We can all agree that our local supermarket frozen chicken pot pies taste really good (too good…) and can bring us that feeling of a home-cooked meal in just minutes. But- are frozen chicken pot pies healthy?
Well, it depends. Frozen chicken pot pies generally have high sodium, high fat, and some cholesterol- they aren’t that bad for you. Assuming you have a fairly balanced diet, for most people, the frozen chicken pot pies are just fine! And if you exercise or frequently work out, frozen chicken pot pies might just be the perfect food to refuel due to the high protein, high carbs, vegetables, and white meat!
So to summarize:
- If you need to cut high sodium food out of your diet, get rid of these.
- But, if you exercise or have a fairly balanced diet, frozen chicken pot pies are fairly healthy.
Let’s go in-depth about the nutrition, and really answer the question: are frozen chicken pot pies healthy?
The Ugly? High Sodium and Some Cholesterol.
While I love my comfort food as much as anyone else, the high sodium and cholesterol can make this a scary choice for most.
Sure, if you frequently exercise/workout you might not be too worried about it. And if you’re still young and have no significant problems with your health so far, you probably don’t care.
But I’d still be careful. While I’m one to advocate that high sodium isn’t a huge problem in most people’s diets given they eat fairly balanced, there is no way around it- high sodium increases your chances of having a heart attack and a stroke.
And if you’re someone who is already at risk for heart attack or stroke, avoid this at all costs.
One serving of the small frozen chicken pot pie has 1370 mg of sodium- which is 60% of your daily values. That’s just the small version.
Plus, it has 45 mg of cholesterol per serving, which is around 15% of your daily value. For most people dealing with cholesterol problems, it’s best you avoid this food entirely too.
What Is The Nutrition Anyways?
Let’s be honest- most of us are just concerned about digging into that delicious pie, especially after a workout.
Trust me, I’ve been dirty bulking to put on a ton of muscle, and these things have been my secret weapon in putting on weight fast.
- Need a good free app for tracking your nutrition? Check out our MyFitnessPal Review, Cronometer Review, or even our comparison post, Cronometer vs MyFitnessPal!
Honestly, though, the nutrition may scare you. While you definitely feel full after eating one of these, the calories are actually really high. Here are the details:
- Frozen Chicken Pot Pie, Small (the small is basically the normal size)
- Calories: 930
- Carbohydrates: 85 grams (31% daily value)
-
Fat: 55g (71% daily value)
- Saturated Fats: 23 grams (115% daily value)
- Protein: 25 grams (38% daily value)
- Sodium: 1370 mg (60% daily value)
- Cholesterol: 45 mg (15% daily value)
Overall? Fairly Balanced (except the sodium of course)
In today’s modern age, the American diet is well, horrible- to say the least.
But, even throughout all of that and my rant about the high sodium earlier, the rest checks out well.
25 grams of protein is certainly a great and balanced amount of protein, more than most Americans eat. And we all know protein is great for keeping your muscles in shape and helping with various body functions.
Furthermore, some people say the fats are really high, but I disagree. I think most Americans would benefit from more fats in their diet- but again it’s different for every person.
Consult with your physician or your personal experience to make the best choice for you. Personally, fats are great for me and help my diet feel complete, but my sister completely disagrees. It really depends on each person.
And lastly, the carbs are fairly high at 85 grams. If you just got done with a workout (Arnold’s Blueprint to Mass, the best workout program ever made) this is an excellent way to refuel since the carbs will restore your muscle’s glycogen stores and boost your muscle growth right away!
So honestly, the nutrition checks out. It’s fairly well rounded.
What About The Ingedients?
Honestly, the ingredients aren’t that bad for you.
I will say the crust and gravy can certainly be of some concern…
But, the vegetables and white meat chicken are incredible for your health and I think it’s great. It’s for sure way healthier than a lot of the processed food products we eat every day.
How Can I Fit This In My Diet?
Look, we all have our foods we can’t live without. My dad is a massive fiend for these chicken pot pies, and nothing will stop him from having one.
If this is you, I recommend making sure your diet is balanced and healthy.
Let’s say you end up eating one of these frozen chicken pot pies, try to adequately adjust the rest of your diet so you don’t ruin the rest of your daily recommendations set by the FDA.
A big problem is the sodium in these frozen chicken pot pies. So…if I were you, try to limit your sodium intake outside of it so you can avoid having complications from that.
For instance, try not to eat any other foods that are seriously high in sodium like nuts, salted meat, pizza, etcetera.
Are Marie Callender’s Chicken Pot Pies Healthy?
I swear Marie Callender puts some illegal things in her frozen pies to make them taste so good. Which makes most of us wonder, are Marie Callender’s chicken pot pies healthy?
Well, kind of. While they are fairly balanced in nutrition, they have incredibly high sodium which can significantly increase your risk of heart attack or stroke. Make sure that eat this in moderation and don’t overdo your sodium intake for the day. And in that case, you should be fine.
And for what it’s worth, it is better for you than most other items on the shelf these days.
Conclusion of Are Frozen Chicken Pot Pies Healthy
Overall? They’re alright. But, the high sodium is certainly something you need to look out for. Eat a balanced diet, track your nutrition, and as I always say- everything in moderation.