12/14/2015: Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers Chicken & Vegetable Stir Fry

First Impressions: Saucy.

This is what the box says the meal will look like!

Taste: The sauce is good;  flavorful. Veggies are include broccoli, carrots, edamame, red peppers, and onions. My issue, as always, is with the suspect chicken texture. There's a lot of chicken here, but I left 95% of it behind because it wasn't good. I am beginning to wonder why I get frozen meals with meat in them at all. (I will say that the chicken in Healthy Choice meals is typically better than most - so perhaps this was just a bad batch.)

Cooking: Microwave 4 to 4 1/2 minutes. Stir meal into sauce. Eat.

Filling level: 2.5/5, but I did not eat much of the chicken at all.

Nutrition: 190 calories, 4 g fat, 4 g fiber, 22 g protein (if you can stomach it), 500 mg sodium - full specs are here. 

This is what the meal actually looks like!

Overall: Nothing about this was good enough to make me want to eat it again.

Grade: D+

11/09/2015: Stouffer's Fit Kitchen Oven Roasted Chicken

First Impressions: This smells good.

This is what the box says the meal will look like!

Taste: First of all, let me say that there is a lot of food here. This is good, because I'm a hungry girl. Everything tastes fine! The broccoli is bright and fresh, the chicken isn't too dry (and is mostly of the not-suspect texture, although I did leave quite a few pieces behind) and the potatoes aren't soggy. What's lacking for me here is the flavor; there isn't much. The "savory wine sauce" is fine, I guess, and I suppose savory wine sauce is much better for you than gravy, but something tastes a little off about it to to me. Not bad, but probably not as good as I would expect it to be for a frozen meal I paid almost $5 for.

I haven't been doing cost analyses here, but perhaps I should be. Typically I purchase whatever brand of frozen meal is on sale, with the exception of Amy's and Evol, which are generally pricier but worth the extra cost. The quantity with this Stouffer's Fit Kitchen meal is there - it's a lot of food for a frozen lunch, but I definitely didn't like it enough to pay $4.59 for it again.

Cooking: Peel back film, cook 5 minutes, stir, recover, and cook another 3 minutes. It cooked pretty evenly but I did have a couple cold potatoes.

Filling level: 4/5

Nutrition: 250 calories, 4 g fat, 750 mg sodium, 26 g protein

This is what the meal actually looks like!
Pepper action added after cooking

Overall: This is a fine meal, but to me it's not worth spending the extra couple bucks.

Grade: C+

10/14/2015: Lean Cuisine Cheese Tortellini

This is what the box says the meal will look like!

Taste: This meal tastes great. The tomato sauce is tasty and the tortellini are good - no soggy pasta here!

Cooking: Cook 2:30, peel back film and stir, cook 1:15.

Filling level: Solid 3.5/5.

Nutrition: 300 calories, 610 mg sodium

This is what the meal actually looks like!
(Pepper action added after cooking)

Overall: Very tasty. Will eat again.

Grade: A

09/15/2015: Smart Ones Creamy Basil Chicken with Broccoli

This is what the box says the meal will look like!

Taste: This tastes good! The broccoli is plentiful and tastes bright and fresh. The sauce is also quite nice. My only real problem here is some suspect chicken texture; I left a lot of chicken behind, and in a meal this small (it's a rather small portion size and only 180 calories) that's unfortunate. But this tastes good - really good - and would be great paired with pasta.

Cooking: Peel back film, cook 3 minutes, stir, recover, cook 1:30.

Filling level: I'm guessing that, if you eat all the chicken, this is at best a 2/5.

Nutrition: 180 calories, 18 g protein, 520 mg sodium

This is what the meal actually looks like!
(Pepper action added after cooking)

Overall: Very tasty, and would eat again - but I'd supplement it with something else.

Grade: B+

09/14/2015: Smart Ones Spicy Szechuan Style Vegetables

First impression: I am pleasantly surprised.

This is what the box says the meal will look like!

Taste: It tastes okay! Nothing to write home about. The noodles aren't too soggy and the vegetables are pretty good - carrot strips, broccoli, zucchini (a little on the limp side) and, inexplicably, celery. The celery doesn't hold up well. The sauce is fine.

Cooking: Peel back film, cook 3:15, stir, recover, cook 1:30.

Filling level: 3/5. I wasn't that hungry today, so I'm guesstimating.

Nutrition: 250 calories, 5 g fat, 630 mg sodium. 

This is what the meal actually looks like!

Overall: This was better than I expected, yet I still don't think I would ever purchase this meal again.

Grade: C-

08/31/2015: Smart Ones Santa Fe Rice and Beans

First impression: Smells fine.

This is what the box says the meal will look like!

Taste: The thing I like here is the bean variety - both black and pinto! It tastes just fine, probably just like you'd expect it to. There's some cheese in there and a few pieces of corn and other veggies - red peppers and zucchini. I would like to have more veggies.

Cooking: Pull back film, cook 3 minutes, stir, cook 1 minute.

Filling level: 2.5/5

Nutrition: 260 calories, 6 g fat, 580 mg sodium - here's the full label.

This is what the meal actually looks like!
(Pepper action added after cooking.)

Overall: While this one tastes fine and is certainly edible, something about it was off for me. I much prefer the Lean Cuisine version.

Grade: C+

08/25/2015: Smart Ones Vegetable Fried Rice

First impression: I do not feel good about this.

This is what the box says the meal will look like!

Taste: Well, it tastes better than it looks, which is fortunate because I was fully expecting to end up going out to buy a sandwich. The texture of everything is okay, not as gummy as it looks but not great, either. It's not super flavorful, but it's flavorful enough that I don't wish I had a gallon of soy sauce. I was still so turned off by how it looked and smelled during cooking that I didn't eat the whole thing.

Cooking: Peel back film, cook 2:30, stir, cook 1:30. Heated pretty evenly throughout.

Filling level: 2.5/5

Nutrition: 280 calories (click for full specs) 

This is what the meal actually looks like!

Overall: There has to be something better out there. Has to. 

Grade: D+

08/20/2015: Smart Ones Three Cheese Ziti Marinara with Meatballs

Sorry folks, no pictures today. Here's the box on the manufacturer's website. My meal did not look quite as good.

Taste: This reminds me of a school lunch - but a really good one. There's a good cheese:sauce:pasta ratio. And the meatballs? I make excellent homemade meatballs, but am also a connoisseur of frozen ones (because I am lazy). These are among the best frozen meatballs I've had. Very flavorful. They're small, but there are plenty.

Cooking: Peel back film, cook 3 minutes, stir, cook 1:30, eat. Everything seemed to cook pretty evenly.

Filling level: 3.5/5. Feeling pretty good.

Nutrition: 320 calories, 690 mg sodium (OY), 14g protein, 10g fat

Overall: This meal is pretty darn good. Will eat again.

Grade: A-

08/06/2015: Smart Ones Lasagna Bake with Meat Sauce

This is what the box says the meal will look like!
Sorry, I forgot to take a picture of the box before I made mine.

Taste: As you can see from the photos, it doesn't look anything like the box says it will look like. I guess I would say it's just not that saucy, and that's actually okay. There's not much going on here - noodles (slightly rubbery but not terrible), a little tomato sauce, a few tomato chunks, and some meatballs. It's simple, but it tastes quite alright.

Cooking: Peel back film, cook 2:45, stir, replace film, cook an additional minute. It heated pretty evenly throughout.

Filling Level: 2.5/5

Nutrition: 270 calories, according to the box I made (photo above is not that box). The calories on these specs don't match up, but I would imagine everything is similar.

This is what the meal actually looks like!
Pepper action added after cooking.

Overall: This meal is okay. It won't cure any lasagna cravings and you might still feel hungry after, but it doesn't taste terrible.

Grade: B-

08/04/2015: Smart Ones Chicken Enchiladas Suiza

First impression: This smells fantastic.

This is what the box says the meal will look like!

Taste: The Smart Ones description says the enchiladas are topped in a "zesty sour cream and green chile sauce." Rarely is a frozen meal described as zesty actually zesty...but this one is! There is zest! If you think mild salsa is spicy, this meal will be too spicy for you. I think it's quite tasty.

The enchiladas aren't big, and there's not a lot of rice. In fact, I think they could include a little less sauce and swap it for a little more rice. There seems to be a decent amount of chicken. There are bits of corn and other veggies floating around.

Cooking: Peel back film, microwave 3:45, stir sauce over enchiladas but stir rice separately, microwave another 1:40.

Filling level: I'm sad to report 2.5/5.

Nutrition: 290 calories, 6 g fat...and 780 mg (yikes) sodium. Here's the official meal on Smart Ones.

This is what the meal actually looks like!
Pepper action added after cooking.

Overall: This is a tasty, tasty meal and it's a damn shame that it's not more filling than it is. I'll be snacking on my apple soon - but that's not a bad way to finish. This meal is worth your time, especially if you aren't super hungry or are easily satiated. I'll be eating this again.

Grade: A-

07/29/2015: Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers General Tso's Spicy Chicken

This is what the box says the meal will look like!

Taste: This meal is full of flavor and is actually almost spicy. It's loaded with red peppers and carrots and peas and there is a lot of chicken, most of which is edible. This is the place for taste!

Cooking: Microwave 4 - 4 1/2 minutes, stir steamed food into sauce bowl.

Filling level: 3.5/5

Nutrition: 290 calories, 3.5 g fat, 16 g protein and 580 mg sodium

This is what the meal actually looks like!

Overall: You'll be hard pressed to find a better Asian chicken and rice meal.  

Grade: A

07/24/2015: Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers Kung Pao Chicken

First Impression: Pao!

This is what the box says the meal will look like!

Taste: This dish isn't spicy, but the sauce is very flavorful. There is quite a bit of chicken - hence the 17 g protein - and it's pretty good, although I did run into a texture issue with a couple pieces. Lots of broccoli and red pepper pieces. Tasty!

If you hate water chestnuts - and you should, because water chestnuts are nature's most useless vegetable - I recommend picking these out after cooking before you stir the rice into the sauce. That way, they're slightly easier to spot. 

Cooking: Stick in microwave, cook 3 1/2 - 4 1/2 minutes, stir steamed food into sauce bowl, enjoy.

Filling level: 3/5

Nutrition: 280 calories, 4.5 g fat, 550 mg sodium, 17 g protein

This is what the meal actually looks like!

Overall: This is a good Asian chicken and rice dish. 

Grade: A-

07/21/2015: Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers Chicken Fried Rice

First Impression: Smells like eggs.

This is what the box says the meal will look like!

Taste: It's alright! It needs about a gallon of soy sauce to make it taste like real fried rice, but the flavor is nice nonetheless. The edamame is a nice touch. Chicken is plentiful, but the texture is suspect and after biting into a less than desirable piece, I did not eat much more chicken. This had a direct effect on how full I felt, I'm sure.

Cooking: Stick in microwave, cook 4 - 4 1/2 minutes, stir steamed food into sauce bowl, enjoy.

Filling level: 2/5. This could have been slightly higher if I'd been able to choke down more chicken.

Nutrition: 310 calories, 6g fat, 580 mg sodium, 22g protein. Full specs from Healthy Choice.

This is what the meal actually looks like!

Overall: This meal succeeded in making me hungry for real Chinese food, and I'm pretty sure I'm going to be snacking all afternoon. Not the worst thing you could eat, but you could do better.

Grade: C

07/20/2015: Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers Asian Potstickers

First Impression: Yummo.

This is what the box says the meal will look like!

Taste: Yummo! The potstickers are so stuffed with cellophane noodles and other goodness that you won't even miss the meat. There are four potstickers and a decent amount of rice, which is sprinkled with carrots, peppers and peas and tossed in a tasty sauce.

Cooking: Stick in microwave, cook 4 - 4 1/2 minutes, stir steamed food into sauce bowl, enjoy.

Filling level: 3/5

Nutrition: 330 calories, 3.5 g fat, 560 mg sodium. See what Healthy Choice has to say.

This is what the meal actually looks like!
It ain't pretty, but it tastes damn good.

Overall: I heart this meal. The first time I had it I was 100% convinced that it was going to suck and could not have been any more surprised. It's decently filling and fresh tasting.

Grade: A

07/13/2015: Amy's Mexican Casserole Bowl

This is what the box says the meal will look like!

First Impression: None, really.

Taste: It tastes fine! Cornbread chunks are topped with black beans, corn, olives (allegedly - I detected none) and covered in enchilada sauce and cheese. 

Cooking: Cut 1-inch slit in overwrap, microwave five minutes, enjoy. It heated through pretty thoroughly.

Filling level: 3.5/5

Nutrition: 380 calories, 16 g fat, 780 g sodium. Click here for the full specs from Amy's Kitchen. 

This is what the meal actually looks like!

Overall: This is a fairly tasty dish that is decently filling. There is more fat and sodium than I try to eat in frozen meals, but if it makes you feel satisfied and not running to the vending machine five minutes later you might be willing to make that sacrifice (the American Heart Association recommends consuming fewer than 1500 g of sodium daily, so this is just over half the daily limit). 

Grade: B+ 

06/16/2015: Lean Cuisine Marketplace Spicy Mexican Black Beans & Rice

This is what the box says the meal will look like!

First Impression: When it was cooking it smelled like curry. I love curry. 

Taste: It doesn't taste like curry. It doesn't taste like...anything, really. It tastes like Generic Mexican Red Sauce From a Can. There are beans and corn and green pepper bits in there, but I found it hard to detect any individual flavors. The box insists there is cheese, but I could not see it after cooking, nor could I taste it. And unless you're one of those "mild salsa is spicy" people, there's no kick to this.

Cooking: 5 1/2 minutes in the microwave, no removal or slitting of film necessary. It heated pretty evenly throughout, but the edges got a little crusty.

Filling level: 2.5/5

Nutrition: 280 calories, 5 g fat, 690 g sodium. Pretty standard frozen meal. Here are the full details.

This is what the meal actually looks like!

Overall: Don't waste your time. There are better frozen Mexican rice meals out there.

Grade: C-

06/15/2015: Evol Sriracha Chicken

This is what the box says the meal will look like!

Taste: This is a very flavorful dish. The sriracha is not overpowering, but if you don't like sriracha and/or spicy things, this is not the meal for you. There is a good amount of chicken, and the veggies (corn, broccoli, and snap peas) are plentiful and flavorful with good texture. The sriracha also helps to jazz up the boring old brown rice. This meal is good. It's really, really good. It's so good that I added no additional salt or pepper. I just inhaled the sriracha goodness.

Side note: This dish contains baby corn, which is one of two items on my list of Stupid and Useless Vegetables. (Water chestnuts are the second.) Fortunately, it's also easy to pick out and there were only two pieces in my meal.

Cooking: Cut slit in film, microwave 3 1/2 minutes, done.

Filling level: 3.5/5, which I'm convinced is the most filling a frozen meal can ever be.

Nutrition: It contains 750 mg of sodium, which is kind of a lot. But it's low in fat and high in protein, and I feel good about the fact that I ate whole grains today. You take the good with the bad. Click here for full nutrition specs.

This is what the meal actually looks like!

Overall: Instant classic, will do business again.

Grade: A+

06/11/2015: Lean Cuisine Favorites Cheddar Potatoes with Broccoli

This is what the box says the meal will look like!

First impressions: It smelled good. Like broccoli and cheese, which is promising.

Taste: It tastes as you would expect, like sad frozen microwaved potatoes and gloppy cheddar. Potato texture is not terrible. The star of the show here is the broccoli, which tastes almost like it's freshly steamed. More broccoli would be appreciated. Pepper helps the overall flavor of the dish, kind of. Generally, it's pretty bland.

Cooking: While not the most involved in frozen meal preparation, the cut slit/microwave 3 1/2/pull back film/stir/microwave 2 1/2 process seems not worth the effort when all you're getting is potatoes.

Filling level: 2/5. This is a side dish. This meal would be great if it were served with steak. And I'm not talking about three little pieces of grainy frozen beef remnants, I'm talking about a fucking steak. A 16-oz. porterhouse. Then I might feel like I'd had a meal.

Mmm, beef.

Nutrition: The nutritional information on my box (which I sadly didn't picture) said 640 mg of sodium (the nutritional information on the website differs). And do you really want to waste 210 calories on something when you could have something...else? Because you're definitely going to want to eat something else after.

This is what the meal actually looks like!
(Pepper action added after cooking)

Overall: This is not the worst thing I have eaten. I would, perhaps, even buy it again...but not as a main course. It could be just fine paired with, say, some leftover chicken. Just don't expect to eat this as a meal and feel satisfied.

Grade: C

06/10/2015: Lean Cuisine Favorite Santa Fe-Style Rice & Beans

This is what the box says the meal will look like!

First impressions: While it was cooking in the microwave, it smelled amazing.

Taste: Well, you know, it's not bad. The beans are a combination of black and pinto. I'd probably like to see a few more beans. There is corn in there, but not much. The green chiles add a nice punch of flavor, but that didn't stop me from adding salt and pepper. (Take that with a grain of proverbial salt; I add them to nearly everything.) The sour cream cheese sauce is nice.

Cooking: This puppy microwaves at 100% for 6 minutes. 6 minutes! It cooked thoroughly and evenly.

Filling level: Immediately after eating, I give this 3/5.

Nutrition: At 290 calories, this is on the higher end of the calories I usually eat in a frozen meal - sour cream and cheese will do that. The beans help pack 11g of protein. Click here for full nutrition specs.

This is what the meal actually looks like!
(Pepper action added after cooking)

Overall: While I wouldn't necessarily describe this meal as delicious it is tasty. I'm okay with that. It felt fine as an entree, though it would certainly do well as a side dish. It was as filling as you can really expect a frozen entree to be. I don't feel as though my lunch were lacking in anything. I am satisfied.

Grade: A-