Many of us turn to frozen foods as our go-to after a demanding day at work or doing household tasks. However, in terms of things like weight control and metabolic health, these quick and easy meals can be quite dangerous. Certain frozen dinners and snacks are loaded with sodium, carbohydrates, and bad fats that can slow down your metabolism and cause weight gain. Each of these factors has the potential to interfere with your body’s normal metabolic functions and increase calorie intake.
We checked in with health experts to discover eight frozen foods you may have in your freezer right now that could negatively impact weight loss and even slow down your metabolism. Some of the worst options include frozen pizza, ice cream, frozen burritos, frozen mozzarella sticks, and more. Read on to discover all eight.
1. Frozen pizza
Pizza is probably one of the easiest frozen food options; just toss it into the oven and let it cook! But excessive consumption of this meal can cause insulin resistance and throw off metabolic processes that can result from the excessive content of added sugars, harmful fats, and processed carbohydrates found in many frozen pizzas. All of these factors combined may cause your metabolism to slow down and hinder your body's ability to burn calories efficiently.
"Frozen pizzas are a quick dinner, but they can impact your metabolism due to their high content of refined carbohydrates and saturated fats. The crust can cause blood sugar levels to spike and drop, potentially leading to insulin resistance over time, which leads to excess fat storage. The saturated fats from cheese and processed meats can also increase the body's fat storage, making it harder to burn calories," says Michelle Saari, RD at EHealth project.
2. Ice cream
Who has time to make dessert from scratch when there’s ice cream! However, ice cream is nothing but sugar and fat. The large amounts of sugar in various ice cream flavors can cause a rise in blood glucose levels, leading to insulin resistance over time, which can eventually slow down the metabolism. The high fat content, especially saturated fats, can also contribute to weight gain by adding extra calories and potentially disrupting metabolic processes. Ice cream is a rich and decadent frozen item, which makes it easy to overeat.
Saari states that "ice cream is notorious for its high added sugar and fat content, both of which can contribute to slowing down your metabolism. The excessive sugar intake can lead to weight gain and insulin resistance, a condition that makes it difficult for your body to use glucose (sugar) efficiently. The fat in ice cream, especially if it includes trans fats, can increase body fat, which is less metabolically active than muscle mass."
3. Frozen burritos
Sometimes you’re craving Mexican food but can’t be bothered to assemble a classic burrito with fresh ingredients. That’s when you reach for the frozen burritos in your freezer. But, before you thaw and warm it up, it’s important to know that this meal contains many processed ingredients and comes with a huge calorie punch.
"Frozen burritos combine refined carbohydrates and high-fat ingredients, wrapped in a white flour tortilla, and can really slow down your metabolism. These ingredients can lead to insulin resistance, increasing body fat storage. Also, the high sodium content in frozen burritos can cause water retention, further impacting your body's calorie-burning efficiency," Saari highlights.
4. Frozen mozzarella sticks
Nothing is more comforting than nibbling on a cheesy, gooey mozzarella cheese stick. But let’s remember how they’re made! Breaded and deep-fried, mozzarella sticks are typically dense in calories and saturated fats per serving. Eating foods rich in saturated fats might slow down your metabolism by causing insulin resistance, which makes it more difficult for your body to burn calories properly.
Saari says that this cheesy snack "often contains trans fats, used in oils for frying, which can negatively affect your cholesterol levels and heart health, potentially slowing down your metabolism. The breading, made from refined flour, contributes to the rapid spikes in blood sugar levels, leading to insulin resistance when consumed frequently.”
5. Frozen yogurt
Frozen yogurt may sound healthy, but just because it has the word “yogurt” in it doesn’t mean it’s good for your gut, weight, or metabolism.
"Frozen yogurt, while usually lower in calories and fats than ice cream, is still loaded with sugar, flavorings, and preservatives. Most of the ones you find in stores can still contribute to weight gain and inflammation throughout the body," says Jesse Feder, RDN, CPT.
Joanna Wen, certified health coach and founder of Spices & Greens, adds that "frozen desserts like fruit-flavored frozen yogurt can be a concern, as they often contain high amounts of added sugars and artificial additives, both of which can contribute to inflammation and potential weight gain, especially around the waistline."
6. Frozen smoothie packs
Frozen smoothie packs aren’t your typical healthy smoothies. Although smoothies are known to be nutritious, these frozen items are loaded with sugary additives and preservatives to make them last long and preserve their taste. Furthermore, these convenient smoothies might not have a balanced protein and fiber profile, leading to overeating later in the day.
"Frozen smoothie packs are convenient and popular to use. However, they are typically high in sugars, calories, and additives. This can easily add on inches to your waist and lead to inflammation as well," says Feder.
Wen agrees and states that "some of these smoothie mixes can contain high levels of added sugars, which can lead to inflammation and weight gain around the waistline."
7. Low-fat frozen dinners
You’ll notice that many low-fat meals are marketed as weight loss friendly, but the ingredient list is jam-packed with names you won’t even be able to pronounce. While low in calories, these meals are often stripped from important nutrients such as protein, fiber, healthy fats, and complex carbs. Most of these ingredients contain processed carbs and other additives that may not even fill you up.
Feder elaborates and says that "low-fat frozen dinners are marketed as healthy dinners; however, they still contribute high amounts of sodium and preservatives and are usually not satiating enough to only have one. This can lead to overeating, increases in weight, and inflammation throughout the body."
If parting ways with these meals is difficult for you, it's a good idea to always read the food labels and choose options with minimal processed ingredients.
8. Frozen veggies with additives
Vegetables are an important part of our diet, helping to fuel us up on essential vitamins and minerals. Frozen vegetables on their own can be great for a healthy diet, Lisa Richards, registered nutritionist and creator of The Candida Diet, says, but packaged ones that come with additives or 'extras' can mean extra calories and other undesired ingredients.
"Not all frozen vegetables are equal in quality," Richards warns. "Frozen produce made with added sugar, oils, dressings, and cheeses has added calories that aren't necessary and will negatively impact your weight loss."
As a healthier alternative, she recommends "to purchase frozen produce that has simply been harvested, cleaned, and frozen. You can then choose to add any extra ingredients during preparation."
