The Battle of the Bulge
Diet dinners to help you become a lightweight
By Kelley Bell |
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The holidays are over and, just like every other humanoid on the planet, you find yourself naked in the bathroom, dripping wet and staring at the scale. Your lips purse in disgust as you curse the dreaded F-word: "FAT!" Ah yes, the gluttonous feasts, sugary sweets, and morning mimosas of holiday excess have come home to roost, all over your thighs. You are now one of the millions complaining that their stretch pants have mysteriously shrank in the dryer. Fear not, O Flabby One, for resolution time is upon us and that includes getting back into fighting shape. In order to help you zip up your skinny jeans, (614) Magazine is pitting the most popular diet dinners against each other in a heavyweight battle of frozen micro-meal delights.
Included on the fight card are Weight Watcher's Smart Ones, Stouffer's Lean Cuisine and the Con Agra Foods' Healthy Choice line. They all tend to be high in sodium, which makes them less attractive than fresh veggies, whole grains, and lean proteins, but they do offer an easy quick-start for do-it-yourself dieters. Most are comparably priced, averaging $2.54 each with some of the Healthy Choice entrees on sale as low as $1.89. All of these meals claim to hold the title for best diet dinner, but the score cards on the nutrition labels don't lie. Keep an eye on the fine print and you won't get clobbered by those excess calories.
The tastiest ways to satisfy your tummy without packing on the pounds
Photo: Kelley Bell
Let's get Ready To Rumble:
The first round pits contender Healthy Choice Honey Ginger Chicken against Smart Ones Fruit Inspirations Orange Sesame Chicken. The Smart Ones sported a spicy flavor, while the Healthy Choice aimed for the more saccharine profile. This match was a draw on the taste test, as both tasted kind of like cardboard, but the Healthy Choice wins by virtue of a lower fat count.
Winner: Healthy Choice
Healthy Choice: 310 calories, 45 calories from fat, 310 mg of sodium, and 6 Weight Watchers points. Price: $ 1.89
Smart Ones: 320 calories, 70 calories from fat, a whopping 680 mg of sodium, and 7 Weight Watchers points. Price: $ 2.04
Round Two was a head-to-head knock-out between Lean Cuisine and Smart Ones, both of whom offer a version of Santa Fe Style Rice and Beans. My testers all gave these entrees a big thumbs-up, as did a bunch of folks I polled on Facebook. My only criticism is the Lean Cuisine version did not look very appetizing. It was a far cry from the pretty picture on the box, and when I say that, I mean it looked like dog vomit. So unless you are Stevie Wonder, I recommend Smart Ones.
Winner by Knock-Out: Smart Ones
Smart Ones: 310 calories, 70 calories from fat, 660 mg of sodium, and 6 Weight Watchers points. Price: $ 2.54
Lean Cuisine: 300 calories, 45 calories from fat, 590 mg of sodium, and 6 Weight Watchers points. Price: $ 2.04
The third match of the night: Smart Ones and Lean Cuisine Fettuccini Alfredo. Both were very good and well-liked by all, with the Smart Ones boasting a bonus of broccoli, and the Lean Cuisine rating as more peppery in flavor. Smart Ones won this round for the added veggies and lower sodium content.
Winner in a Split Decision: Smart Ones
Smart Ones: 240 calories, 45 calories from fat, 310 mg of sodium, and 6 Weight Watchers points. Price: $ 2.54
Lean Cuisine: 270 calories, 50 calories from fat, 690 mg of sodium, and 6 Weight Watchers points. Price: $ 2.04
Round Four features a belly-busting battle between the flatbread sandwiches from Smart Ones and Lean Cuisine. The Lean Cuisine Chicken Philly was very cheesy, tasting a lot like a breakfast burrito, while the Smart Ones flatbread tasted more like a Philly steak sandwich with lots of green and red pepper flavor. Both were good, but the Smart Ones sandwich is sure to get you in fighting shape faster, as it weighs in at 40 calories less than its rival.
Winner: Smart Ones
Smart Ones: 290 calories, 60 calories from fat, 640 mg of sodium, and 6 Weight Watchers points. Price: $ 2.54
Lean Cuisine: 330 calories, 70 calories from fat, 650 mg of sodium, and 6 Weight Watchers points. Price: $ 2.54
We also tested Healthy Choice Chicken Alfredo against Lean Cuisine Grilled Chicken Caesar. The Lean Cuisine had a nice texture and creamy taste, while the Healthy Choice offered a neat little steamer basket to keep the noodles separate from the veggies while cooking. Our taste testers went back and forth on these in the end, forcing a split decision. Both are relatively tasty, with comparable nutrition stats.
Winner: Split Decision
Healthy Choice: 250 calories, 45 calories from fat, 520 mg of sodium, and 5 Weight Watchers points. Price: $ 2.79
Lean Cuisine: 260 calories, 50 calories from fat, 590 mg of sodium, and 5 Weight Watchers points. Price: $ 2.54
The Grand Champion
Lean Cuisine Chicken Marsala with Green Beans!
This one stands alone in the ring, boasting only 140 calories and 4 grams of fat. If you want to lose some serious poundage with the micro-meal method, this is the lowest calorie option out there. (It's still high in sodium though, at 620 mg, so keep eating those fresh veggies too.)
Originally Published: January 1, 2010
