Fresh Express Pacifica Veggie Supreme Salad

February 18, 2008 | Reviewer: Abi

Fresh Express Pacifica Veggie Supreme Salad Price: $2.50 on sale
Servings per package: 2.5
Serving: 3 cups prepared salad
Calories: 220
Fat: 23%, 15g
Cholesterol: 3%, 10mg
Sodium: 14%, 340mg
Protein: 4g
Carbohydrates: 6%, 18g
Fiber: 9%, 2g
Sugar: 14g
Weight Watchers Points: 5 Points

Fresh Express says: Chef-inspired Pacifica! Veggie Supreme makes it easy for you to have a restaurant style salad right at home! We start with crisp spring mix and a delicious veggie combination of carrot strips and tender pea pods. Then we add lightly roasted soy nuts and sunflower kernels for a tasty crunch. Our premium Cafe Fresh Poppyseed Vinaigrette Dressing adds the perfect amount of sweetness and balance of flavors.

Abi says: I’m addicted to this salad. It has a million problems, but I just can’t stop buying it. First, the carrots shreds are rare and rubbery. Second, the peapods are practically nonexistent. For the first few bags I thought that the single peapod included was a production-line mix-up, not an purposeful ingredient. So I didn’t eat them. Finally, the dressing’s first ingredient is High Fructose Corn Syrup. I kid you not. I feel wrong for liking this salad so much.

On the plus side: mini bags of sesame seeds and soy nuts make for a perfect non-crouton crunch and just about anything that adds more salad to my diet has to be good, right? Delusions are a strong, strong thing. I’ve been extending this salad by adding a diced apple, dried cranberries and diced chicken breast. Oh man, does this make the most fantastic lunch, full of crunchy, satisfying deliciousness. Plus, the bag really does contain 2.5 servings, so it is easy to estimate actual HFCS intake.

I know, I should just buy a bag of sesame seeds and a bag of roasted soy nuts and make my own darn salad already! But until I find a dressing that matches the one included in this salad, I’ll keep sinking money into Fresh Express.

comments

16 Responses to “Fresh Express Pacifica Veggie Supreme Salad”

Crow on February 18th, 2008

Tasty greens, too damn expensive.
Julie on February 18th, 2008

I can’t microwave this item Abi.

Back on track please? (j/k)
Crow on February 18th, 2008

You can dump it out of the bag, and microwave it on a plate.
Jeri on February 18th, 2008

Brianna’s makes a good poppy seed dressing. Look for the peach on the label. I get it at Safeway. http://www.briannassaladdressing.com/products.htm
Jill on February 18th, 2008

Mmmmmmmmmmm, wilted hot salad, sounds great, Crow! Haha.
Crow on February 19th, 2008

Lettuce is commonly sautéed in at least one Chinese cuisine, and in the US, you have cooked spinach, and collard greens. Heated carrots and pea pods are also common in US cuisine. I think heating this thing wouldn’t turn out that badly.
Florabora on February 19th, 2008

Thanks for reviewing this. I picked this up at the store last night and put it down again because I wasn’t sure it was worth the $3.79 Harris Teeter was charging for it. Maybe when it’s on sale. Or when Trader Joe’s makes a copycat version.
Jessica on February 19th, 2008

My husband LOVES the Salsa salad from Fresh Express (I wasn’t all that impressed). It has salsa, a mexi-ranch dressing, cheese and tortilla strips. You might give it a try. I do stock up on these salads when they’re on sale at my local grocery store (2/$5). Much less expensive than the fast food salads.
Jill on February 19th, 2008

Sauteeing I can see, microwaving I cannot.
Rose on February 21st, 2008

I feel you on the fresh express. sadly, it is the only salad I buy. but not this variety. I tend to steer towards the classic romaine. spikey lettuce scares me, so does iceburg.
Abi Jones on February 22nd, 2008

@Crow - Yes and yes

@Julie - Ha. I’d like to start branching into other ‘convenience’ foods, but HER will always focus on microwavables.

@Jeri - I spent a long time wracking my brain for that one! It is exactly the dressing I could remember, but couldn’t name. Thanks!

@Florabora - TJ’s is doing a new bagged salad. They’re has feta along with the assorted fruits and nuts. I don’t remember what the dressing is.

@Jessica - Yep, it is still cheaper than eating out.

@Rose - The spikey lettuce is good, but I have a feeling that I’m eating dandelion leaves (which are edible).
Anne on February 23rd, 2008

I like these salads, but I love the Mediterranian one. It’s baby spinach with an assortment of cheese crumbles and foccacia-esque croutons with a sweet onion vinegrette. I usually hate salads, as I’ve never been a big fan of lettuce as a meal. However, I love that one. It’s filling and I can eat it anytime. I love it!
Sami on February 24th, 2008

Oh how i love these salads! I have this very one sitting in my fridge, and i must go devour it now.
Danielle on February 25th, 2008

Try Marie’s Blue Cheese Vinigarette dressing. I eat this salad all the time!
Cari on March 20th, 2008

I only tried this salad kit because the review made it sound interesting in spite of the price. WOW! THANK YOU!

I convinced my veggie phobic friend to sample some of mine and he liked it so much he has been buying salad at the store now.

I’m going to check out the Brianna’s Poppyseed dressing now.
Pacifica! :: Jones. Abi Jones. on April 14th, 2008

[…] Fresh Express Pacifica Veggie Supreme Salad Well, I feel like a complete idiot for buying this salad, but it is so darn good that I can’t […]