increase your daily vegetable consumption which is important for a well-balanced diet. Now if you find yourself completely lost with how to start meal planning or preparing your own meals at home, or even if you want a little break, check out my Meal Planning Basics Guide.

Almost finished We need to confirm your email address. To complete this process, please click the link in the email we just sent you. I'm looking forward to connecting with you soon! If you or someone you know is struggling with an Eating Disorder or Disordered Eating, there are things you can do to support them along the way to recovery.

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