As healthy as possible frozen meals

[plumbago]

Hi Everyone,

I shop at Safeway and Harris Teeter and feel like I’ve got a good bead on what’s what in terms of frozen meals, gluten-free of course. I get Evolve or Evol a lot, and sometimes Amys, and one or two others, but the boxes are gone so I can’t recall their names. But just wanted to check in with everyone to see if I’ve missed any. What I’m looking for is of course gluten-free, but also low sugar, and zero trans fats.

Thank you!

[Ennis-TX]

...I make my own, food saver bags, vacuum sealer, throw in veggies, pieces of meat, etc. add a bit of seasonings liquid smoke, sauces etc. Depending on sauce I sometimes freeze first then seal so they are not messy or seal then freeze. All I have to do is take it out poke holes in the bag put it in the microwave and zap it...instant steam pouch.

 

[plumbago]

11 hours ago, Ennis_TX said:

...I make my own, food saver bags, vacuum sealer, throw in veggies, pieces of meat, etc. add a bit of seasonings liquid smoke, sauces etc. Depending on sauce I sometimes freeze first then seal so they are not messy or seal then freeze. All I have to do is take it out poke holes in the bag put it in the microwave and zap it...instant steam pouch.

 

That sounds good. Do you have a machine that seals without air or do you just use bags? Is it possible to buy bags only?

I remembered the other type of froz food I sometimes get - Saffron Road.

[Victoria1234]

We freeze portions in a regular freezer zip lock bag.

[Ennis-TX]

1 hour ago, plumbago said:

That sounds good. Do you have a machine that seals without air or do you just use bags? Is it possible to buy bags only?

I remembered the other type of froz food I sometimes get - Saffron Road.

I got a the vacuum sealer on a black Friday sale a few years ago for like $24, and bulk bought some of the rolls you make into bags got the good double sided thick ones.

[plumbago]

Shoot. The freezer bag thing, though, was something I hadn't thought of. Space issues, so I won't go out and buy a vacuum sealer. Wish there was another way because that's a good idea.

[Ennis-TX]

8 minutes ago, plumbago said:

Shoot. The freezer bag thing, though, was something I hadn't thought of. Space issues, so I won't go out and buy a vacuum sealer. Wish there was another way because that's a good idea.

Mine is really small, cord folds up inside it and fits in a drawer 5.9 x 10.6 x 17.7 inches .Open Original Shared Link

Again I got mine on a huge sale. If you need smaller and do not mind paying more in the long run for special bags Open Original Shared Link

NOW if you want to take a non portable/take with me on trip version. Nordicware makes steam trays for hte microwave, omelette makers, bacon cookers, etc. where you can use their cook ware to fix meals in the microwave. I keep sets to go on trips to cook eggs and stuff in some hotels if I can not take my griddle. Open Original Shared Link

NOTE the cooking plates, omelette trays, etc are epic for making egg tortilla, egg noodles, or egg sheets. You beat the eggs with a hand blender or a good beater and some coconut flour/chiaseed/flax meal and pour in to desired thickness and zap it 1-2mins to make a sheet you can cut into noodles, use as roll up, or tortilla. Adjust ratios for what your using it for I use about 2-3 tbsp flour with 240g of egg and 20-30g of almond milk. I like adding seasonings, extract, non dairy cheeses....I do alot with eggs lol.

[Nikki2777]

I have had luck with some of the Luvo meals, and a company called Blakes makes some good ones, including a gluten-free Shepard's Pie.  There are some frozen Indian meals that are good (TJ's has a Chicken Tikka Masala). Not frozen, but add water and microwave, are some of the Thai rice-noodle 'bowls".  I'll post back with more when I remember them.  

[plumbago]

4 hours ago, Nikki2777 said:

I have had luck with some of the Luvo meals, and a company called Blakes makes some good ones, including a gluten-free Shepard's Pie.  There are some frozen Indian meals that are good (TJ's has a Chicken Tikka Masala). Not frozen, but add water and microwave, are some of the Thai rice-noodle 'bowls".  I'll post back with more when I remember them.  

A lot of those looked good, but I saw more than one with wheat as an ingredient.

Open Original Shared Link

I think I can do some plan ahead meals, and thank you Ennis for the great links to the vaccuum sealer. For now, I just don't have the "bandwidth" to deal with learning all that, and prefer to remain low tech (again, for now). I wish I could figure out how to freeze these plan-ahead meals easily so that I can then re-heat them, also easily.

Plumbago

[Ennis-TX]

4 minutes ago, plumbago said:

A lot of those looked good, but I saw more than one with wheat as an ingredient.

Open Original Shared Link

I think I can do some plan ahead meals, and thank you Ennis for the great links to the vaccuum sealer. For now, I just don't have the "bandwidth" to deal with learning all that, and prefer to remain low tech (again, for now). I wish I could figure out how to freeze these plan-ahead meals easily so that I can then re-heat them, also easily.

Plumbago

Or forgo the freezer >.>

Open Original Shared Link

^Shelf stable read to eat meals you just open the pouch and zap in the microwave all gluten free and mostly carb free.

[Nikki2777]

16 hours ago, Ennis_TX said:

Or forgo the freezer >.>

Open Original Shared Link

^Shelf stable read to eat meals you just open the pouch and zap in the microwave all gluten free and mostly carb free.

 

16 hours ago, plumbago said:

A lot of those looked good, but I saw more than one with wheat as an ingredient.

Open Original Shared Link

I think I can do some plan ahead meals, and thank you Ennis for the great links to the vaccuum sealer. For now, I just don't have the "bandwidth" to deal with learning all that, and prefer to remain low tech (again, for now). I wish I could figure out how to freeze these plan-ahead meals easily so that I can then re-heat them, also easily.

Plumbago

Yes, only some of the Luvo meals are Gluten Free, but the ones that are taste pretty good.

Ennis_TX, those miracle noodle meals seem like great options!  I'm definitely going to try them.  Thanks for the suggestions!