Green Giant Simply Steam Green Beans & Almonds

March 19, 2008 | Reviewer: Abi

Green Giant Simply Steam Green Beans & Almonds Price: $2.00 on sale
Serving: 1/2 cup, 3oz.
Calories: 50
Fat: 4%, 3g
Cholesterol: 0%, 0mg
Sodium: 4%, 95mg
Protein: 2g
Carbs: 2%, 5g
Fiber: 7%, 2g
Sugar: 2g
Weight Watchers Points: 1 per serving

Green Giant says: No sauce, just enough liquid to cook

Abi says: I am currently watching television (hello, jet lag!) and there’s an ad for Axe Deodorant spray. Men, please listen to me: SPRAYING AXE ON YOURSELF IS NOT THE EQUIVALENT OF A SHOWER. I know, you’re thinking “Hey, it kills bacteria. I could just use that instead of taking a shower!” But then you would be wrong. You would be incorrect and odiferous. Nobody needs that.

While Axe Deodorant Spray might be one of the worst items to ever grace the shelves of a supermarket, one of my favorite vegetable finds are these green beans from Green Giant. If you already like green beans and you aren’t allergic to almonds, you should do yourself a favor and keep a couple boxes of these in the freezer.

I know, I know, you’re skeptical about the lack of sauce. I was worried about it too. And then I remembered that I don’t enjoy many of the butter sauces that come on microwaved vegetables. So if you’re addicted to those butter sauces your mileage may differ. I didn’t realize how much I like these until I bought my third package the other day and thought “Hmmm, I should probably review these to let other people know that they’re good.” And then I thought “Or not. Because what if I review them and they become super-popular and suddenly every store runs out of my current-favorite microwave vegetables?” But I don’t think that will be the case.

I followed the package instructions in microwaving the beans, then poured them into a bowl and drained the beans of all excess water. The draining is important. Drain your beans. If you don’t you’ll be quite disappointed and spend the rest of the day thinking to yourself ‘Why didn’t I listen to Abi?’ Once your beans are suitably dry, open up the roasted almonds, top your beans with said almonds and enjoy a bright green, surprisingly tasty side dish.

Do I have complaints about this meal? Of course I do. First, who the heck says that there are 2.5 servings in a package? I’m sick and tired of Green Giant’s slavish adherence to the idea that a serving of vegetables is 50 calories. This is especially funny and/or annoying to me because I would certainly call a single apple or a single grapefruit a serving, but according to the folks at Green Giant an apple would easily be more than one serving. Bah to that.

I appreciate the small package size because it makes the microwaving process fast. I do not appreciate the serving-size foolishness.

My other problem with this dish is the tiny packet of almonds. Why skimp, Green Giant? Okay, so I know why: almonds are expensive and full of calories. And you know what? These calories (in the form of almonds) are freaking delicious. Each almond sliver is a musky bite of smoke, balancing the vegetal green of the beans. More musky smoke, please.

Are these green beans better/cheaper/faster than green beans I can make at home? No. But they do use fewer dishes and I can always have a package in the freezer. You can’t say that about fresh beans.

comments

8 Responses to “Green Giant Simply Steam Green Beans & Almonds”

Kathy on March 20th, 2008

I’ve tried a few different vegetable combinations of these “Simply Steam” boxes of frozen vegetables and I totally agree with you about the serving size! They are great to keep on hand for a quick vegetable. Plus, I always like to balance something healthy and unadorned with my fried fish sticks!
bfwebster on March 20th, 2008

First, who the heck says that there are 2.5 servings in a package?

Chech out some of the Marie Callender’s frozen foods, particularly on the frozen pot pies and fruit cobblers. Last time I checked, they claimed that a given pot pie — all of maybe 4″ in diameter — represented “4 servings”. Yessirree, next time Sandra and I have another couple over for dinner, we’ll heat up one of those pot pies and split it four ways! Of course, when you look at the fat and calorie content, you’ll understand why they’re doing this. ..bruce..
Jill on March 20th, 2008

Arg to frozen veggies and the fact their “six servings” is really only two in my book, aaaaaaaaarg!
Abi Jones on March 21st, 2008

@Kathy - There’s something to be said for well-made fried fish

@Bruce - I understand why the Marie Callendar folks are making such ridiculous assertions regarding serving size. A single one of their pot pies supplies you with about a day’s worth of calories. But a vegetable company? Weird.

@Jill - Yes to large servings of vegetables!
Jessica on March 22nd, 2008

Try the Birds Eye Green Beans w/Almonds. They ar ethe original and have been a favorite of mine since I was a kid. I used to try to convince my mom to just let me eat the whole package as a meal. It was a no-go (Oh what, the loaf of meat and mashed potatoes were better for me??)
Kelly on April 10th, 2008

just want to say i recently discovered this product like and they are the best tasting frozen vegetables i’ve ever had. seriously. plus they cook nicely in my crappy low power no rotating turntable microwave.
Anne on April 22nd, 2008

I just purchased a package of the Healthy Vision Simply Steam Vegetables from Green Giant. I was really suprised at how good they were. It was a very simple combination of zucchini, carrots and green bean with a rosemary butter sauce. Now, I was a bit apprehensive about the butter sauce, but it was time to try something different. It was amazing. The green beans did not have that limp texture and flavor I’d come to expect from frozen beans and the zucchini didn’t completely fall apart after being cooked. I did make one mistake though. I had originally bought them as a side dish to a fresh salmon pinwheel from my local seafood department and honestly, with the combination of the two, it was a nice light meal that didn’t leave me feeling empty. Thank you for bringing these products to my attention. I love them!
Diane on May 1st, 2008

Where can this product….Green Beans with Almonds…be purchased in the Western Michigan area? I find that I must make a three hour trip to my son’s hometown in Michigan before I can purchase them at the Kroger stores. Meijer’s, Wal Mart, and Shop N Save do not carry them in stock. PLEASE tell me somewhere that I can drive less or no more than 25 miles to find them.

Thank you….