Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers General Tso's Spicy Chicken

November 3, 2007 | Reviewer: Abi

Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers General Tso’s Spicy Chicken Price: $2.50
Serving: 1 Meal, 10.8oz.
Calories: 430
Fat: 14%, 9g
Cholesterol: 5%, 15mg
Sodium: 25%, 600mg
Protein: 17g
Carbs: 22%, 6g
Fiber: 20%, 5g
Weight Watchers Points: 9 Points

Healthy Choice says: Tempura battered chicken breast with rice & Vegetables in spicy brown sauce

Abi says: What is the opposite of mojo? Ojom? Juju? Nado? Whatever it is, I’ve got just that when it comes to Healthy Choice meals.

I figured that the new Cafe Steamers could break me out of my Healthy Choice slump. The steaming technology would ensure perfectly cooked chunks of chicken, beautifully fluffy rice, and vegetables with a hint of crunch.

Despite the potentially enormous messiness factor involved in heating and assembling a Cafe Steamer, my predictions regarding the rice and vegetables were right on: steaming is the ideal cooking method. I was greeted by a little steam basket of fluffy white rice, ten adorable peas and carrots, and six slightly smaller than a ping pong ball chunks of tempura battered chicken.

Victory was mine! Until the nado kicked in and I learned from one half-eaten bite of tempura after another that there wasn’t any chicken in the chicken. I wonder if the folks at Healthy Choice got sick of me complaining about the low quality of their processed and reformed chicken chunks that they said “Oh, she doesn’t like our chicken? Well then she’ll just have to go without it and see how she likes that!”

comments

9 Responses to “Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers General Tso's Spicy Chicken”

Jeri on November 3rd, 2007

How was the sauce? If that’s OK, it might be worthwhile, as long as you know in advance that you’re getting “tempura battered batter” and not chicken.
Emily on November 3rd, 2007

This meal got exactly what it deserved! Trust me…..it’s not worth it!
Abi Jones on November 4th, 2007

The sauce was generic Chinese takeout brown sauce. Not bad, but not really great either. It was better than most other Healthy Choice sauces, but that isn’t saying much.
Julie on November 4th, 2007

I tried this one too. I ended up dumping Kikkomen’s all over it to attempt to give it some life. I’m shortening mine by dumping more sodium onto sodium but this thing needed something ANYTHING. Blah.

Needless to say I won’t be buying it again either. ONE star is too generous.

And boo to yet ANOTHER piece of extra plastic included. Did you hear about that humongeous floating pile of plastic goo they found floating in the pacific? Nice job Healthy choice adding more junk too the pile from those too lazy to recycle.

Boo! Hiss!
Tracy on November 6th, 2007

It’s definitely *not* spicy, despite the title. It’s better than most HC selections, which isn’t saying much.

I can think of many more enjoyable ways to consume 430 calories!!!
BJ on November 7th, 2007

I had read the review but I tried it anyway…yeah what a crappy way to use up 9 points for lunch. Today I had a 4 pt thai chicken from Lean Cuisne and a 5 pt bag of M&Ms…now that was worth it my 9ots.
Michelle on December 17th, 2007

I personally enjoyed this meal. I found it filling with nicely cooked rice and vegetables. I was suprised by the sauce - slightly watery but with a zip. It gave a nice reminiscent flavor of traditional General Tso’s but not thick, sticky and sweet like the original. I found that there was actually some yummy chicken under the tempura batter, but the batter was unecessarily thick and slightly soggy. Overall, I personally enjoyed this and will eat it again.
Jason on February 16th, 2008

What’s most upsetting to me is the appearance of the final product. I mean, look at the box- golden chicken pieces drizzled with a dark brown sauce, nestled in a mound of fluffy white rice and vibrant veggies….mmmmm. Now look at the picture- where’s the sauce? Is it the brown water left in the bowl when you’re done cooking it? Here’s some pros and cons:

PROS
-Pretty box
-Finished product is edible
-Free bowl
-Approved by the American Heart Association
-Not as hungry when done eating it

CONS
-Where’s the sauce?
-Looking at the finished product is a depressing affair
-430 calories never tasted so 150 calories before
-Makes you want to run out and order “real” General Tso’s, defeating the purpose of making a “Healthy Choice”
Megan on April 18th, 2008

The chicken was ok for me. The sauce was way too watery for my liking.