The average American household spends less than 30 minutes preparing the evening meal, and more and more families are relying on convenience foods to make meal prep quick and easy. The downside of this trend is the impact on calories and sodium. Many convenience foods are much higher in calories and sodium compared to versions prepared at home. If you want a dinner lower in calories and much lower in sodium, Sunkist recommends using lemons as an alternative to salt. Try the Sunkist S'alternative® recipes featured in this Sunkist MyPlate Meal Makeover for a healthy, flavorful dinner that will be on the table in less than 30 minutes!
If you rely on take-out foods for dinner once in a while, keep the MyPlate recommendation to make half your plate fruits and vegetables in mind when making your menu choices. At a Chinese restaurant, if you choose steamed vegetables and rice (opt for brown rice if it's available) in place of the chow mein and fried rice and non-breaded meats and seafood, you'll save a lot of calories and sodium. Adding a Sunkist Navel Orange for dessert adds essential nutrients and vibrant color to your meal.