Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Takin' it Back--- Old School SmartOnes

Hi Freezer Fans!
This week I stocked up on old school "Classic" SmartOnes selections (they were on sale and I'm trying to save money, so sorry for the not-so-exciting post) and thought I would do a special feature on those dishes that are always there, but we might pass by because they don't sound as "cool" as the new ones ("ohh paninis!!! ohhh brick oven pizza!"). Overall, I've been pleasantly surprised!

Spicy Szechuan Style Vegetable & Chicken
There are few things that I love about this dish: the noodles (thick and plentiful) and the sauce (spicy, but not too spicy). Generally speaking, the chicken in SmartOnes are not my favorite, but the veggies and features mentioned above help make this dish pretty delicious. I found myself wanting more noodles to soak up the extra sauce-- no shortage of that!
If you're looking for a meal with a "kick", try this one!
The Facts:
Cals:240 Fat:5g Fiber:4g Protein:11g WW points:4

Three Cheese Macaroni
I usually pass over this one because it doesn't seem like a real meal to me, more of a side dish- I dont know, maybe I just like meat in my meals... The macaroni is actually not bad, but the cheese part is, well, just ok. Its a little too runny for my taste, and doesn't have much flavor. I was even trying to think of ways to use this as a base for some other sort of meal-- maybe add chicken or bacon bits or something? Broccoli? Maybe I'll give that a try- I'll let you know what I come up with!
Another downside-- I didn't feel satisfied at all, and it has more calories, fat, and WWpoints than the other dishes in this post- and those actually fill me up!
The Facts:
Cals:300 Fat:6g Fiber:3g Protein:14g WW points:6

Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
I've always liked this one to keep in the freezer for those nights your craving pasta. If you read this blog a lot, you know my passion for mushrooms, which is featured in this dish. The meat sauce isn't too "meaty", but offers great flavor (the onions help too!!) and the texture of the pasta is great. I know its super easy to make pasta at home, but a plus to this alternative is 1)you don't have to wait for water to boil, and 2) portion size! Is it just me, or when you make pasta do you tend to make wayyy too much, then eat it anyway? This definitely helps keep you on track.
The Facts:
Cals:290 Fat:5g Fiber:5g Protein:16g WW points:5

Note: First off, lost anther couple pounds since the last report, and went down a size in jeans-- all thanks to the freezer aisle!!!
Second, I'll be away from a computer... really far away... for the next week, so no new posts until then. I'll be in Eastern Europe, so maybe I'll come back with reviews of pierogies, vodka, and Borsch??
While I'm away feel free to post "Taste Buds" in the comments section!!

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Things are Getting Steamy!

Three new STEAMED options to review today! As usual, the HC dishes get thumbs up, and one new brand to share too!

Birds Eye Garlic Herb Shrimp
This is advertised as "meal for one", and is full of shrimp, pasta, veggies, and a delicious garlic sauce. First off, this meal cost $6.50 at the grocery store-- definitely on the high end for frozen meals! I was a little hesitant to even buy this, but I thought I would take one for the team. Yes, I do realize this dish at a restaurant would cost way more than $6.50, but it was a little sticker shock next to the 3 for $10 SmartOnes! For $6.50 I could get a LC AND a bottle of Crane Lake...
Basically, when you open the box, there is just a big paper bag that you just throw in the microwave for the proper time. Then when the microwave is done, your meal is complete! I even had time for an "easy mac shower" while it cooked (in college we would put an Easy-Mac in the microwave and jump in the shower for a quick rinse. It was perfect timing, since the powder cheese had to set up for a few minutes anyway... probably too much information there, oops!)
This is definitely a hardy meal-- plenty of pasta and around 7-8 shrimp, along with more than enough brocoli. I did find the shrimp a little "fishy", so I would be concerned trying one of the other fish entrees.
Overall, the taste of the sauce, and all components of this dish tasted really good, but not worth the high price tag. I'd stick to our usual brands.
**I'll try to add the nutritional info later- I can't seem to find it online! I do remember it was around 500 calories and more fat than usual.

Now, onto one of my best discoveries of this blog, Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers:
Sweet & Spicy Orange Zest Chicken
They were right on with the "sweet and spicy"! Great taste on this dish, and just the right amount of kick. You already know I'm a fan of these, so no surprise that this one is also a fast favorite.
At work we have stir-fry day on Thursdays-- this would be a great alternative to the white rice, sauce drenched version they serve!
Definitely recommend any of the "Asian Inspired" dishes!
The Facts:
Cals:290 Fat:4g Fiber:6g Protein:17g WW points:5

Chicken Pesto Classico
Another successful dish! This meal was so delicious and satisfying. The aroma was also nice and the pesto sauce was awesome! Again, the quality was chicken was good, and the pasta really helped fill me up.
I would 100% recommend this dish to anyone- I know I'll be buying it again soon! Note the 9g of fat-- a little high, but worth it!
The Facts:
Cals:320 Fat:9g Fiber:4g Protein:19g WW points:6

There is also a "Mediterranean Inspired" line of these steamers, so I'll try to pick one up soon!

Monday, April 19, 2010

Burger and Fries... ya, I'm serious

Sorry for the lack of posts last week--- I have plenty of meals to fill you in on, so I'll try to post a few extra this week to make up for it.
First up, a little meal I created that I'm pretty excited about.

SmartOnes Mini Cheeseburgers
My TasteBud Katie suggested these to me- and she did not let me down! This is part of SmartOne's "anytime selection", but I made a meal out of one... There are 2 "sliders" in a box- these are pretty much the same as what you would get at a restaurant (minus the onion rings they always like to throw on top!). If you have just one, its pretty bite sized. I don't think I would want it as a "snack", but as part of the meal (or eat both?) it becomes pretty satisfying.
Along with the slider, I made some McCane "curly" fries, and cracked open a Bud Light Lime. For a meal that people would normally think was a horrible choice for someone watching what they eat, this whole meal is actually pretty good for you!
Here's how it breaks down:
burger: 200 calories, 9g fat, 10g of protein (4 WW points)
fries: 160 calories, 8g fat, 2g of protein
beer: 116 calories
Thats a total of 476 calories and 17 grams of fat! Not bad for a really satisfying meal!
I would 100% give the mini burgers a try- so tasty! And the cheese on top is delicious-- and they don't skimp on it! And even if you eat both in the box, its still only 400 calories.
This was a good break from my usual "meal in a box"-- give them a try and let me know what you think!

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Yo quiero Mexican food

Last week was Mexican week in my household. It was certainly not a chore to eat Mexican food several times in one week. I even went to a Mexican restaurant during this week, and helped a friend break-in his new industrial sized margarita machine. Do you get the point? I love everything Mexican.

Lean Pockets Stuffed Quesadilla- Grilled chicken and 3 Cheese
I was pleasantly surprised at the size of this quesadilla. I thought there were 2 servings in the box, but it was just one, big, yummy quesadilla. There is even an extra large "pocket" to use! I think I might have freaked out when she saw the size of that pocket, or maybe she was just jealous... The crust is awesome on this-- doesn't taste like a tortilla at all (like they claim) but its delicious in a different way-- what you would expect from LP- fluffy, flaky.
And the filling-- they weren't just whistling dixie when they said 3 cheese. We're talking a lot of cheese, and tastey veggies and chicken too!
This one isn't the most nutritious, but it was still pretty good.
Worth a shot, but not if you want really "authentic" tasting Mexican.
The Facts:
Cals:360 Fat:9g Fiber:2g Protein:22g WWpoints:

Lean Cuisine Chicken Enchilada Suiza
Long time favorite from LC. This one has been around forever, and for good reason. This dish is much more "mexican like" than the LP--- an actually enchilada and rice! Love the rice, especially when you mix it with some of the sauce thats smothering the enchilada. Ya, I just said smothering taking about a Lean Cuisine-- they do this one well.
Filling of the enchilada? Umm not sure what it is... I know its chicken, but its kind of just a mush of goodness.
Sauce is great, rice is great- definitely worth the 5 ww points, even though its low on protein. If you haven't tried this one, give it a whirl.
Cals:280 Fat:5g Fiber:3g Protein:10g WWpoints:5

Smart Ones Fiesta Quesadilla
So, this one is considered an "anytime snack" from SmartOnes. I ate it as a meal with a side of strawberries and it kept me full for a few hours, but I'm pretty sure I had a snack later in the afternoon. This quesadilla also cooks in a "pocket" like the LC, but is about 1/2 the size. I'd say the shell of this one is the best out of the three dishes in the post, but the filling is a little lacking. I identified corn, but thats about it. Cheese would have been a pleasant addition, and I did add a little hot sauce on top to "kick it up". Not my favorite SmartOnes, but I would consider buying this one again, but would add a side to make it more of a meal.
Cals:230 Fat:5g Fiber:9g Protein:10g WWpoints:4

Now, for the real winner in this post--- Skinny Girl Margarita
If you watch Real Housewives of NYC, you're familiar with this one. It is one of my favorite drinks--- but note to the non-tequila drinkers of the world- this will get you drunk. Beware.
A typical marg at a restaurant, or the mix you buy at the grocery is FULL of sugar = not good for you, can make your tummy hurt from the sweetness. This one is much "healthier" and has more of a tequila taste than a sugar sweetness. yummmm
Fill glass with ice, add as much tequila as you can handle (I prefer silver tequila).
Add a dash of Triple Sec
Fill the rest of glass with soda water
Squeeze fresh lime juice (I like to use a few slices) into glass
Stir
Enjoy
Dance on tables
Make-out with a stranger

Friday, April 9, 2010

New Healthy Choice!

HAPPY FRIDAY!
This one couldn't come soon enough! To celebrate the weekend being thisclose, I'm taking a break from work to tell you about a NEW Healthy Choice meal that ROCKS!

Healthy Choice Creamy Basil Pesto
So first off, people at work must think I'm nuts... after I eat a new meal, I keep the box in my cube so I can share the info with all of you. The box for this meal has been sitting on my desk for like 2 weeks... knowing some of my coworkers, they probably think there is a meal inside and are talking behind my back about how strange I am that I don't keep my frozen meals frozen.
Annnyywayyy-- I HAD to keep this one around because it was so delicious I had to share my findings! Then yesterday my friend Maria commented on how she had this one for lunch and gave it "two thumbs up".
Whats awesome about this dish is the noodles (whole grains!) are so filling and taste awesome AND the mozzerella cheese on top. Of course more cheese would be even better, but its a pretty generous amount, and it gives the dish a little something extra. The veggies in here are also outstanding. The broccoli and tomatoes taste fresh, and mixed with the pesto sauce... well, its pretty fantastic. Even being a vegetarian dish, I felt full and satisfied after eating this, and stayed full through the afternoon!
If you're in the mood for a good hardy Italian-style meal, give this HC a try.

The Facts:
Cals:250 Fat:7g Fiber:5g Protein:10g WW points:5

Thursday, April 8, 2010

YOGURT update

Yogurt and I are like Kim and Reggie: we love each other, we can't stand each other, we're together again, and then have to break up for a while.
I don't know what it is, but I can't consistantly eat yogurt for a long period of time- I have to take breaks... maybe its my fear of commitment, idk...
Today I'm reviewing a few yogurt products because (unlike "Bush and the Tush") yogurt and I are "on-again".

Yoplait Smoothie- Strawberry Banana
I was SO excited when I heard about this product- I'm a smoothie fan, and I thought this would be the perfect solution to those sweet-tooth cravings I get... a lot. This product is found in the freezer section, near frozen fruit. The bag has been sitting in my freezer for about a week, and last night I finally decided to try it out as "dessert" to my SmartOnes "anytime selection" (review coming soon).
So I got out the bag, got my blender out, and was ready to rock and roll. Seemed simple enough- the bag makes 2 servings (maybe married people make smoothies together? I dont know bc I'm single, thanks for rubbing it in Yoplait) and you are to just dump the contents of the bag and 1 cup of skim milk into the blender and turn it on for 1 1/2 minutes. I was a little disappointed when I opened the bag and just saw frozen strawberries and pieces of bananas, but I went with it. Unfortunately, my blender did not. I blended for way longer than the recommended time, and the frozen (read: rock hard) strawberries hadn't even started to smoosh down. So after that frustration, combined with becoming deaf in my left ear from the noise, I decided that I would just eat it as is. The bananas had a coating of frozen yogurt on them, which I didn't realize when I first looked at them. So I guess if you had an industrial strength blender, this could work for you, but my little blender (which handles margaritas just fine, thank you) didn't seem to want to crush these things up.
I was pretty disappointed with this product... and it didn't satisfy my craving. So I had a Bud Light Lime for dessert instead, and it was delicious.
Would NOT recomment this product.

The Facts:
Cals:110 Fat:1.5g Fiber:2g Protein:5g

Yoplait Delights: Chocolate Raspberry
OK, so Yoplait got it right on this one. Layers of chocolate and raspberry yogurt that ACTUALLY seem like you are eating dessert! Super tasty and do not taste like its only 100 calories. There are other flavors too, which I can't wait to try (Lemon Tarte, Triple Berry Creme, Creme Caramel)!
Great texture to this yogurt, and the layers of flavors work really well together. Not a whole lot to say on these products, except "try them"!!
Plus, they come in a 4-pack, so they'll last you a little while.

The Facts:
Cals:100 Fat:1.5g Fiber:not reported Protein:5g

Wanted to throw out 2 other yogurt products that have been rocking my world lately--- Trader Joe's Organic Yogurt. This stuff is awesome-- great texture, great taste-- perfect for whipping up a little parfait or something with some granola and fresh fruit.
Yagoot frozen yogurt. I can't say enough about this stuff-- if you are in Ohio, check them out (newest location is at Easton). For the small size its just 90 calories. This is going to be my go-to summer delight!!

Friday, April 2, 2010

The Hangover

HAPPY FRIDAY!
Its 9am on a Friday... look around. Half the people in your office/ chem lab/ yoga class are probably hungover from a good Thursday night. The dead giveaway that I'm hungover at work? I ordered a breakfast sandwich in the cafe.
I recently tried a few frozen breakfast options from the freezer aisle- here are my findings:

Lean Pockets Ham, Egg, and Cheese
I've been a fan of these for a while, and gave them another taste just to get it fresh in my mind. These are great alternative to not being able to make it to brunch with friends. What I really like about LPs are the flaky crust- whatever they do to that cardboard "pocket" works wonders! I opted for the ham option over sausage or bacon (although I like all those meat options, my other review also features ham- oh I'm sorry- they call it Canadian bacon... whatevs, so I thought it would be fair to keep my meat consistant) and was happy with my choice! The eggs tasted real- and the ingredient that makes this even better: cheese!
Overall I really enjoyed this hot pocket! My only beef with this is that I would feel a little strange eating this at my desk in the morning. I think its the fork and knife issue- I'm not that experienced in eating LP's to not use utensils, and I have a feeling I would get strange looks from my coworkers. Also, although is is labeled "Lean" it doesn't give the same benefits from our other meals-- 1 little gram of fiber?! Puhhleeasse
On a positive, it seems like these are always on sale at my local grocer! Great price (I believe $2.50 a box) and that lasts for 2 breakfasts!

The Facts:
Cals:270 Fat:7g Fiber:1g Protein:11g WW points: sorry! this wasn't provided... and I wasn't a math major so I don't know how to calc that.

Smart Ones Canadian Style Bacon English Muffin Sandwich
Sooo I thought LP's were the bomb until I ate this delicious sandwich!!! This really hit the spot on a morning when I wasn't feeling ahem, "up to par". Totally took the place of a McMuffin. The sandwich featured Canadian Bacon (NEWSFLASH:ITS JUST HAM PEOPLE!), egg whites, and cheese... lots of cheese... all on a chewy, fresh tasting english muffin.
I think what makes this sandwich so good is the proportions- they really got the right amount of each ingredient. We all know that nothing is worst than just being left with bun/ muffin at the end. Nobody wants their last bite to just be bread! There were plenty of egg and ham to last the whole sandwich. This was also really filling! Kept me full until lunch (and I usually have a midmorning banana) AND I felt completely normal eating this at my desk.
Again, this is a great option to keep in your freezer for days you might need a little extra pick-me-up. I'm sure pairing with a side of fresh fruit and a good cup of coffee (or bloody mary) would turn this into a top-notch breakfast.
And leave it to SmartOnes to have great nutrition as well.
This is definitely the winner over Lean Pockets!
Oh- and a tip-- these are in the freezer section WITH the other SmartOnes entrees--- not with the waffles and cinnamon rolls that looked sooo good.

The Facts:
Cals:210 Fat:6g Fiber:2g Protein:14g WW points:4

ADDED BONUS: I wanted to throw this bit of motivation out there... since starting the blog, I've lost 7 lbs! I haven't changed my workout habits, so I'm giving the credit to frozen diet entrees!!
This wasn't even really the plan with the blog, but hey-- that Jared guy from Subway better watch out- and that chick that only at Taco Bell too.
So you might be seeing me on those Healthy Choice commercials with Elaine from Seinfeld soon- and just think, you can say you knew when I was just writing a silly blog :)