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-