Healthy Premade Meals

• A number of brands that make healthy, premade "TV dinners." However, do not simply stock up on these without reading the nutritional facts closely. Some are labeled "healthy" but still contain excessive fat and little protein. Always check the calories as well as the serving size. Often what appears to be a meal for one is actually intended for two or more; this is an effective way for the companies to trick you into thinking you're taking in fewer calories than you actually are.
  
  

Modifying Meals

• One of the issues with premade food is the freshness of the ingredients. You can counter this problem by cutting up some vegetables and adding them to your premade dinner. For example, if you are microwaving a chicken and rice bowl, add some chopped broccoli or carrots before microwaving. This will give you the boost of fresh vegetables without the work of cooking a whole meal.
  
  

Soups

• Soup can either be a boon or a deficit to your healthy diet. Choose soups that are vegetable based and avoid cream-based soups, which are very high in fat and calories. If you must have cream soups, choose the low-fat varieties and add extra vegetables to them before you put them in the microwave. If the directions call for you to add more milk, use low fat or water instead.
  
  

Leftovers

• If you set aside an hour every few days or so, you can make enough food to see you through your week. Cook large quantities of foods that reheat well and store them in containers in your fridge for later. Excellent choices for this are foods that do not expire quickly and are rich in spices, such as African stews, pastas or curries, as these often improve after they have rested for a day.
  
  

Foods to Avoid

• Don't try to microwave foods that are intended to be crispy, such as taco shells or toasted bread. The microwave will only make them limp and soggy. If you must microwave these, take a few extra minutes and preheat your oven to 450 degrees, warm your meal in the microwave, and then cook it in the oven for a few minutes. This will restore the crispiness.