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Ashley Ryan

Cub Reporter

                Have you ever needed a quick meal and decided to turn to a frozen dinner? The labels on these frozen dinners may make you feel good at how healthy you are eating but this can be very misleading. A study completed at Tufts University in Massachusetts showed that the reality of frozen dinners, such as Lean Cuisine and Weight Watchers, can have up to eight percent more calories in their food that listed on the label.

                “I think it is really bad because eight percent more calories is a big difference, especially when you are very strict about your diet,” said freshman Meg Quinn.

                The FDA allows packaged foods to have 20 percent more energy than listed on the label as long as it has 99 percent of the energy that is promised on the packaging. Adding only five percent more calories to a 2,000-calorie per day diet can cause up to 10 pounds of weight gain a year.

                “I think they should say the correct information on the label, but I don’t think that it’s that big of a deal,” stated freshman Annie Kemmerer. The next time you reach for a frozen dinner, consider making something fresh instead.