Frozen pot pies poor choice for weight-conscious shoppers (2024)

By Judy Fitzgibbons, R.D. Tribune Media Services

Recently, as I was passing through the frozen foods section of a grocery store, I overheard a mother inviting her young children to pick out frozen pot pies. Pot pies haven't crossed my mind for quite a while, so I was rather surprised at my almost instant recollections of their baked aroma, doughy crusts, and the flavor of their gravy fillings, which I have to admit, I liked as a kid. Based on their reputations for being high in fat and sodium and low in overall nutritional value, frozen pot pies have been off my grocery list for years.

This brief mental encounter combined with the fact that food companies must now put nutrition information on these food products prompted me to see if the nutritional value of today's frozen pot pies fit my preconceived ideas. After all, companies do reformulate their products to meet changing consumer tastes.

The two primary pot pie brands, Banquet and Swanson, each offer beef, chicken, and turkey pot pies. Banquet also sells a Vegetable Cheese pot pie. Their protein content suggests that each contains the equivalent of about an ounce of meat. Several provide a moderately respectable amount of vitamin A. On the other hand, these few nutrients accompany 330 to 390 calories, around 20 grams of total fat, 7 to 9 grams of saturated fat and 710 to 1,000 milligrams of sodium. For a typical American adult, each pot pie provides about a third of the maximum amount of fat, a third to half of the cholesterol-raising saturated fat, and a quarter to a third of the sodium recommended for our daily intake.

In general, these frozen pot pies are poor choices if you're trying to keep your weight down. They contain too many calories and too much fat for the nutrients they deliver. Two, Banquet Beef and Banquet Chicken pot pies, provide the fewest calories (330 and 350) and fat (15 and 18 grams) and could conceivably work into calorie and fat reducing menus. Their poor nutrient value could be made up by eating a salad with them made from nutrient-rich vegetables, such as carrots and spinach. We'd also need to be very careful to choose low-fat foods at other meals. Compensating for their high sodium content (950 and 1,000 milligrams) would be harder but not impossible.

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Two other pot pies, Swanson Turkey and Swanson Beef, could be nutritionally reasonable, easy to prepare foods for very active people needing an easy meal or snack. People involved in heavy training programs who use 3,000 to 4,000 calories a day (cross-country runners, football players, cyclists) can easily eat the amount of fat in pot pies and be within the guidelines for fat consumption.

Keep in mind that recommendations for fat intake are based on your total energy requirements. To consume no more than 30 percent of total calories from fat, people who require 3,000 calories a day should keep their fat intake under 100 grams per day. Twenty grams of fat in a pot pie is not unreasonable in this calorie range.

The Swanson Beef and Turkey pot pies earn three stars because of their moderate cholesterol content and because they provide at least 25 percent of the daily value for vitamin A. In addition, their sodium content is moderate at 710 and 730 milligrams. They meet my requirement of providing less than two milligrams of sodium for every calorie. They are still too high in fat for most of us.

The other versions of Banquet and Swanson pot pies earn only two and a half stars or less. Besides being high in fat, their higher sodium contents and poor nutritional values pull them into the lower ratings. Fitzgibbons' Nutrition Rating: 3 stars

Swanson Turkey Pot Pie, Swanson Beef Pot Pie Per 1 pot pie:

Calories: 380-390

Total Fat: 19-21 grams

Fat Calories: 171-189

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Saturated Fat: 8-9 grams

Cholesterol: 30 milligrams

Sodium: 710-730 milligrams

Diabetic Exchanges: 1 lean meat, 1/2 vegetable, 2-1/2 Bread/Starch, 4 Fat

Fitzgibbons' Nutrition Rating: 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 stars

Swanson Chicken Pot Pie, Banquet Pot Pies: Vegetable Cheese, Turkey, Chicken, Beef Per 1 pot pie:

Calories: 330-390

Total Fat: 15-22 grams

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Fat Calories: 135-198

Saturated Fat: 7-9 grams

Cholesterol: 15-45 milligrams

Sodium: 800-1,000 milligrams

Diabetic Exchanges: 1 lean meat, 0-1/2 vegetable, 2-1/2 Starch/Bread, 2-4 Fat -----

FITZGIBBONS' NUTRITION RATING 5 stars -- Use with confidence on a low-fat, low cholesterol and/or low sodium diet.

4 stars -- Use with some considerations such as the amount of sodium, kind of fat or the implied nutrition claims on packaging.

3 stars -- Use in moderation.

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2 stars -- Use only occasionally, if at all.

0 to 1 star -- Best left on grocer's shelf. @et

Frozen pot pies poor choice for weight-conscious shoppers (2024)

FAQs

Frozen pot pies poor choice for weight-conscious shoppers? ›

For a typical American adult, each pot pie provides about a third of the maximum amount of fat, a third to half of the cholesterol-raising saturated fat, and a quarter to a third of the sodium recommended for our daily intake. In general, these frozen pot pies are poor choices if you're trying to keep your weight down.

Are frozen chicken pot pies unhealthy? ›

Best says the fat content alone in chicken pot pie is enough to raise a red flag. She explains, "While chicken is a lean animal protein, the other ingredients like milk, butter, and oil are high in saturated and trans fat.

Are pot pies healthy for weight loss? ›

Traditional chicken pot pies have a reputation for being rich in calories, saturated fats, and sodium, making them a questionable choice for those seeking a balanced diet.

Are frozen pies unhealthy? ›

But while frozen pie makes a convenient dessert to pick up at the store, unfortunately, it's often loaded with ingredients high in calories, unhealthy fats, and sugar, and is thus generally lacking in nutritional value.

How much does a pot pie weigh from Costco? ›

Price and Servings for Costco Chicken Pot Pie

I weighed mine after baking, and it was 5.5 pounds exactly, which is 88 ounces.

Are banquet pot pies healthy? ›

Two, Banquet Beef and Banquet Chicken pot pies, provide the fewest calories (330 and 350) and fat (15 and 18 grams) and could conceivably work into calorie and fat reducing menus. Their poor nutrient value could be made up by eating a salad with them made from nutrient-rich vegetables, such as carrots and spinach.

Is Costco chicken pot pie healthy? ›

However, it is not completely necessary. Is The Costco Kirkland Signature Chicken Pot Pie Healthy? While serving the chicken pot pie is not exactly a healthy food, it's a delicious comfort food that is perfect for a special occasion or a treat. It's high in calories and fat, so it's best enjoyed in moderation.

What is the healthiest pies? ›

But the apple pie takes the cake when it comes to fiber and potassium, and it has less added sugar. So what's a pie aficionado to do? Well, if you want to consume fewer calories, go for the pumpkin—it almost always has fewer because of the single crust. You could also take a sliver of both pies.

Can I eat pie and lose weight? ›

A slice of pumpkin pie traditionally contains about 320 calories, but recipe adaptations like using evaporated skim milk can reduce fat from the usual 14 or 15 grams per slice, consequently reducing calories, too. If the pie filling is what you love, leave the crust behind and save 125 to 150 calories per slice.

How healthy is KFC pot pie? ›

The unhealthiness of KFC's chicken pot pie isn't the only thing to look out for, but we'll start there. According to KFC's nutrition calculator, one chicken pot pie from KFC contains 720 calories, 60 grams of carbs, 41 grams of fat – including 25 grams of saturated fat – and 1750 milligrams of sodium.

What should you avoid when buying frozen food? ›

It makes sense to peruse the frozen aisle with the same mindset as when buying any foods: avoid anything high in salt, added sugar and trans fats – and always read the label. As a general rule of thumb, try to buy frozen ingredients rather than frozen meals.

What is the most fattening pie? ›

That said, pecan is almost the most caloric of all pies, so it's better left off your plate.

Is chicken pot pie good for you? ›

Is chicken pot pie fattening? It is fattening, especially store bought with a lot of salt, fats, and carbs. You easily substitute the ingredients for a healthier pie by making at home; reducing the cream sauce, using less butter for the crust, and not as much salt.

Should I cover Costco chicken pot pie? ›

Costco's Chicken Pot Pie Is Back in Stores

She also suggested taking the pie out of the oven to add a layer of foil to top the crust (after about 50 minutes), before then letting it cook for the full 90 minutes at 375 degrees F. This way the crust won't burn and the whole pie will bake fully to perfection.

Can I use a pan as a pie weight? ›

If you are not using pie weights, the idea is to mimic what the pie weight does and to make sure that the alternative is oven-safe. Another idea is to lay your crust across the pie pan and nest a second pie pan on top of it, pressing them together. Then bake the pie crust upside down.

How unhealthy is a chicken pie? ›

A bad chicken pot pie is worse for you than one made with good, fresh ingredients. The frozen ones tend to be high in fat and sodium. There's nothing inherently unhealthy in a chicken pot pie, it's basically chicken stew in a crust. If you're watching your carbs you can just skip the crust.

Is eating frozen cooked chicken bad for you? ›

When stored properly in the freezer, cooked chicken can remain safe to eat for up to 6 months, however, it's recommended to consume frozen cooked chicken within 3 to 4 months for the best quality. Freezing cooked chicken doesn't kill bacteria; it only puts them into a dormant state.

How many calories are in a frozen chicken pie? ›

Banquet
Nutrition Facts
For a Serving Size of 1 pie (198.45g)
How many calories are in Chicken Pot Pie, frozen? Amount of calories in Chicken Pot Pie, frozen: Calories 370Calories from Fat 189 (51.1%)
% Daily Value *
How much fat is in Chicken Pot Pie, frozen? Amount of fat in Chicken Pot Pie, frozen: Total Fat 21g-
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