Smart Ones Roast Beef

March 27, 2008 | Reviewer: Sarah

Smart Ones Roast Beef Price: $3.00
Serving: 9 oz.
Calories: 190
Fat: 12%, 8g
Cholesterol: 17%, 50mg
Sodium: 28%, 680mg
Protein: 19g
Carbohydrates: 4%, 11g
Fiber: 13%, 3g
Sugar: 3g
Weight Watchers Points: 4 Points

Smart Ones says: It’s a sophisticated dish with tender cuts of roast beef and portobello mushrooms, smothered in a tangy vermouth sauce, and a mix of crisp broccoli and cauliflower on the side. So delicious, so satisfying… and another little way you can be good today.

Sarah says: This meal sat in my freezer for quite a while. For some reason, there was always something else that seemed more palatable. But in my recent quest to get a hot body for the summer, I’ve been more careful with my caloric intake. Since I’m going out for dinner tonight, at only 190 calories this meal was the clear winner for lunch.

When I removed it from the microwave, I wasn’t overjoyed at the smell. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t a bad smell per se, but it wasn’t amazing, either. I have to tell you though, I was pleasantly surprised at the taste! Ok, so the veggies needed a tiny bit of salt and pepper, but after that, this meal was none too shady.

The things I enjoyed, in list form:

The meat. The box didn’t lie, the roast beef was tender indeed. And delicious! And plentiful, and filling, and the list goes on and on. I have nothing but good things to say about the roast beef, which is good, since that is the name of this meal. Seriously Smart Ones, “Roast Beef?” Not, “Roast Beef and Vegetables?” Or even “Delicious Roast Beef?” You should talk to the people in your creative department. Or maybe hire me.
The vegetables tasted like real vegetables. I don’t really like the green stuff in general, so I’m extra picky when it comes to the frozen ones. But while I wouldn’t agree with the official description of “crisp,” I did think they were pretty good.

…And I guess that’s it. I liked the meat, I liked the veggies, and that’s pretty much all there was to this meal. The sauce wasn’t so bad either, though I wouldn’t call it “tangy.” All in all, for 190 calories, I feel full and decently satisfied. That’s what I look for in a microwavable lunch.

Oh, one final note - I don’t know if you can tell from the picture, but they definitely show little red things (Peppers? Tomatoes?) in the veggies. It was clear to me when I opened it up that that was a dirty lie. Sort of. I did find ONE of those little buggers (Conclusion: definitely a pepper) buried under a piece of broccoli. Frankly, this didn’t affect my judgment of the meal because I freaking hate peppers. AND tomatoes. But as a good reviewer, I thought I should alert you to this little fact. You’ve been warned, pepper-loving freaks.

comments

5 Responses to “Smart Ones Roast Beef”

Crow on March 27th, 2008

“It’s a sophisticated dish with tender cuts…smothered in a tangy…sauce. So delicious, so satisfying… and another little way you can be good today.”

I think I can now say that I’ve been sexually harassed by a product blurb.
lowderra on March 27th, 2008

Yeah, I think legally as long as the dish contains a half of a molecule of an item, they feel they can picture the dish sprinkled with tons of them. I love peppers and tomatoes but not little frozen bits of them. So for me, the lack would be a plus.

I’m enough of a cynic that I completely do NOT believe cover art on any food item.
Janette on March 27th, 2008

I loath red peppers being put into every frozen meal. I get it, they add color, but they do not add flavor and the texture is definitely concerning
Denise on April 12th, 2008

Moments ago I finished my own Smart Ones Roast Beef.

I happened to have actual florets as part of my veggie make up. I wouldnt have minded the stalk so much if they had been peeled, since the outside of the stalk feels like chewing sticks.

I was surprised that the meat did have the taste and somewhat the texture qualities of an actual pot roast.

Gravy goo tasted more like it was about to turn (not actually rotted, but thinking about it) mmmm tangy!
South Beach Diet Penne & Chicken in Roasted Red Pepper Sauce with Broccoli : Heat Eat Review : We Review TV Dinners, Frozen Meals, and Microwavable Foods on April 30th, 2008

[…] says: In comparison to my review of Smart Ones Roast Beef, where I was pleasantly surprised by a meal that I expected not to love, this meal was a sharp turn […]