Can you spot the ultraprocessed foods?

Take a virtual shopping trip to learn more about what's on grocery store shelves.

Banquet Meat Loaf Dinner
Frozen Foods
📊 NOVA 4

Banquet Meat Loaf Dinner

Banquet
11.88 oz
Available at Foodtown
330
Calories
13g
Protein
11g
Sugars
1350mg
Sodium
5g
Fiber
231
Ingredients

What You Should Know

This Banquet Meat Loaf Dinner is the archetypal frozen TV-dinner you’d find in the supermarket’s frozen entrees aisle, shelved beside other microwave-ready single-serve meals and family frozen dinners. It reads as classic American comfort food: a gravy-topped meatloaf made from a mix of chicken, pork and beef, creamy mashed potatoes, sweet corn, and a cinnamon apple dessert. Shoppers reaching for it are often after convenience—busy weeknights, quick solo dinners, or stocking up for stormy weather when ready meals come in handy. Banquet positions itself as an affordable, nostalgic brand: value-focused, broadly familiar, and aimed at cost-conscious families, older shoppers seeking familiar flavors, or students and young adults who want a no-fuss meal. Packaging leans utilitarian and microwave-ready, typically a compartmentalized tray with a film cover and bold brand logo; copy on the box highlights comfort and tradition and notes features like mashed potatoes made with real cream and USDA inspection. There are mild health halos present—claims about real cream and inspected wholesomeness—yet there is no organic or premium certification; ingredient lists include many processed components and flavor enhancers. In plain processing terms, this is a factory-formulated frozen meal with multiple additives, stabilizers, and rehydrated ingredients. Sensory cues: expect soft, sliceable meatloaf with a smooth, savory gravy, fluffy instant-style mashed potatoes, syrupy cinnamon apples, and tender canned-style corn; aroma is warm and savory with a hint of sweet cinnamon from the dessert. Ritual: microwave, let stand, peel back film, and eat straight from the tray or transfer to a plate for an easy comfort meal.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 meal
Servings per Container: 1
Calories330
% Daily Value*
Total Fat11g14%
Saturated Fat3.5g18%
Cholesterol50mg17%
Sodium1350mg59%
Total Carbohydrate43g16%
Dietary Fiber5g18%
Total Sugars11g
Added Sugars11g22%
Protein13g
* The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Ingredients

MASHED, POTATOES:, Rehydrated, Potato, Flakes, and, Granules, (Water,, Potatoes,, Mono-, and, Diglycerides,, Citric, Acid,, Disodium, Dihydrogen, Pyrophosphate,, BHT,, Sodium, Bisulfite),, Margarine, (Soybean, Oil,, Water,, Salt,, Hydrogenated, Soybean, Oil,, Monoglycerides,, Sodium, Benzoate,, Soy, Lecithin,, Medium, Chain, Triglycerides,, Calcium, Disodium, EDTA,, Vitamin, A, Palmitate,, Beta, Carotene, [Color],, Vitamin, D3,, Natural, and, Artificial, Flavor),, Cream,, Soybean, Oil,, Nonfat, Dry, Milk,, Salt,, Sugar,, Monosodium, Glutamate,, Xanthan, Gum,, Guar, Gum,, Flavoring., GRAVY:, Water,, Seasoned, Cooked, Beef, (Beef,, Hydrolyzed, Soy, Protein,, Garlic, Juice,, Salt),, Modified, Corn, Starch,, Tomato, Paste,, Wheat, Flour,, Onions,, Contains, 2%, or, less, of:, Salt,, Soybean, Oil,, Sugar,, Caramel, Color,, Monosodium, Glutamate,, Flavorings., MEATLOAF:, Mechanically, Separated, Chicken,, Pork,, Beef,, Water,, Textured, Soy, Protein, Concentrate, (Soy, Protein, Concentrate,, Caramel, Color,, Soy, Lecithin),, Breader, (Enriched, Bleached, Wheat, Flour, [Bleached, Wheat, Flour,, Niacin,, Reduced, Iron,, Thiamine, Mononitrate,, Riboflavin,, Folic, Acid],, Durum, Flour,, Leavening, [Sodium, Bicarbonate,, Sodium, Acid, Pyrophosphate],, Yeast),, Onions,, Ketchup, (Tomato, Concentrate,, High, Fructose, Corn, Syrup,, Distilled, Vinegar,, Corn, Syrup,, Salt,, Less, Than, 2%, Of:, Onion, Powder,, Garlic, Powder,, Natural, Flavors),, Contains, 2%, or, less, of:, Salt,, Dried, Whole, Eggs,, Dry, Whole, Milk,, Caramel, Color,, Natural, Flavorings,, Citric, Acid)., CINNAMON, APPLE, DESSERT:, Water,, Apples, (Citric, Acid, and, Ascorbic, Acid, to, Retain, Color),, Sugar,, Brown, Sugar,, Modified, Corn, Starch,, Natural, Flavor,, Acetylated, Monoglycerides,, Modified, Food, Starch,, Salt,, Cinnamon,, Lemon, Juice, Concentrate,, Propylene, Glycol,, Ethanol,, Spice,, Lemon, Oil., CORN:, Corn,, Water,, Salt,, Sugar., CONTAINS:, EGG,, MILK,, SOY,, WHEAT.

Flagged Ingredients:

  • Soybean Oil - Seed oil high in omega-6 fatty acids
  • Mono- and Diglycerides - Processed emulsifier
  • Soy Lecithin - Processed emulsifier
  • Acetylated Monoglycerides - Processed emulsifier
  • Monoglycerides - Processed emulsifier
  • BHT - Synthetic preservative
  • Sodium Benzoate - Synthetic preservative
  • Caramel Color - Artificial coloring
  • Beta Carotene - Artificial coloring
No Seed OilNo EmulsifierNo PreservativeNo Additive

Dietary Labels

This product is not vegan, is not gluten-free, and is not organic.

Ultra-Processing Assessment

NOVA Score:4 / 4

Ultra-Processed

Why this score?

This is an industrially formulated ready-to-eat frozen meal containing numerous additives, rehydrated ingredients, hydrogenated oils, modified starches, flavorings, and preservatives, which fits the NOVA ultra-processed category.

Daily Ritual

Can you Spot Ultraprocessed Foods? Play our Supermarket Game

Take a virtual shopping trip to learn more about what's on grocery store shelves.

Shopping in the supermarket oil aisle

Others also viewed

Common Questions about Banquet Meat Loaf Dinner

The Banquet Meat Loaf Dinner can be a comforting meal option, but it's important to consider what 'healthy' means for you. With 330 calories and a decent amount of protein (13g) and fiber (5g), it can fit into a balanced diet, especially if you're looking for something quick and satisfying. Just be mindful of its sodium content (1350mg) if you're watching your salt intake!

Perfect For

back-to-school
movie-night
storm-prep

Vibe:

nostalgicconvenientcomfortingpractical
$NaN
per package