My favorite Mac recipe organizer, MacGourmet Deluxe, is on sale today only for $24.95 as today's MacUpdate Promo. The Deluxe version includes the basic organizer plus the very useful nutrition, meal planning, and cookbook-layout modules.
You can read Macworld's review of MacGourmet on their Mac Gems blog. Incidentally, if you're an iPhone/iPod touch user, the review mentions that you can download a companion app for MacGourmet for $5.
Showing posts with label The Take. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Take. Show all posts
Summer TV Gets Cooking
Summer TV Gets Cooking: "Here we are in June, with our favorite network series fading into memory as we stare down a summer largely full of reruns and bottom-of-the-barrel reality television. But it doesn’t have to be that way for TV cooking fans: Here’s a list of food-related shows set to premiere this summer that will keep your squawk box simmering through till September.
June Appetizers
Next Food Network Star: The competition is already under way, and at least one competitor has already slunk away in defeat. Will this year’s winner of Food Network’s popular show go on to rival Guy Fieri in popularity, or will we end up with another Amy Finley or Dan and Steve? Or will a runner-up again steal the spotlight, like Adam Gertler? Sundays at 9 p.m. Eastern on Food Network, premiered June 7."
(Via Well Fed Network.)
Incidentally, Food Network doesn't make it simple to discover what's new on their web site. I was going back and forth from a press release to each individual show's web page to determine premiere dates, and I only got Chopped included because I happened to be watching Food Network at the time and saw a promo for the season premiere.
What will I be watching this summer? We don't get IFC, so Food Party isn't going to happen for me. I could watch online, but having come of age in the slow Internet era, I still am prejudiced against Internet video. Truth be told, even with our fast cable connection, it still refuses to start or buffers and skips all lot half the time. I prefer the retro simplicity of the real TV.
I'm looking forward to more episodes of 5 Ingredient Fix. I continue to look out for occasional new episodes of Good Eats (Did you see the parsnips one this week? Now I want to try parsnips.) and America's Test Kitchen.
I'll definitely tune in to see What Would Brian Boitano Make? at least once, if only for the funny title and for curiosity over a figure skater trying to morph into a TV chef. Still, the quirky sense of humor evident in that title is making me think this one will be a Canadian rather than American hit, like The Surreal Gourmet. Too bad if that's the case.
Come On Over, Cupcake!
Come On Over, Cupcake!: "A few weeks ago, the local supermarket put boxes of Pillsbury cake mix on sale, enticing shoppers with a price so low that even I, a girl with an avowed distaste for cakes from a box, couldn’t resist. I snapped up three boxes.
Two disappointing cupcake recipes later, I was ready to go in an entirely new direction with the remaining mix, one for devil’s food cake. I recalled a recipe I’d saved from a long-ago Hungry Girl newsletter for Yum Yum Brownie Muffins, a cupcake concoction that billowed high above the paper cup and yet had less than 200 calories."
(Via Well Fed Network.)
I forgot to mention it in the post that was published: Make sure you refrigerate these if you intend to keep them more than a week. They lasted about that long on the countertop here before going dotty. Two cupcakes were lost.
Next time, I'm going to buy either Betty Crocker or Duncan Hines mix to make this recipe. My mom always has sworn by Duncan Hines, so maybe that's the way to go.
If nothing else, Duncan Hines mix should also work for recipes from the Cupcake Doctor book, unlike Pillsbury mix. Pillsbury mix (as well as Betty Crocker mix) has pudding added, and nearly every recipe in that cookbook specifies mixes without pudding. After forging ahead anyway with two recipes, I ended up with cupcakes with custardy middles, sadly sunken despite a lot of extra baking time.
I might use one less egg were I forced to make them again with pudding cake mix, but frankly, I think the author should have specified how to adjust recipes to accommodate the two types of commercial cake mix. Or accept a sponsorship from Duncan Hines, as they're the only "plain" cake mix in the supermarket. It's also the most expensive of the three big brands, so you can see why it makes me bitter.
However, my issues with the Cupcake Doctor are largely irrelevant here (now that you've read the whole rant . . .). I plan to play around with these low-fat cupcakes to try to create variations with different and stronger flavors. I'll keep you posted.
Preview New Products with Reviews from Supermarket Sampler
If you are among the dying breed who still subscribe to a daily newspaper, you may be familiar with the weekly syndicated column "Supermarket Sampler." If not, read on to learn about one of my favorite sources of info on new products hitting the grocery store shelves.
I have a lot of sources for product info. Hungry Girl devotes every Monday newsletter to new low-cal foods, and I do check manufacturer web sites from time to time. And of course, the advertising I see on TV, in magazines, and in my Sunday paper keeps me pretty up to date.
Still, Supermarket Sampler is the only resource I've found regularly offering detailed, critical takes on new products. Importantly, they publish reviews even when they don't like the product, so they don't come off as PR shills.
The best part, though, and the reason why the column may interest you if you're here reading this web site, is that co-author Bonnie Tandy Leblang is a registered dietitian. She looks at all these (mostly processed) products through the eyes of someone who dislikes artificial ingredients and flavor enhancers and who prefers products to offer good nutrition with less fat, sodium, and calories.
Her advice can guide you to convenience products that are worth your time and won't wreck your healthy diet. At the same time, her partner Carolyn Wyman, as the junk-food fan, can tell you honestly whether your perhaps less health-oriented family members will be willing to stomach a low-sodium or "natural" branded product.
If your local paper does not carry the column (or you don't subscribe), you can read each week's edition online for free at uExpress.
If you like what you see, you can also check out the authors' other work. Leblang, along with her sons, keeps a blog at Bite of the Best.com, and Wyman has published several books about America's favorite convenience foods. I've read her book Better Than Homemade: Amazing Food That Changed the Way We Eat
, and if you like shows like Food Network's Unwrapped, you'll really enjoy this easy read.Picture: Screenshot of uExpress.com
A Psychedelic Thanksgiving, Courtesy of Saveur
Anyone else find these girly green beans and potatoes in their November 2008 issue of Saveur?
I was looking through for side-dish inspiration when I came across this recipe for Green Beans with Pancetta and Mint.
I wondered if perhaps the color was a reaction with the milk you cook the beans in.
Naturally, I also wondered why anyone would eat them.
The nuts and the bacon don't look that bad, actually. I suppose you could pick around the purple beans. Or you could simply plan on inviting Barbie to your Thanksgiving dinner.
After all, she could stand to put a little meat on her bones.
I bet Barbie would love this potato and celery root purée -- in bubble-gum pink.
I do love the taste of celery root in my potatoes. I ate heartily the year my grandma tried spicing up the standard mashers this way.
But these Whipped Masted Potatoes with Celery Root just don't look right.
They appear to need some marshmallows.
Or maybe strawberries would be a healthier garnish? The mash does look a bit like that strawberry mousse salad thing they put on buffets sometimes.
OK, so maybe Saveur was not trying to push us all in a very new direction for our holiday meals. I checked their web site and found that indeed, the beans are green and the potatoes white:
Maybe someone more familiar with publishing can explain the weird colors? The rest of the magazine was less trippy.
Check out the November issue for some surprisingly light holiday fare:
Sweet Potato Casserole: The recipe accommodates the marshmallow crowd while also making room for those of us who prefer the healthier option, nuts. Also, this casserole is made with evaporated milk instead of heavy cream.
Roasted Cranberry Sauce: If you don't go for the traditional sliceable jelly from a can, then you might be interested in this walk on the wild side. With cardamom, jalepeño, and heart-friendly extra-virgin olive oil, it's both healthy and odd-sounding.
And of course, don't miss out on the actually totally normal Green Beans with Pancetta and Mint and Whipped Masted Potatoes with Celery Root. The green beans do feature butter and cured pork, but the hazelnuts provide healthy fat in this rich holiday dish. As for the potatoes . . . well, celery root has less than half the calories of potatoes. Otherwise, there's not much redeeming health value here.
But they are a lovely shade of pink.
Photos: Saveur
I was looking through for side-dish inspiration when I came across this recipe for Green Beans with Pancetta and Mint.
I wondered if perhaps the color was a reaction with the milk you cook the beans in.Naturally, I also wondered why anyone would eat them.
The nuts and the bacon don't look that bad, actually. I suppose you could pick around the purple beans. Or you could simply plan on inviting Barbie to your Thanksgiving dinner.
After all, she could stand to put a little meat on her bones.
I bet Barbie would love this potato and celery root purée -- in bubble-gum pink.
I do love the taste of celery root in my potatoes. I ate heartily the year my grandma tried spicing up the standard mashers this way.But these Whipped Masted Potatoes with Celery Root just don't look right.
They appear to need some marshmallows.
Or maybe strawberries would be a healthier garnish? The mash does look a bit like that strawberry mousse salad thing they put on buffets sometimes.
OK, so maybe Saveur was not trying to push us all in a very new direction for our holiday meals. I checked their web site and found that indeed, the beans are green and the potatoes white:
Maybe someone more familiar with publishing can explain the weird colors? The rest of the magazine was less trippy.
Check out the November issue for some surprisingly light holiday fare:Sweet Potato Casserole: The recipe accommodates the marshmallow crowd while also making room for those of us who prefer the healthier option, nuts. Also, this casserole is made with evaporated milk instead of heavy cream.
Roasted Cranberry Sauce: If you don't go for the traditional sliceable jelly from a can, then you might be interested in this walk on the wild side. With cardamom, jalepeño, and heart-friendly extra-virgin olive oil, it's both healthy and odd-sounding.
And of course, don't miss out on the actually totally normal Green Beans with Pancetta and Mint and Whipped Masted Potatoes with Celery Root. The green beans do feature butter and cured pork, but the hazelnuts provide healthy fat in this rich holiday dish. As for the potatoes . . . well, celery root has less than half the calories of potatoes. Otherwise, there's not much redeeming health value here.
But they are a lovely shade of pink.
Photos: Saveur
Technorati Tags:
magazines, recipe sources, Thanksgiving
Yoplait Light Cake-Flavored Yogurts
Not so long ago, Yoplait released three new cake-themed flavors in their popular Yoplait Light line. The new yogurts were the toast of the eating-right web when they arrived - Hungry Girl devoted their first-ever video short to a promo for it, for example, and Fit Fare posted a review soon after.
"These yogurts are great!" they shout. Maybe. But the question for me is, do they actually taste like cake?
Yogurt is delicious on its own, but Yoplait, as is typical for the maker of as-far-from-yogurt-as-you-can-get creations like Yoplait Whips and Go-Gurt, is determined to make us believe its product can satisfy our cravings for rich, decadent desserts. And all for only 100-odd calories!
I've heard the hype about Yoplait Light yogurts ever since I started subscribing to the Hungry Girl newsletter, but I still haven't drunk the Kool-Aid (or is Crystal Light more apropos here?). I had to discover for myself whether these new yogurts were truly dessert-like confections or if they were no better or worse than everyday yogurt.
I bought the three new flavors and, along with my husband, held an informal taste test.
We started with a face-off.
Strawberry Shortcake vs. Strawberry
I already had a case of Yoplait Light in the fridge from a recent Costco run, so I grabbed a plain old Strawberry yogurt for comparison to the new Strawberry Shortcake flavor. Alas, real strawberry shortcake could not make it to the testing.
Our thoughts on Strawberry Shortcake:
Colleen: Seems to have more vanilla flavor than normal, but it becomes less noticeable over time. Similar flavor to eating sweetened strawberries with a scoop of Cool Whip. No distinct "cake" flavor.
Scott: Sweeter. No advantage over normal strawberry yogurt. Needs more fruit pieces!
And on regular Strawberry:
Colleen: Creamy. Hit of tart/sour yogurt flavor. Flavor of strawberry pie filling or strawberry jam. Floral.
Scott: Still wishing for more fruit pieces.
(OK, I admit that I snagged most of the fruit pieces for myself.)
Overall, we thought that both yogurts tasted pleasant. I wouldn't lunge for a Strawberry Shortcake Yoplait Light were I fantasizing about a caky dessert, but I wouldn't refuse a cup were I in the mood for sweet yogurt. Scott, too, felt like it wouldn't be worth paying the slightly higher price for individual yogurt cups just to secure this flavor.
For the other two, we did not have comparison flavors (of yogurt or cake) on hand, so we tasted them on their own merits.
Raspberry Cheesecake
Colleen: I really want to like this flavor, as I love cheesecake. It has a decent raspberry flavor, but I don't discern any cheesecake notes. The color is very pink, whereas the real deal is mostly a creamy white with the red only an accent. When the yogurt warms up, it does have a little more cheesecake-like tang.
Scott: OK. It tastes more like puréed raspberry cheesecake. The yogurt has no distinct flavors. Muddy. No fruit pieces. Not as tart as fresh raspberries.
On the whole, it's no substitute for the real deal. But if you like raspberry yogurt, you'll likely enjoy this flavor as well.
Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
Colleen: How odd to encounter stringy pineapple bits in yogurt. Otherwise, the yogurt is pure white. Tastes sweet, but there's no vanilla or caky flavor to the yogurt - I want to say it tastes like coconut, but I'm guessing the pineapple is just making me think of piña coladas. There's a bit of a brown sugar flavor as the yogurt warms. The scent is reminiscent of Bath & Body Works' pineapple shower gel. Despite that, it's a nice change of pace overall, though not particularly cake-like.
Scott: Liked this one better. I think it recreates pineapple upside-down cake well, but I can't remember the last time I actually had the real deal. Plenty of fruit pieces! What I wish the Raspberry Cheesecake had been like. The yogurt has the flavor of cake without the pineapple dominating it. The chunks provide pineapple flavor and a good mouthfeel. Liked that there were two distinct flavors.
The Pineapple Upside-Down Cake was our favorite of the three new flavors. Scott found it cake-like enough to merit its name, but I thought it ought to be relabeled Piña Colada.
How about it, Yoplait? Why not create a line of girly cocktail-inspired yogurt? The texture is more akin to that of yogurt than cake is, and they pack just as many calories.
What's the upshot? If you buy yogurt anyway, feel free to grab these when they are on sale. The Pineapple Upside-Down Cake especially is a winner.
At the same time, if you have a warehouse-club membership and can get the cheaper cases, you don't have to feel like you're missing much.
"These yogurts are great!" they shout. Maybe. But the question for me is, do they actually taste like cake?
Yogurt is delicious on its own, but Yoplait, as is typical for the maker of as-far-from-yogurt-as-you-can-get creations like Yoplait Whips and Go-Gurt, is determined to make us believe its product can satisfy our cravings for rich, decadent desserts. And all for only 100-odd calories!
I've heard the hype about Yoplait Light yogurts ever since I started subscribing to the Hungry Girl newsletter, but I still haven't drunk the Kool-Aid (or is Crystal Light more apropos here?). I had to discover for myself whether these new yogurts were truly dessert-like confections or if they were no better or worse than everyday yogurt.
I bought the three new flavors and, along with my husband, held an informal taste test.
We started with a face-off.
Strawberry Shortcake vs. Strawberry
I already had a case of Yoplait Light in the fridge from a recent Costco run, so I grabbed a plain old Strawberry yogurt for comparison to the new Strawberry Shortcake flavor. Alas, real strawberry shortcake could not make it to the testing.
Our thoughts on Strawberry Shortcake:
Colleen: Seems to have more vanilla flavor than normal, but it becomes less noticeable over time. Similar flavor to eating sweetened strawberries with a scoop of Cool Whip. No distinct "cake" flavor.
Scott: Sweeter. No advantage over normal strawberry yogurt. Needs more fruit pieces!
And on regular Strawberry:
Colleen: Creamy. Hit of tart/sour yogurt flavor. Flavor of strawberry pie filling or strawberry jam. Floral.
Scott: Still wishing for more fruit pieces.
(OK, I admit that I snagged most of the fruit pieces for myself.)
Overall, we thought that both yogurts tasted pleasant. I wouldn't lunge for a Strawberry Shortcake Yoplait Light were I fantasizing about a caky dessert, but I wouldn't refuse a cup were I in the mood for sweet yogurt. Scott, too, felt like it wouldn't be worth paying the slightly higher price for individual yogurt cups just to secure this flavor.
For the other two, we did not have comparison flavors (of yogurt or cake) on hand, so we tasted them on their own merits.
Raspberry Cheesecake
Colleen: I really want to like this flavor, as I love cheesecake. It has a decent raspberry flavor, but I don't discern any cheesecake notes. The color is very pink, whereas the real deal is mostly a creamy white with the red only an accent. When the yogurt warms up, it does have a little more cheesecake-like tang.
Scott: OK. It tastes more like puréed raspberry cheesecake. The yogurt has no distinct flavors. Muddy. No fruit pieces. Not as tart as fresh raspberries.
On the whole, it's no substitute for the real deal. But if you like raspberry yogurt, you'll likely enjoy this flavor as well.
Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
Colleen: How odd to encounter stringy pineapple bits in yogurt. Otherwise, the yogurt is pure white. Tastes sweet, but there's no vanilla or caky flavor to the yogurt - I want to say it tastes like coconut, but I'm guessing the pineapple is just making me think of piña coladas. There's a bit of a brown sugar flavor as the yogurt warms. The scent is reminiscent of Bath & Body Works' pineapple shower gel. Despite that, it's a nice change of pace overall, though not particularly cake-like.
Scott: Liked this one better. I think it recreates pineapple upside-down cake well, but I can't remember the last time I actually had the real deal. Plenty of fruit pieces! What I wish the Raspberry Cheesecake had been like. The yogurt has the flavor of cake without the pineapple dominating it. The chunks provide pineapple flavor and a good mouthfeel. Liked that there were two distinct flavors.
The Pineapple Upside-Down Cake was our favorite of the three new flavors. Scott found it cake-like enough to merit its name, but I thought it ought to be relabeled Piña Colada.
How about it, Yoplait? Why not create a line of girly cocktail-inspired yogurt? The texture is more akin to that of yogurt than cake is, and they pack just as many calories.
What's the upshot? If you buy yogurt anyway, feel free to grab these when they are on sale. The Pineapple Upside-Down Cake especially is a winner.
At the same time, if you have a warehouse-club membership and can get the cheaper cases, you don't have to feel like you're missing much.
Healthy Highlights from October’s “Good Housekeeping”
New on Fit Fare this week, a look at a healthy dose of Good Housekeeping:
And just for you who've followed the article to my very own web site, here's a look at the healthy recipes featured in this month's issue:
Healthy Makeover French Toast: Whole-wheat bread, egg whites, no sugar, and low-fat milk make this breakfast treat less indulgent.
Cranberry-Almond Granola: Granola might be a bit high in sugar and fat for cereal, but it's packed full of whole grains. A half-cup serving provides plenty of nutrition for only 190 calories. I find a bowl with milk to make a terrific dessert, actually.
Cheese and Salad Pizza: Bless the heart of whoever created this rendition of salad pizza and elected not to put lettuce on it. That's so wrong. This pizza, though, looks like it might make it into one of my upcoming meal plans -- but I'll replace the cherry tomatoes with cheaper romas and likely resort to subbing cheese from a can for pecorino, much as I love the real deal.
On an aside: Store-brand grated parmesan costs more than $6 a pound, and pecorino romano from Costco costs maybe $7.30 a pound. Normally, that would be close enough to convince me to upgrade to the real deal (like the butter I stock up on when it's on sale vs. margarine), but to switch here I'd need to buy like a two-pound block at once. That's an upfront cost of nearly $15! I know I can store it so it won't go bad, but still . . . is it worth it?
Rotini with Marinara, Broccoli, Carrots and Peppers: The picture looks so appetizing that it could get me over thinking that pasta with carrots sounds weird. I tend to think of carrots as a starchy vegetable, so the idea strikes me as odd, just like potato pizza. Maybe I'm overreacting.
Corkscrews with Cheese, Tomatoes, and Peas: Yeah, cheese sauce is kind of rich . . . but I love it. I'd sub in skim milk.
Turkey Picadillo Tacos: I've never had picadillo. I'd never even heard of it until a couple of years ago. Anyone else tried it? Do olives, cinnamon, cumin, and raisins really all meld?
BBQ Chicken Tacos: Life on a super-tight grocery budget at a time when food prices have shot through the roof has made me realize just how much the recipes in the upper middle class-skewing publications I've long read over-rely on gourmet and convenience products. You know, it's not actually any easier to get your chicken off a rotisserie bird from the deli, and at $7.99 for a three-pound whole bird, it sure isn't cheaper.
Quick tip: Invest in a probe thermometer. It's a metal probe attached to a long, insulated wire that plugs into a digital display with an alarm that sounds when the temperature of your food hits a certain number. Not only will it save you uncertainty in telling when your roasts (like that Thanksgiving turkey) are done, it's a great for cooking chicken unattended (poached or baked) for recipes.
Photo: Colleen Fischer
Fruits and vegetables can be fun for kids, and changing the menu at school and in the community can make significant difference in children’s health.
This month’s issue of Good Housekeeping featured an article about the successful Somerville, Mass., program to reduce childhood obesity. “Shape Up Somerville” is a far-reaching initiative that not only replaced junk food in local schools with healthy fare but also encouraged the whole community to pitch in to make the town a healthier place to live.
Fruits and vegetables can be fun for kids, and changing the menu at school and in the community can make significant difference in children’s health.And just for you who've followed the article to my very own web site, here's a look at the healthy recipes featured in this month's issue:
Healthy Makeover French Toast: Whole-wheat bread, egg whites, no sugar, and low-fat milk make this breakfast treat less indulgent.
Cranberry-Almond Granola: Granola might be a bit high in sugar and fat for cereal, but it's packed full of whole grains. A half-cup serving provides plenty of nutrition for only 190 calories. I find a bowl with milk to make a terrific dessert, actually.
Cheese and Salad Pizza: Bless the heart of whoever created this rendition of salad pizza and elected not to put lettuce on it. That's so wrong. This pizza, though, looks like it might make it into one of my upcoming meal plans -- but I'll replace the cherry tomatoes with cheaper romas and likely resort to subbing cheese from a can for pecorino, much as I love the real deal.
On an aside: Store-brand grated parmesan costs more than $6 a pound, and pecorino romano from Costco costs maybe $7.30 a pound. Normally, that would be close enough to convince me to upgrade to the real deal (like the butter I stock up on when it's on sale vs. margarine), but to switch here I'd need to buy like a two-pound block at once. That's an upfront cost of nearly $15! I know I can store it so it won't go bad, but still . . . is it worth it?
Rotini with Marinara, Broccoli, Carrots and Peppers: The picture looks so appetizing that it could get me over thinking that pasta with carrots sounds weird. I tend to think of carrots as a starchy vegetable, so the idea strikes me as odd, just like potato pizza. Maybe I'm overreacting.
Corkscrews with Cheese, Tomatoes, and Peas: Yeah, cheese sauce is kind of rich . . . but I love it. I'd sub in skim milk.
Turkey Picadillo Tacos: I've never had picadillo. I'd never even heard of it until a couple of years ago. Anyone else tried it? Do olives, cinnamon, cumin, and raisins really all meld?
BBQ Chicken Tacos: Life on a super-tight grocery budget at a time when food prices have shot through the roof has made me realize just how much the recipes in the upper middle class-skewing publications I've long read over-rely on gourmet and convenience products. You know, it's not actually any easier to get your chicken off a rotisserie bird from the deli, and at $7.99 for a three-pound whole bird, it sure isn't cheaper.
Quick tip: Invest in a probe thermometer. It's a metal probe attached to a long, insulated wire that plugs into a digital display with an alarm that sounds when the temperature of your food hits a certain number. Not only will it save you uncertainty in telling when your roasts (like that Thanksgiving turkey) are done, it's a great for cooking chicken unattended (poached or baked) for recipes.
Photo: Colleen Fischer
Technorati Tags:
Fit Fare, food, healthy eating, links, magazines, recipe sources
Food Network Unveils Snazzy New Site Design
I produced a slightly tongue-in-cheek review of the new Food Network web site for Edible TV last week:
I don't think the review quite captures my joy at the Food Network finally redesigning the old beast. I didn't want to dig too deeply into my pet peeves on Edible TV, but honestly, the sort of design inconsistency that marked the previous site incarnation makes me want to tear my hair out. And we all know that food and hair just don't mix.
Remind me to tell you the brownie story sometime when you're in the mood for seeing me embarrassed.
But now an example! A while back, Food Network did a small revamp of their site, jazzing it up but keeping the same general shape and color scheme. They added a new search box at the top of the page that had some fancy coding -- it might have been Flash or something.
Looked great, for sure.
But I couldn't type in the thing.
Some browsers worked with it, others didn't. As I used one that did not, I had to click through to a different page every time I wanted to search for a recipe.
Someone at Food Network must have had the same problem because not long afterward, the legacy search box in the left-hand column made a reappearance on the home page.
Great! Now I could type a search request right off the bat. Except . . .
They left the other search box there! Now, every single page had two search boxes right at the top. It was ugly.
And it was eventually fixed, by the way, before the current redesign, but it was emblematic of the problems that have plagued this site. Lately, I had been bugged more by the way that different shows had different home page designs (with the more "advanced" designs being sometimes buggy, on top of that).
Now, though, all is well in Food Network.com-land. At least as long as I am quick to hit the pause button.
If you’ve been surfing the net lately, surely you’ve noted that Food Network’s web site is sporting a fresh look. Gone are the days of lime green and tiny type; say hello to splashy crimson.
Literally . . . the header seems to be depicting something wet and red. Blood? Perhaps the head rolling of the old site designer?
I kid, I kid. I did detest the old Food Network site, though; I’d swear a blood oath to . . . never mind.
Hey, it’s almost Halloween, isn’t it?
If you’ve been surfing the net lately, surely you’ve noted that Food Network’s web site is sporting a fresh look. Gone are the days of lime green and tiny type; say hello to splashy crimson.I don't think the review quite captures my joy at the Food Network finally redesigning the old beast. I didn't want to dig too deeply into my pet peeves on Edible TV, but honestly, the sort of design inconsistency that marked the previous site incarnation makes me want to tear my hair out. And we all know that food and hair just don't mix.
Remind me to tell you the brownie story sometime when you're in the mood for seeing me embarrassed.
But now an example! A while back, Food Network did a small revamp of their site, jazzing it up but keeping the same general shape and color scheme. They added a new search box at the top of the page that had some fancy coding -- it might have been Flash or something.
Looked great, for sure.
But I couldn't type in the thing.
Some browsers worked with it, others didn't. As I used one that did not, I had to click through to a different page every time I wanted to search for a recipe.
Someone at Food Network must have had the same problem because not long afterward, the legacy search box in the left-hand column made a reappearance on the home page.
Great! Now I could type a search request right off the bat. Except . . .
They left the other search box there! Now, every single page had two search boxes right at the top. It was ugly.
And it was eventually fixed, by the way, before the current redesign, but it was emblematic of the problems that have plagued this site. Lately, I had been bugged more by the way that different shows had different home page designs (with the more "advanced" designs being sometimes buggy, on top of that).
Now, though, all is well in Food Network.com-land. At least as long as I am quick to hit the pause button.
Technorati Tags:
Edible TV, Food Network
reviews
Quaker Soy Crisps
No, don’t run!Yes, soy crisps may be a relic of the low-carb era, but why make a tasty, low-cal snack into a pariah? Give soy a chance.
Quaker’s soy crisps are crunchy and satisfying. They aren’t overly dry and light-feeling like rice cakes or baked potato chips. A little extra fat and plenty of protein make these tasty yet surprisingly nutritious.
Eighteen round, thick crisps have only 110 calories yet boast 5.5 grams of protein. A typical bag only has three servings, so even if you go overboard with the snacking, it won’t kill you.
Actually, I discovered these trying to find something a bit healthier to snack on than corn chips. They honestly are the only thing that tastes as good to me in the snack chip arena, probably because they're heartier than the insubstantial carbs of rice cakes and have stronger seasonings than most potato chips.
I wouldn't recommend eating them every day -- they are made with processed soy flour and are packed with salt, after all -- but they make a decent treat.
The barbecue flavor is definitely my favorite. The downside is that they are kind of pricey in comparison to other snack chips. Still, if you want to feel somewhat virtuous while indulging in a salty treat, soy chips are a great option.
Photo: QuakerOats.com
Simple Shortcuts Fall 2008
My laptop is back after a stint in the repair shop, and it's cleaner than it's been in months. Now back to thinking about the food that will soon take residence under these brand-new keys . . .
My new issue of Kraft's free promotional magazine Simple Shortcuts arrived today. I found a bunch of these in my laundry basket of mail when I returned from my year abroad, and at first I thought the company had redesigned the old Food & Family quarterly publication.
But no; in fact, something more sinister (if you think like that) was afoot. Kraft still publishes Food & Family, but for some reason elected to start sending me this truncated monthly magazine instead. However, unless you're someone who does not like to cook, this rag isn't worth the glossy, half-sized paper it's printed on.
Almost every recipe calls for only four ingredients, listed with accompanying pictures so novices can't go wrong. It's like those Men's Health A Man, a Can, a Plan books that way. Also like that series, most of the ingredients are processed foods to make it possible to require so few.
Of course, Food & Family recipes asked for a lot of processed ingredients as well -- the whole point is to get you to buy Kraft products -- but the recipes aren't as bare bones. There's only so many variations on chicken breast in sauce and cheesy macaroni you can read before losing interest. And why would I need a "recipe" for a tray of cheese, deli meats, and crackers?
The most ridiculous part is that they actually devote a few pages in the middle to games. Imagine the Ralphie Parker-esque disappointment on the faces of readers everywhere who take on the scramble challenge only to find . . . "a crummy commercial?!"
Rather than feeling a sense of satisfaction after decoding, "It's not delivery, it's DiGiorno" only two seconds after looking at this page, I feel somewhat disturbed at the number of commercials I've absorbed in my lifetime.
"Stop ranting, stop ranting!" OK, I hear you.
Highlights from the Fall 2008 issue of Simple Shortcuts:
Chili-Topped Baked Potatoes: Stick with low-fat versions of canned chili, shredded cheese, and sour cream, and this baked potato recipe hits the sweet spot between healthy and cheap. A great addition to your meal-planning arsenal. The linked recipe on Kraft's site isn't quite the same, but you'll notice the pictured potato is identical to the magazine's, with shredded cheddar rather than Cheez Whiz on top.
Capellini Caprese: Looks tasty, doesn't it? I would substitute in whole-wheat pasta and use Zesty Italian rather than Tuscan House Italian (bottled "house Italian" dressings always have a tired, dried-herb flavor I don't care for). Fresh mozzarella cheese could work, too; it's what I usually use in this style of pasta. It does clump, though, unless you deep-chill it in the freezer before tossing it with the hot pasta. Also, if you're looking to emulate the Tomato-Basil Caprese sauce on offer right now at Olive Garden, shredded mozzarella is the way to go.
Meatloaf Minis: I made meatloaf in a muffin tin just a few nights ago. I used ground turkey to please the no-beef crowd, so it's a possible substitution here. You could also add grated vegetables (I use carrots and onions) to make the dish more nutritious; just reduce the water a little to compensate for the extra moisture.
Now, the recipe in the magazine unfortunately doesn't appear online, so here's the lowdown: Set the oven temp to 375 degrees. Mix a pound of extra-lean ground beef, a box of stuffing mix, a cup of water, and a teaspoon of garlic powder. Divide evenly among 12 muffin cups coated with cooking spray. Make an indentation in the top of each mini-loaf. Divide 3/4 cup barbecue sauce among the 12 indentations. Bake for about 30 minutes (you're looking for an internal temperature of 160 degrees). Top with cheese and pop back in the oven long enough to melt the topping.
Kraft Salad Dressing Packets: I've seen these light dressing packets, as well as similar ones from other brands, at every grocer I've visited since my return. Is it the growing popularity of grab-and-go salads? The influence of Hungry Girl? On the plus side, these packets are practically leak-proof and having one in your purse or lunch bag will save you from taking in tens or hundreds of fatty-dressing calories. On the other hand, more packaging means more waste. Also, the flavors (Zesty Italian and Balsamic Vinaigrette) are the same ones usually offered as light options at restaurants anyway. Why not a light ranch or Thousand Island packet? Mmm, that one could double as low-cal "special sauce" for burgers.
My new issue of Kraft's free promotional magazine Simple Shortcuts arrived today. I found a bunch of these in my laundry basket of mail when I returned from my year abroad, and at first I thought the company had redesigned the old Food & Family quarterly publication.
But no; in fact, something more sinister (if you think like that) was afoot. Kraft still publishes Food & Family, but for some reason elected to start sending me this truncated monthly magazine instead. However, unless you're someone who does not like to cook, this rag isn't worth the glossy, half-sized paper it's printed on.
Almost every recipe calls for only four ingredients, listed with accompanying pictures so novices can't go wrong. It's like those Men's Health A Man, a Can, a Plan books that way. Also like that series, most of the ingredients are processed foods to make it possible to require so few.
Of course, Food & Family recipes asked for a lot of processed ingredients as well -- the whole point is to get you to buy Kraft products -- but the recipes aren't as bare bones. There's only so many variations on chicken breast in sauce and cheesy macaroni you can read before losing interest. And why would I need a "recipe" for a tray of cheese, deli meats, and crackers?
The most ridiculous part is that they actually devote a few pages in the middle to games. Imagine the Ralphie Parker-esque disappointment on the faces of readers everywhere who take on the scramble challenge only to find . . . "a crummy commercial?!"
Rather than feeling a sense of satisfaction after decoding, "It's not delivery, it's DiGiorno" only two seconds after looking at this page, I feel somewhat disturbed at the number of commercials I've absorbed in my lifetime.
"Stop ranting, stop ranting!" OK, I hear you.
Highlights from the Fall 2008 issue of Simple Shortcuts:
Chili-Topped Baked Potatoes: Stick with low-fat versions of canned chili, shredded cheese, and sour cream, and this baked potato recipe hits the sweet spot between healthy and cheap. A great addition to your meal-planning arsenal. The linked recipe on Kraft's site isn't quite the same, but you'll notice the pictured potato is identical to the magazine's, with shredded cheddar rather than Cheez Whiz on top.
Capellini Caprese: Looks tasty, doesn't it? I would substitute in whole-wheat pasta and use Zesty Italian rather than Tuscan House Italian (bottled "house Italian" dressings always have a tired, dried-herb flavor I don't care for). Fresh mozzarella cheese could work, too; it's what I usually use in this style of pasta. It does clump, though, unless you deep-chill it in the freezer before tossing it with the hot pasta. Also, if you're looking to emulate the Tomato-Basil Caprese sauce on offer right now at Olive Garden, shredded mozzarella is the way to go.Meatloaf Minis: I made meatloaf in a muffin tin just a few nights ago. I used ground turkey to please the no-beef crowd, so it's a possible substitution here. You could also add grated vegetables (I use carrots and onions) to make the dish more nutritious; just reduce the water a little to compensate for the extra moisture.
Now, the recipe in the magazine unfortunately doesn't appear online, so here's the lowdown: Set the oven temp to 375 degrees. Mix a pound of extra-lean ground beef, a box of stuffing mix, a cup of water, and a teaspoon of garlic powder. Divide evenly among 12 muffin cups coated with cooking spray. Make an indentation in the top of each mini-loaf. Divide 3/4 cup barbecue sauce among the 12 indentations. Bake for about 30 minutes (you're looking for an internal temperature of 160 degrees). Top with cheese and pop back in the oven long enough to melt the topping.
Kraft Salad Dressing Packets: I've seen these light dressing packets, as well as similar ones from other brands, at every grocer I've visited since my return. Is it the growing popularity of grab-and-go salads? The influence of Hungry Girl? On the plus side, these packets are practically leak-proof and having one in your purse or lunch bag will save you from taking in tens or hundreds of fatty-dressing calories. On the other hand, more packaging means more waste. Also, the flavors (Zesty Italian and Balsamic Vinaigrette) are the same ones usually offered as light options at restaurants anyway. Why not a light ranch or Thousand Island packet? Mmm, that one could double as low-cal "special sauce" for burgers.
Technorati Tags:
barbecue sauce, food, groceries, healthy eating, homemade, meal planning, meat, reviews, magazines, Simple Shortcuts, Kraft, meatloaf, pasta
South Beach Living Dark Chocolate Fudge Covered Wafer Sticks
Kraft definitely seems to be targeting the typical American woman with these products from the South Beach Living line. They're doused with chocolate fudge, they're conveniently packaged as a grab-and-go snack, they require no prep, and each individual pack contains two bars for only 100 calories, adding a sense of bang for the buck.
Each two-bar pack also has six grams of fat (three grams saturated in the Hazelnut Crème, two in the Peanut Butter), five grams of protein, one gram of sugar, and three grams of fiber. Despite the relatively healthy stats, I'd consider these more of a dessert treat, like a cookie, than a hearty snack, like a granola bar. They're too light and airy to satisfy hunger.
This package boasts many easily recognizable baking ingredients: Dutch-processed cocoa, sugar, vanilla, milk, baking soda, and so on. Since the bars are South Beach-branded products, whole-wheat flour outranks regular flour on the ingredient list, and that may explain the high fiber content for a cookie.
The sticks' protein level is boosted with wheat gluten. The nutty ingredients rank pretty low on the list, which might be why the nut taste is overwhelmed by a wheaty taste. The wafers taste sweet, but they taste sweeter after swallowing. Maybe that's due in part to the maltitol (a sugar alcohol) and sucralose (Splenda).
Scott did not care at all for the Hazelnut Crème wafer sticks. I quote: "I'd rather eat two pudding cups than one of these" for about the same calories.
I have to go with Scott on this one. The cookies have an initially bitter taste from the dark-chocolate coating that, instead of being balanced by a creamy, sweet interior like other wafer sticks, is turned up by a somewhat bitter whole-wheat flavor. As I mentioned, the flavor does sweeten up as it sits in your mouth, but that's not really what I'm looking for in wafer sticks.
The nut flavor in the Hazelnut Crème seems nearly imperceptible compared to the chocolate and crispy wafers. What's there isn't pleasant enough to carry the bar. The Peanut Butter, though, has a strong peanutty flavor that should gladden lovers of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. I just am not a peanut butter cup fan myself.
Another problem I had with these is that they seemed to dry my mouth as I chewed them up, like saltine crackers. Dessert should make your mouth water!
Also, be careful with that chocolate fudge coating. Unlike M&M's, it will melt in your hand. Bring a napkin!
In the end, I'd recommend sticking with the tasty chocolate pudding cups if you're looking for a low-cal treat. Those are sweet, rich, and satisfying, whereas these wafer sticks . . . aren't. Still, if you love peanut butter cups and want a crispy alternative, the Peanut Butter flavor might be your ticket.
For more South Beach Living reviews:
South Beach Living Packaged Meals
South Beach Living Pudding Cups
Technorati Tags:
desserts, diet, dieting, food, groceries, reviews, South Beach
Gardenburger Frozen Meals
This post is part of a series on low-cal packaged meals. For more, check out previous entries on Michelina's Lean Gourmet, Weight Watchers Smart Ones, Healthy Choice, South Beach Living, and Lean Cuisine.
It's not just a veggie patty anymore.
The Gardenburger brand has expanded its line significantly beyond the famed burger substitute. Not only do they offer wide array of patty choices in the freezer case, but now they produce pretend riblets, wraps, and "chicken" products as well.
Naturally, some of these newer items make a tasty, convenient lunch.
Black Bean Chipotle Wrap
The photo on the box is a poor representation of this product. It looks like some kind of wacky fake chicken parmesan in a tortilla. I almost didn't buy it, which would have been a shame, as this wrap is delicious. It's Gardenburger's already yummy black bean patty coated in a spicy sauce, sprinkled with rich cheese, and stuffed into a whole-wheat tortilla. You get two individually packaged, 240-calorie wraps per box, and they're tastier and more filling (six grams of fiber!) than Lean Pockets.
That's all I have on frozen and prepackaged meals! Being back in the States now, I may have opportunity to sample more in the future. I will keep you apprised!
Photo: Gardenburger.com
It's not just a veggie patty anymore.
The Gardenburger brand has expanded its line significantly beyond the famed burger substitute. Not only do they offer wide array of patty choices in the freezer case, but now they produce pretend riblets, wraps, and "chicken" products as well.
Naturally, some of these newer items make a tasty, convenient lunch.
Gardenburger
Black Bean Chipotle WrapThe photo on the box is a poor representation of this product. It looks like some kind of wacky fake chicken parmesan in a tortilla. I almost didn't buy it, which would have been a shame, as this wrap is delicious. It's Gardenburger's already yummy black bean patty coated in a spicy sauce, sprinkled with rich cheese, and stuffed into a whole-wheat tortilla. You get two individually packaged, 240-calorie wraps per box, and they're tastier and more filling (six grams of fiber!) than Lean Pockets.
That's all I have on frozen and prepackaged meals! Being back in the States now, I may have opportunity to sample more in the future. I will keep you apprised!
Photo: Gardenburger.com
Technorati Tags:
diet, dieting, food, frozen meals, groceries, lunch, reviews
South Beach Living Pudding Cups
I received some free samples of Kraft South Beach Living pudding cups from a PR rep for the company. As I have an interest in low-cal products that I share here on this site, I'll share my take on this new product.
The packaging makes a boatload of claims: 60 calories! Sugar free! Good source of fiber!
Fiber? In pudding?
Both puddings I tried came infused with inulin, a fiber plentiful in plants such as chicory and jicama. Wikipedia says it's a soluble fiber that may lower cholesterol, but recent reports suggest the isolated fibers added to processed foods may not carry the same benefits as those in whole foods. However, inulin, being indigestible, doesn't add to the calorie count, and the only possible problem that might stem from its consumption (in large amounts) is a little indigestion.
Speaking of indigestion, these treats manage to achieve sugar-free status through the use of the sugar alcohols xylitol and maltitol, in addition to sucralose (Splenda) and acesulfame potassium (Ace K). Taking in too many grams of sugar alcohols also can lead to digestive upset, so take care not to binge should you indulge in sugar-free products. On the upside, xylitol helps prevent tooth decay.
Fiber, fake sugar, and plenty of water explain each cup's svelte 60 calories. Starch, rather than fat, provides the thickness and silkiness; the Dark Chocolate Vanilla Marble has 1.5 grams of fat, and the Milk Chocolate Truffle has 1 gram. The fat is saturated, likely because of the cream listed in the ingredients.
That cream, along with the Dutch-processed cocoa and salt, are the only ingredients in this pudding that you could buy yourself at the supermarket. If you're looking for all-natural foods . . . well, by now you've probably already looked elsewhere.
Taste? These cups taste much like other pudding cups I've tasted from the grocery store. They're creamy and rich-tasting, despite the lack of sugar and fat. The size and texture make for a satisfying dessert for me, though my husband, Scott, opted for two. The cups come four to a package.
Scott's favorite was the Dark Chocolate Vanilla Marble, which he enjoyed for the contrast in flavor between the chocolate layers and the center vanilla layer. I found the vanilla layer unassertive; it mostly tasted of milk, not vanilla, and the dark chocolate dominated this subtle flavor. It provided some relief from the chocolate, but don't choose this looking for a vanilla hit. It tastes a lot like chocolate chips.
I preferred the Milk Chocolate Truffle. I guess I'm just a sucker for that buttery, chocolaty flavor I associate with those creamy Lindt truffles. There's no contrasting flavor or subtlety here, just straight-up richness. I moaned a little.
Should you buy these cups? If you don't mind all the additives and fake sugars, sure. They're tasty and, at 60 calories, a perfectly reasonable dessert. If you balk at the idea of ingredients you can't pronounce, go with my longtime favorite prepared pudding, Kozy Shack, in moderation. Nothing beats some tasty tapioca.
More on South Beach Living:
South Beach Living Packaged Meals
Photo: Colleen Fischer
Technorati Tags:
diet, dieting, groceries, reviews, weight loss, South Beach, desserts
Smokin' Willies
At some point in the past couple of years, I visited a food trade show with Scott and his mom on a trip to California. We'd never been to such a thing before and did not know what to expect, but oh, we found great things.The show was jam-packed with vendors hawking all sorts of high-end sauces, juices, and other delectable goodies, as well as a few hucksters trying to convince us we wanted their crummy pots or whatever. But mostly, we were having a grand old time sampling some of the freshest and most delicious tasting packaged products available on the market.
I remember we loved some fancy (and pricey) pasta sauce that was mostly chunks of cheese in good oil, and Scott's mom was crazy over a line of pesto-like fresh herb sauces, including one made with Scott's dad's favorite herb, cilantro.
However, the most prevalent product at the show was barbecue sauce. We sampled dozens of varieties, and when we left the show that day, we were laden down with several bottles from a company called Smokin' Willie's.
This sauce is fabulous. It beats the pants off any other barbecue sauce I've ever tried. It's light-years beyond any of those Kraft or KC Masterpiece bottles crowding the supermarket shelves in terms of flavor.
I admit to having had a certain fondness for Sweet Baby Ray's sauce for dipping chicken nuggets in over the years, but Smokin' Willie's is way more flavorful than the typical sweet and tangy barbecue slop.
It's spicy without an overwhelming heat, it has sweetness without being overly thick and gloppy, and it has a good hint of barbecue smokiness without knocking you out when using it for dipping.
Even better, Smokin' Willie's sauce manages to keep its flavor fresh and punchy without resorting to a ton of weird ingredients. It's the real deal, the kind of sauce you might make yourself if, you know, you actually made barbecue sauce from scratch.
I love the original, but I also enjoy the two other varieties of sauce the company makes. The Fiesta with Chipotle sauce has some real kick to it if you like your barbecue spicy, and the Shanghai-Style sauce has that sort of lip-smacking Korean-barbecue flavor I am always trying to capture on my own.
Another great thing about Smokin' Willie's original sauce is that it's less sugary than typical supermarket sauces (and there's no high-fructose corn syrup!), so it's not ruinous to your diet. It's thinner and saucier without all the sugar turning it gooey.
I've found Smokin' Willie's sauce at Whole Foods, and if you check the web site the company lists additional stores where you can find it. I (and Scott) highly recommend giving it a try. And if you're coming to Slovakia in the next four months . . .
Technorati Tags:
food, groceries, reviews, barbecue sauce
Michelina's Lean Gourmet Frozen Meals
This post is part of a series on low-cal packaged meals. For more, check out previous entries on Weight Watchers Smart Ones, Healthy Choice, South Beach Living, and Lean Cuisine.
Michelina's meals may be positioned at the low end of the frozen-food market, but give them credit for innovative efficiency. Their cardboard packaging may sometimes impart a papery flavor to the food, but it's more likely to break down in the landfill than all those plastic trays and cellophane wrappers tossed in the trash after America's lunch break.
My mom used to stock the freezer with these for kids to heat up on the days we didn't feel like a sandwich for lunch or had to fend for ourselves for dinner. Actually, these mostly ended up as lunch fare -- for dinner, the Marie Callendar's stocks would more likely get tapped. However, those meals have nutritional stats that make you wonder why you're not just picking up takeout from Olive Garden.
Anyway, onward to the review.
Macaroni & Cheese
I realize the convenience factor here is small, as it's not so difficult to whip up boxed mac and cheese and stuff it in Tupperware. However, when I was a kid, back in the pre-Easy Mac dark ages and less than confident at the stove, Michelina's mac was definitely a freezer favorite. I don't find any of the more expensive frozen mac and cheese dinners to taste at all superior, so if I felt a desire to pack myself a plate for lunch, I bought this. The serving is definitely tiny, but it's only 270 calories and, really, should you be eating more when it's only mac and cheese?
I don't recall ever eating most of the other meals listed on the Lean Gourmet home page. Some look promising, such as this 220-calorie Vegetable Rice Pilaf that looks chock-full of colorful veggies, if the picture is to be believed.
Next week: A frozen delight from the folks at Gardenburger.
Michelina's meals may be positioned at the low end of the frozen-food market, but give them credit for innovative efficiency. Their cardboard packaging may sometimes impart a papery flavor to the food, but it's more likely to break down in the landfill than all those plastic trays and cellophane wrappers tossed in the trash after America's lunch break.
My mom used to stock the freezer with these for kids to heat up on the days we didn't feel like a sandwich for lunch or had to fend for ourselves for dinner. Actually, these mostly ended up as lunch fare -- for dinner, the Marie Callendar's stocks would more likely get tapped. However, those meals have nutritional stats that make you wonder why you're not just picking up takeout from Olive Garden.
Anyway, onward to the review.
Michelina's Lean Gourmet
Macaroni & CheeseI realize the convenience factor here is small, as it's not so difficult to whip up boxed mac and cheese and stuff it in Tupperware. However, when I was a kid, back in the pre-Easy Mac dark ages and less than confident at the stove, Michelina's mac was definitely a freezer favorite. I don't find any of the more expensive frozen mac and cheese dinners to taste at all superior, so if I felt a desire to pack myself a plate for lunch, I bought this. The serving is definitely tiny, but it's only 270 calories and, really, should you be eating more when it's only mac and cheese?
I don't recall ever eating most of the other meals listed on the Lean Gourmet home page. Some look promising, such as this 220-calorie Vegetable Rice Pilaf that looks chock-full of colorful veggies, if the picture is to be believed.
Next week: A frozen delight from the folks at Gardenburger.
Technorati Tags:
food, groceries, reviews, frozen meals
Weight Watchers Smart Ones Frozen Meals
This post is part of a series on low-cal packaged meals. For more, check out previous entries on Healthy Choice, South Beach Living, and Lean Cuisine.
"Diets don't work," Weight Watchers' promotional material claims. Hard to argue with that sentiment -- but do their products work for the taste buds?
Weight Watchers offers a self-branded line in grocery stores, which includes cheeses and snack cakes, alongside their Smart Ones frozen products and the additional foods they sell at meeting locations. But why stop there? The company also endorses Progresso's light soups, which boast as few as zero "points" a serving.
Points, you say? Having never participated in Weight Watchers, I'm no expert on the subject, but Wikipedia provides the formula used to calculate a food's points value. Basically, it seems that you count one point for every 50 calories, but you can subtract a point for high-fiber foods. Weight Watchers assigns its clients on the Flex Plan a weekly points budget, and if you stay within your allocation, you will, slowly but surely, lose weight. It's basically calorie counting with more math and an emphasis on increasing fiber intake.
Weight Watchers-endorsed products come labeled with the points per serving, making them convenient for people "on plan." However, buying the food does not buy you the trademark group support. Don't expect miracles from eating these meals.
I never tried many Smart Ones frozen meals. My usual supermarket didn't carry the full line in the freezer case, so I'm afraid I might have missed out on the tastier selections. Here, then, are the best of what I could find.
Santa Fe Style Rice & Beans
This rice and beans plate resembles enchiladas deconstructed. You'll find a pile, made mostly of rice, doused in a light but creamy sauce and sprinkled with cheese. The sauce is kind of odd -- I couldn't quite figure out what it was made of -- but it tasted satisfyingly rich. A good choice, though, as always with light frozen meals, too small. It'll cost you 310 calories, or six Weight Watchers points, if you're counting. The meal also boasts a full four grams of filling fiber.
I remember a few other Smart Ones selection, but they were merely satisfactory (or bad). Check out the ice cream selection next time you're at the market, though. They offer a nice variety of portion-controlled treats.
Next week, we'll check out Michelina's Lean Gourmet, an option that helps you cut both your waistline and your budget.
"Diets don't work," Weight Watchers' promotional material claims. Hard to argue with that sentiment -- but do their products work for the taste buds?
Weight Watchers offers a self-branded line in grocery stores, which includes cheeses and snack cakes, alongside their Smart Ones frozen products and the additional foods they sell at meeting locations. But why stop there? The company also endorses Progresso's light soups, which boast as few as zero "points" a serving.
Points, you say? Having never participated in Weight Watchers, I'm no expert on the subject, but Wikipedia provides the formula used to calculate a food's points value. Basically, it seems that you count one point for every 50 calories, but you can subtract a point for high-fiber foods. Weight Watchers assigns its clients on the Flex Plan a weekly points budget, and if you stay within your allocation, you will, slowly but surely, lose weight. It's basically calorie counting with more math and an emphasis on increasing fiber intake.
Weight Watchers-endorsed products come labeled with the points per serving, making them convenient for people "on plan." However, buying the food does not buy you the trademark group support. Don't expect miracles from eating these meals.
I never tried many Smart Ones frozen meals. My usual supermarket didn't carry the full line in the freezer case, so I'm afraid I might have missed out on the tastier selections. Here, then, are the best of what I could find.
Weight Watchers Smart Ones
Santa Fe Style Rice & BeansThis rice and beans plate resembles enchiladas deconstructed. You'll find a pile, made mostly of rice, doused in a light but creamy sauce and sprinkled with cheese. The sauce is kind of odd -- I couldn't quite figure out what it was made of -- but it tasted satisfyingly rich. A good choice, though, as always with light frozen meals, too small. It'll cost you 310 calories, or six Weight Watchers points, if you're counting. The meal also boasts a full four grams of filling fiber.
I remember a few other Smart Ones selection, but they were merely satisfactory (or bad). Check out the ice cream selection next time you're at the market, though. They offer a nice variety of portion-controlled treats.
Next week, we'll check out Michelina's Lean Gourmet, an option that helps you cut both your waistline and your budget.
Healthy Choice Frozen Meals
This post is part of a series on low-cal packaged meals. For more, check out previous entries on South Beach Living and Lean Cuisine.
Reviewing the Healthy Choice brand provides me with the opportunity to discuss one particular nutrition claim made on food packages: "healthy." Unlike with many terms slapped onto boxes and bags, a company's product has to meet a set of standards to merit the tag "healthy."
When a company claims this accolade, it's declaring that the food in the package is low in fat, cholesterol, and, significantly for processed foods, sodium. "Healthy" foods also must contain certain levels of essential nutrients, according to the FDA.
Healthy Choice meals are all relatively low in sodium because of these regulations. For example, Healthy Choice's mac and cheese with veggies has 600 mg of sodium per 9.1-oz serving, which is about 25 percent of the typical daily limit. On the other hand, Stouffer's cheesy mac has 1,395 mg of sodium for an equivalent portion. Good bye, 60 percent of your daily intake!
I like Healthy Choice's creative entrée selections. Like many low-cal brands, they don't stick to fried chicken and Salisbury steak. Healthy Choice also has come up with a new method of heating some meals using steam from the sauce, but I never tried any of those later meals. Nonetheless, it's evidence that this brand aims to innovate, like Lean Cuisine.
Country Breaded Chicken
I know I knocked fried-chicken meals above, but I have to say, this particular meal became my favorite choice for weekday lunches after I discovered it midway through my second school year. How decadent it feels to eat two fried chicken breast portions (bigger than mere tenders), mashed potatoes, mixed veggies, and a delectable cherry crumble, all in one sitting! The chicken tastes so yummy that you'll wonder how on earth the meal could have only 370 calories and nine grams of fat. One guess: It's not at all greasy.
Chicken Margherita
I may have just said that I've never tried Café Steamers, but I have tasted this particular meal. Healthy Choice has converted several of its old regular-tray offerings into Steamers, so if you want to try the tangy Chicken Margherita, you'll have to plunge into this brave new world. Good luck! The meal features a flavorful balsamic sauce over noodles and chicken with sweet tomatoes and garlic. Mmm! This meal has only 340 calories, though it does not come with a sweet treat.
Premium Fudge Bars
Fudge Bars definitely don't qualify as a meal, but I love these 80-calorie fudge bars! They taste deliciously chocolate-y in a way most chocolate ice creams can only dream of.
Alas, I can't pinpoint any other meals as particularly good enough to merit recommendation. The others aren't terrible; they're either ordinary or untested. Healthy Choice meals usually cost more than the other brands' offerings, so I bought them less frequently.
Next week, we'll check out meals from Weight Watchers' Smart Ones line!
Photos: Healthy Choice
Reviewing the Healthy Choice brand provides me with the opportunity to discuss one particular nutrition claim made on food packages: "healthy." Unlike with many terms slapped onto boxes and bags, a company's product has to meet a set of standards to merit the tag "healthy."
When a company claims this accolade, it's declaring that the food in the package is low in fat, cholesterol, and, significantly for processed foods, sodium. "Healthy" foods also must contain certain levels of essential nutrients, according to the FDA.
Healthy Choice meals are all relatively low in sodium because of these regulations. For example, Healthy Choice's mac and cheese with veggies has 600 mg of sodium per 9.1-oz serving, which is about 25 percent of the typical daily limit. On the other hand, Stouffer's cheesy mac has 1,395 mg of sodium for an equivalent portion. Good bye, 60 percent of your daily intake!I like Healthy Choice's creative entrée selections. Like many low-cal brands, they don't stick to fried chicken and Salisbury steak. Healthy Choice also has come up with a new method of heating some meals using steam from the sauce, but I never tried any of those later meals. Nonetheless, it's evidence that this brand aims to innovate, like Lean Cuisine.
Healthy Choice
Country Breaded ChickenI know I knocked fried-chicken meals above, but I have to say, this particular meal became my favorite choice for weekday lunches after I discovered it midway through my second school year. How decadent it feels to eat two fried chicken breast portions (bigger than mere tenders), mashed potatoes, mixed veggies, and a delectable cherry crumble, all in one sitting! The chicken tastes so yummy that you'll wonder how on earth the meal could have only 370 calories and nine grams of fat. One guess: It's not at all greasy.
Chicken MargheritaI may have just said that I've never tried Café Steamers, but I have tasted this particular meal. Healthy Choice has converted several of its old regular-tray offerings into Steamers, so if you want to try the tangy Chicken Margherita, you'll have to plunge into this brave new world. Good luck! The meal features a flavorful balsamic sauce over noodles and chicken with sweet tomatoes and garlic. Mmm! This meal has only 340 calories, though it does not come with a sweet treat.
Premium Fudge BarsFudge Bars definitely don't qualify as a meal, but I love these 80-calorie fudge bars! They taste deliciously chocolate-y in a way most chocolate ice creams can only dream of.
Alas, I can't pinpoint any other meals as particularly good enough to merit recommendation. The others aren't terrible; they're either ordinary or untested. Healthy Choice meals usually cost more than the other brands' offerings, so I bought them less frequently.
Next week, we'll check out meals from Weight Watchers' Smart Ones line!
Photos: Healthy Choice
Technorati Tags:
diet, dieting, food, groceries, healthy eating, reviews, weight loss
South Beach Living Packaged Meals (and More from Kraft)
This post is part of a series on low-cal packaged meals. For more, check out last week's entry on Lean Cuisine.
Not long ago, Kraft changed the name for its line of packaged foods based on the popular South Beach Diet to "South Beach Living." The change reflects the growing awareness among Americans that weight loss and better health require a permanent lifestyle change, not a quick-fix "diet." For example, Weight Watchers (another brand we'll check out in this series) is trumpeting their anti-diet approach to weight loss in their latest advertising campaign. Additionally, Jenny Craig has expanded its message to include an emphasis on learning healthy eating habits through hiring Queen Latifah, a famously curvy celebrity, to shed pounds to reduce her diabetes risk. The idea of the diet, thankfully, is on the way out.
So here's to South Beach Living. This brand reaches way beyond the freezer case. It's a lucky thing, as the few South Beach frozen meals I tried back in my teaching days were abysmal. Having checked the latest product listings, I imagine I wasn't alone in that opinion, as a lot of those frozen dinners have changed or disappeared. I won't condemn the new varieties outright, but still, I'd taste-test that funky chicken before heavily investing.
Regardless, South Beach's products outside the deep chill have much tasty goodness to offer. Regrettably, the portions for their refrigerated meals are as small as with other low-cal lines. Plan on bringing along some fruit or other healthy supplement.
Sesame Chicken Wrap Sandwich Kit
How good is this refrigerated meal kit? I was so obsessed that I actually bought the ingredients separately and started making these wraps myself. I had to resort to desperate measures considering my supermarket's perpetual shortage. I'd approach the cooler case, note the label on the shelf, and stare into the gaping hole where my Asian-inspired goodness should be. Then I'd stick my hand back there, just in case.
These Lunchable-like kits contain two whole-wheat mini tortillas, cooked (and non-funky) chicken pieces, whole-wheat crunchy noodles, and yummy mandarin orange and sesame dressing, alongside an itty-bitty cup of sugar-free gelatin for dessert.
Incidentally, that dressing introduced me to the low-calorie wonders of soy sauce-based vinaigrettes. Check out the wide variety of bottled versions in the salad-dressing aisle should you ever want to make a homemade version of this lunch. I fill a whole-wheat tortilla with cooked chicken, mandarin orange wedges, brown rice, and a sprinkling of chow mein noodles, drizzled with an Asian-style dressing.
On the downside, this 220-calorie pack almost absurdly paltry. You get two wraps, true, but they are tiny. Without that supplemental food I mentioned before, you honestly will faint before you leave work. Even when my mom would pack me those old-school cheese-and-cracker Lunchables as a kid, she supplemented them with other healthy foods.
Kraft produces Oscar Mayer's Lunchables line as well. I suppose they're where the idea for refrigerated South Beach meals came from. Today's Lunchables are far heftier than in years past, and when approached correctly, they can provide a decent lunch (or lunch inspiration) for an adult.
An advantage to brown-bagging a refrigerated lunch kit is reduced prep time. Some frozen meals require 10 minutes or more in the microwave, forcing you to shovel food into your mouth in what little time remains for your break. Worse, some schools and workplaces (gasp!) don't even offer a microwave.
Lunchables Maxed Out Chicken Strips
Though I find Lunchables' packaging somewhat obnoxious these days, the food selection has evolved in ways both good and bad since your options were either perfectly round turkey or ham with your cheese and crackers.
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed cold chicken fingers. If convenience isn't your priority when choosing a healthy lunch, I'd strongly recommend making your own baked nuggets for your brown bag.
Unfortunately, as you might expect from fried chicken, this box weighs in at substantial 490 calories. Still, if you ditch the sugary Kool-Aid packet and the candy, it's probably not so bad. Again -- bring a healthy supplement to ward off hunger pangs.
Lunchables Mini Tacos
You might have let me slide on the cold chicken fingers thing but . . . cold beef taco filling?!
Give it a chance, that's all I can say. It might look like dog food, but the beefy paste has a yummy, spicy flavor. And hey, they're cute!
If you can't stomach the thought of cold, processed beef that squirts out of a pouch but somehow still are intrigued at the thought of chilled burritos, check out this promising recipe. These homemade burritos, which can be stockpiled in advance, only pack in about 204 calories each.
The same can't be said for our Lunchable. Kraft labels this box as a "Sensible Solution." I think it would be more sensible if you pawned the candy off on a little kid to knock off a few of those 410 calories, but it beats a Taco Bell run. Finally, should you still need reminding, remember that these mini tacos. As in not filling on their own.
Lest We Be Forgetting the Adults in the Room
Kraft doesn't market the last two products in this roundup as suitable for healthy eaters, but we're living, not dieting, now, right?
Oscar Mayer Deli Creations Steakhouse Cheddar
Kraft rewarded me for taking surveys with a coupon good for a free Deli Creations sandwich. Take that disclosure as you will.
I chose to try the Steakhouse Cheddar. Oscar Mayer also offers ham and turkey variations, but here's my dirty little secret: I don't like lunchmeat. I find cold cuts slimy and gross. Roast beef, though, I can deal with as I can tell myself it's just like leftovers. Likely, you will not share my issues and might enjoy a nice turkey sandwich.
Onward. The sandwich provides a much more satisfying portion than any of the other meals on this page, as it ought to be for 430 calories. I'd recommend leaving off the mayonnaise to slim it down. Much as I love mayo, it's not needed here; the box comes with a packet of tangy steak sauce that provides more than enough flavor.
Obviously, you could easily replicate this sandwich on your own with some deli meat, a slice of cheddar, and Heinz 57 sauce. Whichever way you go, it's worth tasting.
Oscar Mayer Beef Fast Franks
Oscar Mayer has figured out how to microwave bread without it turning into a rock, as shown by both the Deli Creations sandwiches and these Fast Franks.
This one's just a hot dog on a bun. That's it. Honestly, you could accomplish the same thing by packing any hot dog and bun in your lunchbox. Still, if you can't bear any prep work, Fast Franks a hot, convenient, and satisfying meal for only 300 calories.
I always top mine with low-cal brown mustard, relish, a dill pickle wedge, and chopped onions. Mmm . . . By the way, if you prefer regular Oscar Mayer wieners, you can also get these in the usual mishmash of chicken, turkey, and pork. You won't save more than 10 calories, though.
That ends our whirlwind tour of the Kraft brands. Coming up, we'll check out ready-made meals from other labels, including Michelina's Lean Gourmet and Gardenburger. Happy lunching!
Not long ago, Kraft changed the name for its line of packaged foods based on the popular South Beach Diet to "South Beach Living." The change reflects the growing awareness among Americans that weight loss and better health require a permanent lifestyle change, not a quick-fix "diet." For example, Weight Watchers (another brand we'll check out in this series) is trumpeting their anti-diet approach to weight loss in their latest advertising campaign. Additionally, Jenny Craig has expanded its message to include an emphasis on learning healthy eating habits through hiring Queen Latifah, a famously curvy celebrity, to shed pounds to reduce her diabetes risk. The idea of the diet, thankfully, is on the way out.
So here's to South Beach Living. This brand reaches way beyond the freezer case. It's a lucky thing, as the few South Beach frozen meals I tried back in my teaching days were abysmal. Having checked the latest product listings, I imagine I wasn't alone in that opinion, as a lot of those frozen dinners have changed or disappeared. I won't condemn the new varieties outright, but still, I'd taste-test that funky chicken before heavily investing.
Regardless, South Beach's products outside the deep chill have much tasty goodness to offer. Regrettably, the portions for their refrigerated meals are as small as with other low-cal lines. Plan on bringing along some fruit or other healthy supplement.
South Beach Living
Sesame Chicken Wrap Sandwich KitHow good is this refrigerated meal kit? I was so obsessed that I actually bought the ingredients separately and started making these wraps myself. I had to resort to desperate measures considering my supermarket's perpetual shortage. I'd approach the cooler case, note the label on the shelf, and stare into the gaping hole where my Asian-inspired goodness should be. Then I'd stick my hand back there, just in case.
These Lunchable-like kits contain two whole-wheat mini tortillas, cooked (and non-funky) chicken pieces, whole-wheat crunchy noodles, and yummy mandarin orange and sesame dressing, alongside an itty-bitty cup of sugar-free gelatin for dessert.
Incidentally, that dressing introduced me to the low-calorie wonders of soy sauce-based vinaigrettes. Check out the wide variety of bottled versions in the salad-dressing aisle should you ever want to make a homemade version of this lunch. I fill a whole-wheat tortilla with cooked chicken, mandarin orange wedges, brown rice, and a sprinkling of chow mein noodles, drizzled with an Asian-style dressing.
On the downside, this 220-calorie pack almost absurdly paltry. You get two wraps, true, but they are tiny. Without that supplemental food I mentioned before, you honestly will faint before you leave work. Even when my mom would pack me those old-school cheese-and-cracker Lunchables as a kid, she supplemented them with other healthy foods.
Speaking of Lunchables . . .
Kraft produces Oscar Mayer's Lunchables line as well. I suppose they're where the idea for refrigerated South Beach meals came from. Today's Lunchables are far heftier than in years past, and when approached correctly, they can provide a decent lunch (or lunch inspiration) for an adult.
An advantage to brown-bagging a refrigerated lunch kit is reduced prep time. Some frozen meals require 10 minutes or more in the microwave, forcing you to shovel food into your mouth in what little time remains for your break. Worse, some schools and workplaces (gasp!) don't even offer a microwave.
Lunchables Maxed Out Chicken StripsThough I find Lunchables' packaging somewhat obnoxious these days, the food selection has evolved in ways both good and bad since your options were either perfectly round turkey or ham with your cheese and crackers.
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed cold chicken fingers. If convenience isn't your priority when choosing a healthy lunch, I'd strongly recommend making your own baked nuggets for your brown bag.
Unfortunately, as you might expect from fried chicken, this box weighs in at substantial 490 calories. Still, if you ditch the sugary Kool-Aid packet and the candy, it's probably not so bad. Again -- bring a healthy supplement to ward off hunger pangs.
Lunchables Mini TacosYou might have let me slide on the cold chicken fingers thing but . . . cold beef taco filling?!
Give it a chance, that's all I can say. It might look like dog food, but the beefy paste has a yummy, spicy flavor. And hey, they're cute!
If you can't stomach the thought of cold, processed beef that squirts out of a pouch but somehow still are intrigued at the thought of chilled burritos, check out this promising recipe. These homemade burritos, which can be stockpiled in advance, only pack in about 204 calories each.
The same can't be said for our Lunchable. Kraft labels this box as a "Sensible Solution." I think it would be more sensible if you pawned the candy off on a little kid to knock off a few of those 410 calories, but it beats a Taco Bell run. Finally, should you still need reminding, remember that these mini tacos. As in not filling on their own.
Lest We Be Forgetting the Adults in the Room
Kraft doesn't market the last two products in this roundup as suitable for healthy eaters, but we're living, not dieting, now, right?
Oscar Mayer Deli Creations Steakhouse CheddarKraft rewarded me for taking surveys with a coupon good for a free Deli Creations sandwich. Take that disclosure as you will.
I chose to try the Steakhouse Cheddar. Oscar Mayer also offers ham and turkey variations, but here's my dirty little secret: I don't like lunchmeat. I find cold cuts slimy and gross. Roast beef, though, I can deal with as I can tell myself it's just like leftovers. Likely, you will not share my issues and might enjoy a nice turkey sandwich.
Onward. The sandwich provides a much more satisfying portion than any of the other meals on this page, as it ought to be for 430 calories. I'd recommend leaving off the mayonnaise to slim it down. Much as I love mayo, it's not needed here; the box comes with a packet of tangy steak sauce that provides more than enough flavor.
Obviously, you could easily replicate this sandwich on your own with some deli meat, a slice of cheddar, and Heinz 57 sauce. Whichever way you go, it's worth tasting.
Oscar Mayer Beef Fast FranksOscar Mayer has figured out how to microwave bread without it turning into a rock, as shown by both the Deli Creations sandwiches and these Fast Franks.
This one's just a hot dog on a bun. That's it. Honestly, you could accomplish the same thing by packing any hot dog and bun in your lunchbox. Still, if you can't bear any prep work, Fast Franks a hot, convenient, and satisfying meal for only 300 calories.
I always top mine with low-cal brown mustard, relish, a dill pickle wedge, and chopped onions. Mmm . . . By the way, if you prefer regular Oscar Mayer wieners, you can also get these in the usual mishmash of chicken, turkey, and pork. You won't save more than 10 calories, though.
That ends our whirlwind tour of the Kraft brands. Coming up, we'll check out ready-made meals from other labels, including Michelina's Lean Gourmet and Gardenburger. Happy lunching!
Technorati Tags:
diet, dieting, food, groceries, healthy eating, reviews, weight loss
Lean Cuisine Frozen Meals
I sampled dozens of packaged meals during my two years of teaching, as they were my (and many others') go-to choice for lunch at school. Back then, my meal-planning efforts were miniscule, so I didn't often have lunch-ready leftovers or sandwich supplies.
True, I could have picked up a government-approved meal from the school cafeteria. However, I'd like to see government officials subsist on mush-meat burritos (cooked and served in their plastic bags) served with iceberg lettuce piles and cupcakes the way my low-income students had to! Aiming to avoid the styrofoam surprise, I kept my fridge and freezer stocked with heat-and-eat platters.
In the course of this series, I'm going to recommend several packaged meals based on their flavor and reasonable calorie counts, but I have to warn anyone interested in picking these up that none will keep you full and satisfied the way a home-cooked meal would. They might be briefly satisfying, but I invariably ended up ravenous by the time I left school. Packaged meals aim to please American palates, which love fat, salt, and protein. If "diet" meals were largely vegetable-based, they could offer truly satisfying portions for few calories, but let's be honest: No one outside of the Whole Foods crowd would buy them.
Since between-meals hunger can lead to serious junk-food binges or poor dinner choices (all those drive-thrus on the commute!), it's best to either supplement or pack a healthy, filling snack to consume a few hours later. Think ready-to-go, high-fiber fruit such as apples or bananas; protein-rich snacks such as string cheese or nuts; or even low-cal meal-replacement bars. Alternatively, a big, vegetables-only salad, whether home chopped or store prepared, can fill out your meal for few calories.
Lean Cuisine is likely the first brand that pops to mind when anyone thinks of low-cal frozen meals. Stouffer's packs these meals with delicious flavors unusual for the freezer case. They're innovators in the field, introducing choices most people wouldn't expect to find in the freezer case, such as crunchy panini sandwiches and chewy flatbreads.
Lean Cuisine's offerings seem endless based on their web site. No wonder they take over such a large chunk of the supermarket freezer. On the downside, most of the meals are paltry in size and lack a significant amount of vegetables. Don't expect a huge emphasis on whole grains, either.
On to the best of the bunch!
Asian-Style Pot Stickers
How fun is it to get to eat something that looks like naughty Chinese take-out and yet know that it has minimal waist impact? The sauce gives the cute (and generously sized) dumplings a lip-smacking Asian-food flavor, all for only 260 calories a box. The rice accompaniment isn't a showstopper, but stir-fry some frozen veggies to add on top and it's like you're getting an appetizer and an entrée, making it a full dinner. These pot stickers are part of the "One-Dish Favorites" line, as is the similar Vegetable Eggroll meal. That one, though, comes with only one eggroll and thus seems eminently less satisfying.
Sesame Chicken
Sesame Chicken is my all-time favorite Lean Cuisine frozen meal. I stocked up on it whenever it went on sale, and it was one of the few frozen meals I actually craved enough to eat for dinner. I always guiltily wished they would make a bigger-sized portion (like those skillet-meal bags) so I could have more of those fried nuggets. Mostly I liked this meal because of its resemblance to a takeout favorite, sweet and sour chicken. Sure, Lean Cuisine offers another meal dubbed Sweet and Sour Chicken, but it features roasted meat rather than fried. It's just not the same. The noodles on the side are OK -- nothing special -- but don't expect the big pile in the box picture. Sesame Chicken belongs to the "Café Classics" line and contains 330 calories.
Lemongrass Chicken
The "Spa Cuisine" line features the meals that taste the most like "real" food, as in something you might prepare yourself or get at a decent restaurant. This Lemongrass Chicken wins you over not with assertive flavors or mouthwatering saltiness but with a subtle yet distinctive taste. How can I describe it? It's if they actually cooked up this one to nourish you rather than to addict you. The sauce featured on the chicken is delectable, and there's even some whole grains and vegetables involved. The meal weighs in at a spa-worthy 250 calories.
Chicken Club
I felt like I must be doing something wrong biting into a crispy sandwich stuffed with melty cheese, ranch dressing, and bacon. Yet this sandwich only sets you back 320 calories, which is a perfectly reasonable lunch, with ample room for a piece of fruit alongside. It somehow feels extra satisfying as a lunch, too, being a traditional sandwich. You might be able to save some calories by discarding the bread topper and eating this open-faced -- the frozen and microwave-"grilled" bread isn't much to write home about. Those pictured grill marks added before the sandwich leaves the factory; the little silver microwaving tray in the box does not produce them.
Lean Cuisine may dominate the freezer case, but it's not the only brand in town. Later, we'll discuss meals offered by Weight Watchers, Healthy Choice, and other weight loss-oriented brands.
True, I could have picked up a government-approved meal from the school cafeteria. However, I'd like to see government officials subsist on mush-meat burritos (cooked and served in their plastic bags) served with iceberg lettuce piles and cupcakes the way my low-income students had to! Aiming to avoid the styrofoam surprise, I kept my fridge and freezer stocked with heat-and-eat platters.
In the course of this series, I'm going to recommend several packaged meals based on their flavor and reasonable calorie counts, but I have to warn anyone interested in picking these up that none will keep you full and satisfied the way a home-cooked meal would. They might be briefly satisfying, but I invariably ended up ravenous by the time I left school. Packaged meals aim to please American palates, which love fat, salt, and protein. If "diet" meals were largely vegetable-based, they could offer truly satisfying portions for few calories, but let's be honest: No one outside of the Whole Foods crowd would buy them.
Since between-meals hunger can lead to serious junk-food binges or poor dinner choices (all those drive-thrus on the commute!), it's best to either supplement or pack a healthy, filling snack to consume a few hours later. Think ready-to-go, high-fiber fruit such as apples or bananas; protein-rich snacks such as string cheese or nuts; or even low-cal meal-replacement bars. Alternatively, a big, vegetables-only salad, whether home chopped or store prepared, can fill out your meal for few calories.
Lean Cuisine
Lean Cuisine is likely the first brand that pops to mind when anyone thinks of low-cal frozen meals. Stouffer's packs these meals with delicious flavors unusual for the freezer case. They're innovators in the field, introducing choices most people wouldn't expect to find in the freezer case, such as crunchy panini sandwiches and chewy flatbreads.
Lean Cuisine's offerings seem endless based on their web site. No wonder they take over such a large chunk of the supermarket freezer. On the downside, most of the meals are paltry in size and lack a significant amount of vegetables. Don't expect a huge emphasis on whole grains, either.
On to the best of the bunch!
Asian-Style Pot StickersHow fun is it to get to eat something that looks like naughty Chinese take-out and yet know that it has minimal waist impact? The sauce gives the cute (and generously sized) dumplings a lip-smacking Asian-food flavor, all for only 260 calories a box. The rice accompaniment isn't a showstopper, but stir-fry some frozen veggies to add on top and it's like you're getting an appetizer and an entrée, making it a full dinner. These pot stickers are part of the "One-Dish Favorites" line, as is the similar Vegetable Eggroll meal. That one, though, comes with only one eggroll and thus seems eminently less satisfying.
Sesame ChickenSesame Chicken is my all-time favorite Lean Cuisine frozen meal. I stocked up on it whenever it went on sale, and it was one of the few frozen meals I actually craved enough to eat for dinner. I always guiltily wished they would make a bigger-sized portion (like those skillet-meal bags) so I could have more of those fried nuggets. Mostly I liked this meal because of its resemblance to a takeout favorite, sweet and sour chicken. Sure, Lean Cuisine offers another meal dubbed Sweet and Sour Chicken, but it features roasted meat rather than fried. It's just not the same. The noodles on the side are OK -- nothing special -- but don't expect the big pile in the box picture. Sesame Chicken belongs to the "Café Classics" line and contains 330 calories.
Lemongrass ChickenThe "Spa Cuisine" line features the meals that taste the most like "real" food, as in something you might prepare yourself or get at a decent restaurant. This Lemongrass Chicken wins you over not with assertive flavors or mouthwatering saltiness but with a subtle yet distinctive taste. How can I describe it? It's if they actually cooked up this one to nourish you rather than to addict you. The sauce featured on the chicken is delectable, and there's even some whole grains and vegetables involved. The meal weighs in at a spa-worthy 250 calories.
Chicken ClubI felt like I must be doing something wrong biting into a crispy sandwich stuffed with melty cheese, ranch dressing, and bacon. Yet this sandwich only sets you back 320 calories, which is a perfectly reasonable lunch, with ample room for a piece of fruit alongside. It somehow feels extra satisfying as a lunch, too, being a traditional sandwich. You might be able to save some calories by discarding the bread topper and eating this open-faced -- the frozen and microwave-"grilled" bread isn't much to write home about. Those pictured grill marks added before the sandwich leaves the factory; the little silver microwaving tray in the box does not produce them.
Lean Cuisine may dominate the freezer case, but it's not the only brand in town. Later, we'll discuss meals offered by Weight Watchers, Healthy Choice, and other weight loss-oriented brands.
Technorati Tags:
diet, food, weight loss, reviews, groceries
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
