Some of the easiest and healthiest meals these days start with the relatively new, steam-in-bag, products that available in the frozen food section.

There are steam-in-bag ravioli (including cheese, spinach, beef and pesto), and there are a number of types of steam-in-bag rice (including brown and white, with or without vegetables). Steam-in-bag vegetables that are available include broccoli, snap peas, corn, and a number of others. Rice also comes in single-serve, microwavable, cups as well.

These steam-in-bag products usually require 4 to 5 minutes in the microwave. Since they really serve about two people, storing the leftovers for another microwavable meal makes the next meal even easier.

Adding ready-to-microwave chicken breast patties or ready-to-eat chicken or turkey chunks (heated or not) adds protein. Tuna and salmon fillets are available in foil envelopes near the canned tuna. Heating one of these in a pan with spices is another source of protein. For vegetarians, soy "sausage" (which comes in breakfast links or patties, as well as in Italian or Polish varieties). There are also a variety of veggie burgers and soy "hamburger" patties. Although all but veggie patties taste better when heated in a pan, the microwave can be used as well.

Birds Eye makes the "Voila" line, which is a variety of mixed vegetables and sauce that have chicken, beef, or shrimp mixed in. "Voila" comes in the "regular" variety, which also includes pasta. There is a low-carb variety, which contains no pasta. This product costs just under $4, but would give one person more than one meal. Preparing it involves dumping it and the frozen sauce into a casserole dish, and then microwaving. Leftovers can be stored in the covered casserole dish. Contessa also makes a similar product, although it costs more than the Birds Eye version.

Also easy is a meal made up of ready-made/heat-and-eat mashed potato and microwavable chicken strips, patties, or breasts. Ready-to-bake fish is another option. Some comes breaded. Some comes in a foil pack without the breading. As with the rice or ravioli, there are also the options of tuna or salmon steaks or soy products as additions.

Bags of frozen vegetables are handy because one can take out as many vegetables as desired and leave the rest in the freezer. Raw vegetables, like carrots, tomato, cucumber, and dark lettuce make either an addition to a meal or else a separate salad.

Mixing soup, a salad, and/or a sandwich makes a lighter meal. All sandwiches are better with particularly nice bread or rolls. Nice cheeses make a good sandwich, particularly if lettuce, different dressings, and other vegetables are added.

Angel hair pasta cooks in about four minutes. Adding canned shrimp, olive oil, and seasoning makes a light, easy, meal too.

Frozen chopped onion, frozen chopped green and/or red peppers, and canned mushrooms can be kept on hand and added to scrambled egg to make a vegetable omelette.

Adding fresh fruit or fruit packaged in individual snack cups makes a healthy dessert.