03/31/2021: Healthy Choice Simply Steamers Meatball Marinara

 First Impressions: This smells good.

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

Taste: It's fine! You won't be wowed by any of the flavors, but it's not flavorless. The meatballs are a little bland on their own, so make sure to sauce them up (there's plenty, but not an oppressive amount). There's a lot of spinach for bright flavor and a little bit of texture. 

Cooking: Microwave 4 1/2-5 minutes, no need to vent film. Are there any sweeter words in the English language than "no need to vent film"?

Filling Level: 3.5/5

Nutrition: 280 calories, 6g fat, 18g protein, 490 mg sodium (full nutrition specs here)

This is what the meal actually looks like!

Overall: There are much tastier pasta dishes out there (see yesterday's lasagna). This one was just a little lacking, and I don't know if I'd get it again on purpose, but if I bought it again by accident I wouldn't be mad?

Grade: B-

03/30/2021: Smart Ones Traditional Lasagna with Meat Sauce

 First Impressions: I wish I had some garlic bread to sop up all this sauce.

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

Taste: This is a pretty tasty lasagna. Definitely more flavorful than a lasagna your grandmother would make, unless your grandmother is Italian. Is there as much ricotta as shown in the picture? Thankfully, no, but there is quite a bit, and it is very saucy. The only meat is a sprinkling on the top and I'd prefer less cheese and more meat, but frozen meal beggars can't be choosers, can they?

Cooking: Puncture holes in the plastic with a fork and microwave 9 minutes 15 seconds in a 700 watt microwave, which I can confirm feels like forever. 

Filling Level: 4/5 - this is a pretty decent serving.

Nutrition: 330 calories, 12 g fat, 16 g protein, 650 mg sodium - get the full nutrition label here.

This is what the meal actually looks like!

Overall: For a frozen lasagna for people on diets, this is really good and will definitely help quench a lasagna craving if you're having one. I'll be getting this again (but I'll make sure I have bread next time for all that sauce!). 

Grade: A-

On a personal note, I just completed a Diet Bet, the third I've attempted and the first I've "won," coming in 0.2 pounds under my goal this morning and down 7 pounds in the past 30 days.