Fighting the Freshman 15 (30 Low-Cal Frozen Meals)

Not surprisingly, the emails have started coming in, complaining about the infamous "Freshman 15," the ubiquitous weight gain suffered by every young person beginning his or her college adventure. For some of us, it's temporary pudge brought on by the stress of a new place, new people, new lodgings; for others, it's just more of an ongoing struggle with food. Regardless of which category you belong to, if you're eating frozen food, TV Dinners and microwaveable meals - and you know you are - we're here to help. In honor of the Freshman 15, we've compiled a list of 33 frozen entrees and dinners, all 200 calories per serving or less.

We've tried to include a wide variety of meals, to account for differing tastes and lifestyles. So - in order, starting with the lowest per-serving calorie count:

1. Amy's Organic All American Veggie Burger, 120 cal., 15 g. carbs, 10 g. protein, 3.0 g fat;
2. Amy's Organic Texas Veggie Burger, 120 cal., 15 g. carbs, 12 g. protein, 2.5 g fat;
3. Stouffer's Classic Welsh Rarebit, 130 cal., 14.0 g carbs, 12 g protein, 9 g fat;
4. Amy's Organic California Veggie Burger, 140 cal., 19 g carbs, 6 g protein, 5 g fat;
5. Stouffer's Classic Creamed Chipped Beef, 140 cal., 9 g. carbs, 9 g protein, 8 g fat;
6. Stouffer's Lean Cuisine Cafe Classics Chicken Marsala, 140 cal, 12 g. carb, 14 g protein and 4.0 g of fat;
7. President's Choice Blue Menu Tomato and Herb Chicken, 150 cal., 14 g carbs, 15 g. protein, 3.5 grams fat;
8. Stouffer's Lean Cuisine Comfort Classics Roasted Turkey & Vegetables, 150 calories, 12.0 g carbs, 15 grams protein, 5 g fat;
9. Weight Watchers' Smart Ones Higher Protein Entrees Sweet and Sour Chicken, 150 cal., 13 g carbs, 21 grams protein, 3.0 g fat;
10. Amy's Organic Chicago Veggie Burger, 160 cal., 20 grams carbs, 10 grams protein, 5 g of fat;
11. Amy's Organic Light in Sodium Black Bean Enchilada, 160 calories, 22 grams carbs, 5 grams protein and 6.0 grams of fat;
12. Gorton's Grilled Fillet Meals Alfredo, 160 calories, 14 grams of carbs, 19 grams of protein and 3 grams of fat;
13. Michelina's Avantage Creamy Parmesan chicken, 160 cal., 9 g. carbs, 18 grams Protein and 6.0 grams of fat;
14. Stouffer's Lean Cuisine Cafe Classics Garlic Beef & Broccoli, 160 cal., 17 g carbs, 15 grams protein, 3.5 grams fat;
15. Banquet Select Swedish Meatball Meal - 170 calories, 33 grams of carbs, 22 grams of protein and 19 grams of fat;
16. Stouffer's Lean Cuisine Cafe Classics Orange Beef, 170 cal, 16 g carbs, 13.0 grams of protein and 6 grams of fat;
17. Weight Watchers' Smart Ones Higher Protein Entrees Beef Pot Roast, 170 cal., 9 grams caqrbs, 25 grams protein, 9.0 grams fat;
18. Weight Watchers' Smart Ones Higher Protein Entrees Chicken Marsala with Broccoli, 170 calories, 12.3 g carbs, 19 grams protein and 5.0 grams fat;
19. Amy's Organic Black Bean Vegetable Enchilada, 180 calories, 26 g carbs, 5 grams protein, 6 grams fat;
20. Michelina's Lean Gourmet French Recipe Chicken, 180 calories, 23 grams carbs, 10 grams of protein and 4.5 grams of fat;
21. Stouffer's Hearty Classics Stuffed Peppers, 180 calories, 21 grams carbs, 8 grams protein, 7 grams of fat;
22. Stouffer's Lean Cuisine Cafe Classics Steak Tips Portabello, 180 calories, 14.3 grams carbs, 15.0 grams protein and 7.0 grams fat;
23. Weight Watchers' Smart Ones Angel Hair Pasta with Tomatoes, Zucchini, Mushrooms - 180 calories, 32.0 grams carbs, 9 grams protein, 2.0 grams of fat;
24. Weight Watchers' Smart Ones Bistro Selections Roasted Chicken w/Sour Cream and Chive Mashed Potatoes - 180 calories, 19 grams of carbs, 14.0 grams of protein, 3.5 grams of fat;
25. Weight Watchers' Smart Ones Chicken Mirabella - 180 calories, 30 grams of carbs, 11.0 grams protein and 2.0 grams of fat;
26. Weight Watchers' Smart Ones Higher Protein Entrees Creamy Chicken Tuscany - 180 calories, 9 grams carbs, 22 grams protein, 8 grams of fat;
27. Weight Watchers' Smart Ones Shrimp Marinara, 180 calories, 31 grams of carbs, 9 grams of protein and 2.0 grams of fat;
28. Michelina's Avantage Wholesome Menu Meatloaf in Gravy - 190 calories, 11 grams of carbs, 17 grams of protein and 9 grams of fat;
29. President's Choice Blue Menu Chicken Curry - 190 Calories, 17.0 grams of carbs, 19 grams of protein and 5.0 grams of fat;
30. President's Choice Blue Menu Sesame Ginger Chicken, 190 calories, 17 grams of carbs, 18 grams of protein and 5.0 grams of fat;
31. Stouffer's Lean Cuisine Comfort Classics Herb Roasted Chicken - 190 calories, 23.0 grams carbs, 16 grams of protein and 4 grams of fat;
32. Weight Watchers' Smart Ones Higher Protein Entrees Grilled Chicken in Garlic herb Sauce - 190 calories, 9 grams of carbs, 23 grams of protein and 8 grams of fat, and, last on our list for today,
33. Weight Watchers' Smart Ones Higher Protein Entrees Chicken Santa Fe - 192 calories, 10 grams of carbohydrates, 33 grams of protein and 2.5 grams of fat.

So - there you are. Thirty-three pretty terrific waist-watching meals that you can heat and eat without guilt and with blithe unconcern about contributing to your "baby fat." Try these meals, and ensure that the "blossoming" you do at college is between your ears...and not between the seams of your pants. Good Eating and Good Luck!