Whole food · Meals, Entrees, and Side Dishes
Photo: Wikipedia
This is a classic American holiday comfort meal, frozen for convenience and microwaved to a steaming finish. The tender turkey pairs with savory, herb-flecked stuffing and creamy mashed potatoes, all brought together by rich gravy. It's a calorie-conscious, protein-rich option at just 128 kcal per 100g, making it a lighter take on a traditionally heavy feast.
Calorie split: 22% protein · 51% carbs · 27% fat
↓ Full nutritionPeople love it for the nostalgic, all-in-one taste of a traditional Thanksgiving or Sunday dinner, delivered in minutes. It offers the emotional comfort of a home-cooked meal with zero prep or cleanup.
The convenience often comes with high sodium from the gravy and stuffing, which can contribute to water retention and may concern those watching blood pressure. To counteract, pair it with a large side of fresh, leafy greens to add volume and fiber, and consider draining off some of the gravy before eating.
The modern frozen 'TV dinner' was famously introduced in 1954 by Swanson, using 5,000 unsold Thanksgiving turkeys as the main protein.
| Water | 71.2 g |
| Energy | 128 kcal |
| Energy | 536 kj |
| Protein | 7.0 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 3.9 g |
| Ash | 1.7 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 16.3 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 1.3 g |
| Total Sugars | 4.8 g |
| Sucrose | 2.1 g |
| Glucose | 1.7 g |
| Fructose | 1.0 g |
| Lactose | 0.00 g |
| Maltose | 0.00 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 27.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 0.79 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 18.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 106 mg |
| Potassium, K | 230 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 326 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.48 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.06 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.16 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 7.9 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.80 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.14 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.25 mg |
| Niacin | 3.1 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.23 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.18 mg |
| Folate, total | 24.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 7.0 ug |
| Folate, food | 16.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 29.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 17.1 mg |
| Betaine | 6.4 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.33 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 44.0 ug |
| Retinol | 34.0 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 124 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 319 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 327 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.24 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Tocopherol, beta | 0.02 mg |
| Tocopherol, gamma | 1.0 mg |
| Tocopherol, delta | 0.38 mg |
| Tocotrienol, alpha | 0.01 mg |
| Tocotrienol, beta | 0.00 mg |
| Tocotrienol, gamma | 0.00 mg |
| Tocotrienol, delta | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 2.0 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.10 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 11.5 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 0.88 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.05 g |
| SFA 15:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 0.57 g |
| SFA 17:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.24 g |
| SFA 20:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 22:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 24:0 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 1.2 g |
| MUFA 14:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 15:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.06 g |
| MUFA 17:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 1.2 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 24:1 c | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 1.1 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.96 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.10 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:2 n-6 c,c | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:3 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.02 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 21:5 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 14.0 mg |
| Tryptophan | 0.10 g |
| Threonine | 0.27 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.29 g |
| Leucine | 0.51 g |
| Lysine | 0.50 g |
| Methionine | 0.16 g |
| Cystine | 0.09 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.28 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.18 g |
| Valine | 0.32 g |
| Arginine | 0.39 g |
| Histidine | 0.20 g |
| Alanine | 0.35 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.66 g |
| Glutamic acid | 1.3 g |
| Glycine | 0.27 g |
| Proline | 0.34 g |
| Serine | 0.28 g |
Is this a healthy meal choice?
It's a moderate-calorie, protein-rich option that can fit into a balanced diet, especially compared to larger restaurant portions. Its primary nutritional downside is often sodium, so it's best enjoyed occasionally and paired with fresh vegetables.
How can I improve the texture after microwaving?
For better texture, cover the dish with a microwave-safe lid or paper towel to steam evenly. After heating, let it rest for a minute. You can also crisp the turkey skin under a broiler for 1-2 minutes if your dish is oven-safe.
What are the main allergens I should watch for?
Common allergens in this type of meal include wheat (in the stuffing and gravy thickener), soy (often in seasonings), and dairy (in mashed potatoes or gravy). Always check the specific product's ingredient list.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 1.42 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.