Smart Ones Broccoli and Cheddar Roasted Potatoes

May 29, 2007 | Reviewer: Andrew

Smart Ones Broccoli and Cheddar Roasted Potatoes Price: $2.20 (on sale)
Serving: 1 meal, 10 oz.
Calories: 220
Fat: 9%, 6g
Cholesterol: 4%, 15mg
Sodium: 20%, 480mg
Protein: 9g
Carbohydrates: 11%, 34g
Fiber: 20%, 5g
Weight Watchers Points: 4 points

Smart Ones says: We roast red russet potatoes to perfection, then add a generous helping of crisp broccoli, and smother it all with a creamy cheddar cheese sauce. So delicious, so satisfying … and another little way you can be good today.

Andrew says: When I was heating this meal up, it filled the air with a smell akin to that of McDonald’s french fries. Now, regardless of how you feel about the healthfulness (or lack thereof) of McDonald’s food, I think just about any person on the face of the planet can agree that the fry smell is excellent.

The fry smell is something the Lean Cuisine version of this meal didn’t really supply, so already the Smart Ones version was leading on the judge’s scorecards. This is rare in my experience, as Lean Cuisine meals seem to be much more consistent and flavorful than Smart Ones … ones.

But this Smart One kept bringing the goods, round after round. OK, I’ll stop with the boxing metaphors. I’ll just say this is an extremely tasty, yet simple dish that I think almost anyone could enjoy, given a taste for cheddar sauce.

Speaking of the sauce, it’s great! It’s robust and zesty and coats the potatoes and broccoli well. And there’s plenty of it! And it’s even more orange than the Lean Cuisine cheese sauce, which has got to be a good thing.

The potatoes have good, firm texture, but they’re certainly not too firm. The broccoli is pretty standard for frozen meals, which means it’s green, has that broccoli flavor, and is reasonably rigid. I had my dish in our work microwave for the suggested 6 minutes and everything turned out perfectly — steamy and hot. Love it when a plan comes together.

So why not five stars instead of 4.5? I’d love it if they threw some bacon in there. Lean Cuisine, for some reason, has this exact meal, and then another version with bacon bits in it. The bacon-inclusive meal, as you can guess, is slightly more satisfying for us carnivores. If you’re vegetarian, though, you should be more than happy with this version. But vegetarianism is certainly not a prerequisite for thorough enjoyment of potatoes, cheese and broccoli.

comments

13 Responses to “Smart Ones Broccoli and Cheddar Roasted Potatoes”

MaryAnne on May 29th, 2007

To me, this seems like an odd combo. Broccolli and russet potatos (not to be confused with a baked potato stuffed with broccolli and cheese. Def. not the same.)? Is this a popular combo that I’m just not aware of? I’m surprise that there isn’t a protein so that it would fit the Smart Ones healthy theme, but I guess it would be a good option for vegetarians. It sounds tasty except for the fry smell (I guess I’m one of the few that finds that disgusting- it smells like dirty, greasiness). I have always been a bigger Smart Ones fan than Lean Cuisine. It’s nice to start off the week with so many stars!
Joey on May 29th, 2007

Does this constitute a meal in Smart Ones mind? Because even a vegetarian might feel unfulfilled with this I would think. I do love the combo of cheddar, potatoes and broccoli though! Glad to hear the potatoes have a good consistency in them, as that would be my primary concern with microwaving the potatoes and cheese together.
Abi Jones on May 29th, 2007

I didn’t know that russet potatoes came in red, though I find that cheesey orange to be more than a bit disturbing. I’m with Joey, this seems more like a large side. But if you’re looking for a vegetarian ‘diet’ meal, I guess there aren’t a ton of choices out there.
M on May 29th, 2007

This is one of my favorite Weight Watcher meals — don’t ruin it with bacon!! I’m not really a vegetarian, although I limit red meat. But egh I hate when bacon gets thrown in good stuff
Colleen on May 30th, 2007

I’ve had the LC version, I didn’t really like it. And this meal looks so, so disgusting. If you like it though, I guess I could try it again. I might pick it up next time I go for frozen food.
Andrew on May 30th, 2007

The meal is basically the same weight as any other Smart Ones or Lean Cuisine meal, so if they don’t usually fill you up, then neither will this one. I’ve accepted that I’m going to need a Snickers bar or something after these meals, but I’m not eating them to lose weight (it’s mostly because of their low, low pricing). I suppose I should have noted this in the review.

I guess I can see what some of you are saying about the non-meal-nature of potatoes, cheese and broccoli. I’ve noticed several other frozen meals, for example, the Lean Cuisine vegetable egg roll, that strike me the same way (as more of a side dish). But then again, I have no problem eating half a small tub of Amish potato salad for a meal, so my brain has apparently overcome the tyranny of the side/main course dichotomy.
megan on May 31st, 2007

i love this meal. i hate the LC version of this meal.
shinie on June 3rd, 2007

This might give me the courage to pull this meal out of the freezer. It seemed like I good idea at the store, but it’s been sitting in the freezer for a couple of months. Thanks.
Julie A on June 5th, 2007

I love this Smart Ones. It’s about the only thing I buy from their brand. It’s also about the only meatless item I buy in a frozen dinner..er side dish…whatever.

The cheese is kind of like the stuff you get on nachos at the ballpark but I’m a baseball fan so i’m stoked on this one.
Rose on December 16th, 2007

Let’s say my best friend is a vegetarian, let us also say she is in college.
vegetarians in college will eat anything that does not scream “I am a cow, I am a chicken, I once had a heart beating and did not come from the sea!”

Also, I am a carnivore, I love beef, I love chicken, I put up with pork.
I would also devour this meal, yum. I love cheese and broccoli and potatos, this shows that I enjoy all the basic food groups. and do not dabble in foods that look odd to me.
Cy on February 19th, 2008

Oooo no don’t ruin it with bacon! Too many perfectly good meals are ruined by adding meat. Ugh. I’m vegetarian and I only eat the non-meat Smart Ones and I’ve been enjoying them.
brian on March 28th, 2008

FYI– This is NOT A VEGETARIAN MEAL. It contans BEEF and CHICKEN STOCK!! The LC version does not…
Andrew on March 28th, 2008

Brian: I apologize profusely, I honestly didn’t check out the ingredients list before I went off and suggested it for vegetarians. That’s a big mistake on my part. The presence of beef stock certainly explains the McDonald’s scent, though.