The 10 Best Packaged Foods for Dinner

INTRO TK?

Toss these crunchy pods with the seasoning packet and serve hot or cold for a vitamin C-rich side.

Per 1 1/2 cups: 100 cal, 6 g fat (1 g sat), 8 g carbs, 4 g sugar, 135 mg sodium, 2 g fiber, 3 g protein

Freekeh and quinoa give this blend a whole-grain upgrade, with a nuttier taste and more texture. Add a lean protein to make a meal.

Per 1/4 cup dry: 180 cal, 1 g fat (0 g sat), 37 g carbs, <1 g sugar, 0 mg sodium, 1 g fiber, 4 g protein

Rice in 60 seconds? Yep. This precooked blend of brown rice, quinoa, barley, oats, wheat, and rye doesn't even require water.

Per 1 cup: 220 cal, 4 g fat (0.5 g sat), 41 g carbs, 1 g sugar, 230 mg sodium, 6 g fiber, 6 g protein

Four cheeses plus marinara sauce make this meal taste far more indulgent than its cal count indicates. Plus, you rack up nearly a third of your daily fiber quota.

Per serving: 250 cal, 4.5 g fat (2.5 g sat), 42 g carbs, 10 g sugar, 460 mg sodium, 8 g fiber, 11 g protein

Such a friend to the time-pressed chef, these precooked pieces are lightly seasoned to taste like they're straight off the grill—no extra flavor required.

Per 3 oz: 100 cal, 2.5 g fat (0.5 g sat), 1 g carbs, 0 g sugar, 420 mg sodium, 0 g fiber, 19 g protein

This Korean meal—organic tofu marinated in sweet-hot gochujang sauce over brown rice—rocks out on the protein meter, especially considering it's vegetarian.

Per meal: 350 cal, 13 g fat (1 g sat), 49 g carbs, 14 g sugar, 490 mg sodium, 3 g fiber, 11 g protein

If you can't get used to the taste of whole-grain noodles, this pasta is a smart sub: It's made from white flour but contains the fiber content of a more obviously grainy pick. It's a good source of vitamin D and calcium, too.

Per 3/4 cup: 180 cal, 0.5 g fat (0 g sat), 40 g carbs, 1 g sugar, 10 mg sodium, 5 g fiber, 6 g protein

The hearty veggies provide lots of nutrients in one bowl. Plus, chewy barley grains contain a form of fiber known as beta-glucan that has been shown to help lower cholesterol.

Per cup: 80 cal, 1.5 g fat (0.5 g sat), 12 g carbs, 3 g sugar, 470 g sodium, 2 g fiber, 5 g protein

There's something wonderfully comforting about a bowl of toothsome rice dotted with earthy mushrooms. Eat this vegan dish alone, or use it to stuff squash.

Per 1 cup prepared: (1/3 cup rice blend + 2 tsp seasoning mix): 210 cal, 1.5 g fat (0 g sat), 45 g carbs, 1 g sugar, 470 mg sodium, 3 g fiber, 5 g protein

Ten minutes + one pan = a cheesy, chicken- and vegetable-laden pasta meal that you could get away with serving a date for dinner. (He'll never know.)

Per 1/2 package: 300 cal, 8 g fat (3 g sat), 40 g carbs, 8 g sugar, 820 mg sodium, 3 g fiber, 22 g protein