FitSugar

Salty Series: Entrées

FitSugar — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 03:30:00 -0700

When it comes to restaurant fare and processed food it seems sodium lurks in unexpected places and unexpected quantities. The theory is that salt makes everything taste better, so more salt means tastier food, right? Not really, but you wouldn’t know that after seeing the amounts of sodium used in some of the entrées at some popular food chains. Take a look and see what meals you should avoid, especially if high blood pressure is a health concern of yours. Just to remind you that the upper limit of daily sodium is 2,300 mg a day, which is equal to about one teaspoon. Here's a list of the top saltiest dinners you can order.

Saltiest Burger: Hardee's 2/3 pound Monster Thickburger - 2,770 mg. Most of the sodium comes from the bun and the three slices of processed cheese which make up for 780 mg.
Saltiest Pasta: Fazoli's Rigatoni Romano - 3,180 mg. This dish is made with Italian sausage, meat sauce, and cheese, all of which have high amounts of sodium. Put them together and bada-boom, baba-bing, you've got one salty dish.
Saltiest Beef Entrée: Bob Evans Steak Tips and Noodles - 4,131 mg. Think beef stroganoff soaked in gravy. The steak on its own has 638 mg of sodium. That's some salty gravy.
Saltiest Frozen Dinner: Swanson Hungry-Man XXL Roasted Carved Turkey - 4,480 mg. The label on the box says that the meal is actually two servings, but what kind of hungry man is going to share?

To see the rest of this atrocious list read more.

Saltiest Comfort Food: Denny's Meat Loaf Dinner (with Mashed Potatoes and Corn) - 5,080 mg. It's best to make your own.
Saltiest Mexican Entrée: Chili's Buffalo Chicken Fajitas - 5,690 mg. Where does it all come from? Fried chicken, Buffalo sauce, blue cheese, smoked bacon, ranch dressing, and sour cream.
Saltiest Dish in America: Romano's Macaroni Grill Chicken Portobello - 7,300 mg. This is well beyond your three day limit of salt. That's so bad.

Source

Kashi Entrées: Black Bean Mango

FitSugar — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 17:15:00 -0700

I recently tried a new flavor of the frozen entrées from Kashi (they're the company that makes those TLC Chewy Granola Bars I love). I loved the Pesto Pasta Primavera so much, and was excited to try another vegetarian option - Black Bean Mango.

As with all of Kashi's products, I was impressed that I could pronounce every ingredient on the list, and they were all things I've heard of like canola oil, ginger, cilantro, and garlic.

I wasn't expecting this entrée to be so deliciously flavorful. It was a combination of sweet from the mangos, and spicy from the jalapeño peppers. The texture was really satisfying too. There were many tender veggies like carrots and red peppers.

There were soft and sweet mangos, and another amazing thing - you could actually see the grill lines on the roasted green peppers and onions. I thought that was a nice touch.

The protein-filled black beans were surrounded not only by rice like you usually see, but also by other chewy whole grains like oats, rye, hard red winter wheat, buckwheat, barley, and sesame seeds.

For a frozen vegan meal, this was very tasty. It only has only 340 calories, 430mg sodium, and no cholesterol (obviously). It also has 430mg of potassium, 8g of protein, 7g of fiber, 150% of your daily vitamin A needs, and 100% of your daily vitamin C needs.

Want to see what it looks like when you heat it up? Then read more

I recommend this 100%. Kashi does such an amazing job of incorporating pure, all natural ingredients, that are full of protein, fiber, and other nourishment. They prepare their products in such a way that respects the food's natural flavors and textures. I love that the grains and veggies are all intact, not overcooked or overly processed. The ingredients look and taste just as if you prepared them yourself.

Fit's Tips: Try heating this up and wrapping it in a flour tortilla with some cheese and you'll have an instant burrito. Or your can heat it up and use it as a delicious dip for tortilla chips.

Kashi Entrées: Pesto Pasta Primavera

FitSugar — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 02:34:17 -0700

I've just recently tried a new product from Kashi (the company who makes those chewy granola bars I love). They are broadening their scope and have just introduced some frozen entrées to their Kashi brand, look for them in the freezer at your local health food or grocery store.

I was very excited to try one because I already have the utmost respect for anything with the Kashi name. When I looked at the back of the Pesto Pasta Primavera package, the ingredients were just what I would use if I were to make it myself: whole wheat pasta, basil, Parmesan cheese, peas, yellow carrots (yup), sweet red peppers and garlic. There wasn't anything on that list I didn't recognize, and that made me feel good.

The serving size was very filling, but because there were so many veggies, it was only 330 calories for the entire meal. Speaking of the veggies - they were actually very fresh tasting and even had a little crisp to them, so I know they weren't overcooked.

For a pasta dish, I was surprised to find out it has 12 grams of protein. It also has 7g of fiber. Out of the 11g of fat, only 2g are saturated, and there are NO trans fats. The sodium level was a little high - 790mg - but not over the top high considering you can have 2,300mg a day.

Another great thing? Since it has as many veggies as noodles, I felt energized after eating it, not exhausted like you can get with most pasta dishes.

Want to see what it really looks like? Then read more

It's very creamy and flavorful. The penne pasta was cooked well (some people may prefer it to be a little bit more firm) with actual cheese sprinkled on top.

It only took about 4 minutes to warm up, and couldn't have been easier to do. I would definitely recommend Kashi's Pesto Pasta Primavera for a great lunch idea. I have yet to try the other frozen entrées, but I'll let you know when I do.

Food Review: Kashi Tuscan Veggie Bake

FitSugar — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 03:00:00 -0700

A quick and healthy meal is always appreciated in my life. Since I've had great luck with Kashi's frozen entrées like Pesto Pasta Primavera and Black Bean Mango, I was excited to try its Tuscan Veggie Bake ($5).

This entree is vegan, so it's low in saturated fat and cholesterol. How does it taste though? To find out read more.

I really enjoyed the savory, slightly spicy tomato basil sauce, and the noodles made from Kashi's seven-whole-grain flour were the perfect consistency - not mushy at all. Sandwiched between lasagna noodles were large bits or roasted summer quash, eggplant, onions, and sweet potatoes, which I really appreciated. Another interesting addition to the dish were the lentils that help this meal provide eight grams of fiber and eight grams of protein. When I read the label, I was so pleased to see the dish was under 300 calories and contained no cholesterol. If you're not a fan of onions and eggplant then you won't love this meal since it was chock full of them. Overall this meal was OK, but Mayan Harvest Bake is still by far my favorite.

Serving Size	1 entrée
Calories	260
Total Fat	9 g
Saturated Fat	1.5 g
Cholesterol	0 mg
Sodium	700 mg
Carbs	42 g
Fiber	8 g
Sugar	8 g
Protein	8 g

Food Review: Kashi Mayan Harvest Bake

FitSugar — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 08:00:00 -0800

You just can't go wrong with foods made by Kashi. Not only does everything they make contain whole grains and real ingredients, but they're always full of flavor too. A while back, I was thrilled when they began making frozen pizzas and entrées. The ones I've tried I really liked, so when picking up a couple boxes at the store, I discovered a new dish - Mayan Harvest Bake.

Talk about a unique meal. It's made with plantains, kale, and amaranth polenta. Want to see what it really looks like? Then read more.

This has to be my favorite Kashi entrée yet. The amaranth polenta had a satisfyingly creamy texture, and the baked sweet potatoes and cooked kale made this meal seem homemade. The plantains were delicious, very sweet and soft, and they complemented the spicy ancho sauce so well. I loved the sprinkled pepitas (pumpkin seeds) on top that added a crunchy texture. This meal is warm and savory, perfect for a quick Winter meal. It's also vegan, so it contains no cholesterol and is low in saturated fat. It's pretty low in sodium too, which I was happy to see. The fiber content is not too shabby, but I would have thought it contained more protein since there were tons of black beans mixed in. Overall, I loved this Mayan Harvest Bake and would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes bean and veggie dishes.

Serving Size	1 container
Calories	340
Total Fat	9 g
Saturated Fat	1 g
Cholesterol	0 mg
Sodium	380 mg
Carbs	58 g
Fiber	8 g
Sugar	19 g
Protein	9 g

Seeds of Change: Lasagna Calabrese

FitSugar — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 13:30:00 -0800

I came across some new frozen entrées made by Seeds of Change. They have some unique dishes to choose from like Hanalei Vegetarian Chicken Teriyaki and Risotto Portobello di Milano, but since I'm a sucker for veggie lasagna, I decided to give that a whirl.

This one was made with eggplant and portobello mushrooms, which sounded delicious. Too bad my taste buds didn't agree. Want to see what it looks like and hear what I thought? Then read more

Serving Size	1 entrée
Calories	270
Total Fat	6g
Saturated Fat	3g
Cholesterol	15mg
Sodium	770mg
Carbs	42g
Fiber	4g
Sugar	5g
Protein	13g

I really don't know how you can screw up lasagna, but I really didn't like this at all. "Blah" was my first thought, and as I took a few more bites, I didn't even want to finish it. The eggplant was really tough and chewy and everything else was squishy. Plus there wasn't enough cheese and the tomato sauce had a weird, bitter flavor. It left a really gross taste in my mouth, so I can tell you right now, I would not buy this again. It's too bad to, because looking at the nutritional info, aside from the slightly high-sodium content, this entrée is pretty healthy. Oh well. I guess I stick to Amy's Vegetable Lasagna.

Food Review: Seeds of Change Risotto Portobello di Milano

FitSugar — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 12:30:00 -0700

I was interested in giving Seeds of Change another try since they make certified organic foods, even though my first impression wasn't so great. I picked up a frozen entrée to try in a pinch.

I was curious about the Risotto Portobello di Milano, since the brown rice, veggies, and creamy cheese sauce sounded delicious. To find out what I thought and see the nutritional info read more.

Serving Size	1 container
Calories	320
Total Fat	3.5g
Saturated Fat	1g
Cholesterol	5mg
Sodium	750mg
Carbs	61g
Fiber	3g
Sugar	7g
Protein	11g

At first glance, I was highly disappointed. What's with the three pieces of broccoli? The picture on the box shows at least six. There weren't as many of the other veggies either, just mostly rice. Plus the few veggies it did have were kind of mushy and flavorless. It did smell good when it came out of the microwave, but it had a really strong salty, smoky onion flavor that wasn't that good. I guess I was expecting it to taste cheesier since the description on the box says "creamy cheese sauce." I ate all the veggies (I think there were only six or eight) and threw the rest of this meal out. I hate to say it, but I wasn't a fan of this risotto at all.

Have any of you tried this dish? What did you think? Tell me in the comments section below.

Amy's Bowls: Pesto Tortellini

FitSugar — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 14:30:00 -0800

Looking for a quick and healthy meal? Bowls from Amy's Kitchen are a great choice. I loved the Stuffed Pasta Shells and the Country Cheddar Bowl. Both dishes are made mostly with organic ingredients, so when you eat them you can feel good about supporting a company that does good for you and the environment.

I just picked up a new bowl from Amy's Kitchen called Pesto Tortellini. Want to know what I thought? Then read more

Serving Size	1 bowl
Calories	430
Total Fat	19g
Saturated Fat	8g
Cholesterol	40mg
Sodium	640mg
Carbs	45g
Fiber	3g
Sugar	5g
Protein	20g

Unfortunately, this wasn't my favorite dish from Amy's Kitchen. It lacked flavor, and I needed to add a little salt. The pasta did have a satisfying soft and chewy consistency. All in all I'd have to say that this meal was just okay, and definitely not as delicious as other bowls by Amy.

The saturated-fat content is a little high, and if you're trying to watch your carb intake, you won't be too psyched with 45g per serving. I guess that's what you'd expect from a cheesy-pasta dish though. This Pesto Tortellini Bowl is great if you need a quick meal and you're in the mood for some comfort food. It's definitely warm and filling, and perfect for a Winter evening. Although it wasn't my favorite frozen entrée, it would definitely do in a pinch.

Amy's Kitchen: Country Cheddar Bowl

FitSugar — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 15:30:00 -0700

This Country Cheddar Bowl is my new favorite frozen entrée from Amy's Kitchen. It's in her line of Bowls (just like the Stuffed Pasta Shells), and this one is called Country Cheddar.

I would say it is a mature version of mac and cheese. The delicious cheesy sauce envelops the spiral noodles and healthy veggies – broccoli florets, carrots, red peppers, and potatoes. For added protein pieces of perfectly textured baked tofu have been added to the "bowl." The cheddar bowl meal is deliciously flavored, and the best part is that all the ingredients are organic.

The picture on the box looks great, but does it really look like that when you cook it? To find out read more

Serving Size	1 bowl
Calories	400
Total Fat	19g
Saturated Fat	6g
Cholesterol	20mg
Sodium	690mg
Carbs	41g
Fiber	4g
Sugar	3g
Protein	15g

On the looks front, the bowl looks close enough to the image on the box. I really liked the cheesy taste and all the veggies were cooked perfectly, and not at all mushy. This meal has only 400 calories and it was super filling. Plus I love that it has 14g of protein and 4g of fiber (although I thought it would have more than that). The sodium is a tad high, but not too bad considering you can have around 2,300mg a day.

I'm sure some of you will think it has a lot of fat, but look at the saturated fat. It only has 6g, and since the recommended amount per day is around 20g, it doesn't sound so bad. For a quick, delicious, organic, and healthy meal, I'd definitely give this Country Cheddar Bowl a try.

More From Amy's Kitchen: Organic Vegetable Barley Soup

FitSugar — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 11:00:00 -0700

Amy's Kitchen is one of my favorite brands since many of their products are made with whole organic grains, veggies, and herbs, with NO bizarre fillers you've never heard of. The ingredients in their products are always simple, straightforward, and things you'd use if you had the time and energy to make a meal yourself.

I've already tried (and loved) Amy's frozen entrées - the Vegetable Lasagna and Stuffed Pasta Shells are delicious, low in saturated fat and calories, and very filling. So I decided to venture into Amy's array of canned soups.

I tried the Organic Vegetable Barley Soup and it was surprisingly flavorful. You know how canned soups can be pretty bland or way too salty, right? Well this soup had a delicious onion, garlic and leek-based broth. When I stirred it around, I could see whole pieces of cooked peas, carrots, tomatoes, celery, yellow squash, and barley. This soup has a very soft consistency, which I loved, but some people might like soups with a bit more firmness.

Want to see the nutritional info and what this soup actually looks like? Then read more

As I was sipping my soup, I took a closer look at the nutritional info and was pleased by the low amount of calories, sugar and fat. I was NOT pleased to discover that there were actually 2 servings per can. I did feel full after eating half the can, but seriously, who only eats half a can of soup? I guess if I bring this soup for lunch, I should pack a reusable container along with it to store the other serving.

I should only eat half this can of soup considering 1 serving contains 580mg of sodium! That seems a bit high, when you consider that the RDI of sodium is 2,300 mg a day. If I ate the entire can, I'd be getting 1,160mg of sodium which is more than half the amount I should be getting all day, but it's just in one meal!

Fit's Tips: Canned soups and pre-made meals are often high in sodium, so if you have high blood pressure, be extra vigilant about checking labels and serving sizes.