Our Price: Free!
MSRP: $5.00
Serving: 1 tray, 10 oz.
Calories: 320
Fat: 14%, 9g
Cholesterol: 3%, 10mg
Sodium: 29%, 700mg
Protein: 18g
Carbs: 15%, 44g
Fiber: 28%, 7g
Weight Watchers Points: 6 Points

Kashi says: Chicken breast with broccoli florets, carrots and sugar snap peas, Kashi 7 whole grains and sesame with red quinoa pilaf, lemongrass & coconut sauce topped with coconut flakes

Nicole says: As usual, the grain mixture in Kashi’s entree is a great break from the plain white rice, basmati rice, and various noodles that accompany not only the frozen meals I generally eat but also the non-frozen meals I sometimes get to have thanks to delivery restaurants or boyfriend-who-can-cook. This one also includes red quinoa, which adds visual appeal

The broccoli, carrots, and snap peas in this meal are striking in color - they look so fresh and bright. They bear out that first impression in retaining some firmness and crispness, and some nice flavor, especially from the carrots. The chicken was flavorful and firm, and served in a generous portion. I think it was 9 or 10 small and medium sized peices, easily enough for a piece per bite.

Sadly, the sauce was a disappointment. I know you guys think I’m the connoiseur of trashy, salty frozen food, but I was soo excited to try the lemongrass coconut healthy entree. The coconut flavor was there, but subtle. The lemongrass I detected a hint of, but I’m pretty sure it was psychosomatic. This is also exactly the kind of sauce I was thinking Kashi should be pairing with their shirmp entree, so finding it accompanying with the chicken… why can’t you take my advice? So, no big flavor here, but it allows the chicken and veggies shine through.

I would definitely eat this meal again, as it is subtly tasty and well-textured. It also filled me up well for a lunch. And I assume, even though I didn’t read the nutritional info, that it’s pretty darn healthy.

Price: $2.50 (sale at Giant)
Serving: 1 packet, 1.5 oz.
Calories: 160
Fat: 3%, 2g
Cholesterol: 0%, 0mg
Sodium: 4%, 100mg
Protein: 4g
Carbs: 11%, 33g
Fiber: 20%, 5g
Weight Watchers Points: 3 Points

Kashi says: With warm, creamy oats naturally sweetened with pure maple syrup, it’s a tasty way to do more for your heart.

Abi says: Warm? Check. Creamy? Check. Naturally sweetened witih pure maple syrup? Maybe. My tongue’s initial reaction to this oatmeal was not one of pleasure. First, it was far too creamy for my taste. I like a bit of crunch in my oatmeal and in this session, crunch was absent. Second, the distinctly chemical taste of the oatmeal made me draw back…from my own mouth. If you’ve ever tried to do that, it does not work.

“This is not good oatmeal.” I announced to the cube area. Then I stared at the bowl of Kashi Golden Brown Maple Oatmeal for a couple of minutes, trying to figure out what could possibly make such a horrid taste come out of a food item that is the definition of innocuous.

A quick perusal of the ingredients has led me to believe that it is one of these things:

• Chicory Root Fiber
• Activin Grape Seed Extract
• Decaffeinated Green Tea Extract
• Alpha Tocopherol Acetate
• Tomato Extract
• Pyridoxine Hydrochloride

Yes, all of those things are on the actual ingredients list for this oatmeal. Now you understand why it got two stars.

Admission: I ate two more packets of this oatmeal before writing ‘Free Oatmeal’ on the box and leaving it in the office kitchen. I’m not proud of that, I just thought I should let you know how long it took me to pick up a new box of oatmeal.

We at HeatEatReview.com HQ are generally scared to eat meals from the sea. While many land animals (and cheeses) have been sacrificed for our tummies (and yours), animals of the oceanic variety rarely undergo the microwaving process. Fortunately, we have Nicole: certified seafood tester.*

Price: $3.00, free from Kashi
Serving: 1 package, 10 oz.
Calories: 250
Fat: 12%, 8g
Cholesterol: 23%, 70mg
Sodium: 29%, 690mg
Protein: 12g
Carbs: 11%, 33g
Fiber: 24%, 6g
Diabetic Exchange: 2 carbohydrates, 2 lean meats
Weight Watchers Points: 5 Points

Kashi says: Shrimp with roasted green peppers and red onion, red bell peppers and carrots, served over our Kashi® 7 Whole Grains Pilaf, and topped with lime ginger cilantro sauce.

Nicole says: I was actually recruited to take on this meal. Most normal people fear the idea of microwaving frozen shrimp. Since I have some experience in this realm, I did not shy away from the challenge.

The first striking thing about the cooked Lime Cilantro Shrimp is the amount of sauce on top of the uncooked meal. There is far more than necessary to moisten your 7 grain base, which I’m still really digging- the grain mix is so much more interesting and filling than noodles or rice. The sauce also looks a bit like the product of reverse peristalsis, but this is health food - it has no added dyes. The flavor of the sauce overall is pleasant, very light. Only a hint of limeyness and a kick of cilantro.

I enjoyed the healthy representation of vegetables, including many medium-sized slices of onion, carrot, and pepper that add color. The onion and carrot cook up appropriately soft and crunchy, respectively, but the pepper is a bit mushy for my liking.

The star of the meal is the shrimp: Kashi’s Lime Cilantro Shrimp contains six small-medium sized shrimp (1.5 to 2 inches when uncurled.) They have a lovely steamed color of soft salmon. The texture is a bit chewy, but firm is good - I’d go B- on texture. Taste: okay… is this disappointing? Not really. They do taste like shrimp, though it’s not as flavorful as one is accustomed to. That’s what you get for microwaving them.

All in all, this meal is reasonably good and very nutritious, but I wouldn’t seek it out regularly. Maybe if you need a change from days of eating chicken in sauce dishes you’ll give this one a try. I do applaud Kashi’s effort at creating a cheap and easy shrimp dinner.

My suggestion: Run with the Lime Cilantro idea but make a more flavorful sauce that is a bit lime-ier, not so thick and not so copious. Add the same veggies but make the peppers cook crisper like I know you can. And substitute the shrimp for some of that lovely chicken that goes in the Southwestern Style Chicken. Then this would be a meal to covet.

And if you really want to keep a shrimp meal? How about Coconut Shrimp? That could rock on top of all those grains, with a nice light coconutty sauce. Yum.

*We’re totally kidding about that certification thing. She’s actually seafood-testing on an emergency permit.

Price: $3.49, free from Kashi
Serving: 1 entree, 10.5 oz.
Calories: 280
Fat: 9%, 6g
Cholesterol: 2%, 5mg
Sodium: 20%, 470mg
Protein: 19g
Carbs: 13%, 38g
Fiber: 24%, 6g
Weight Watchers Points: 5 Points

Kashi says: Chicken and roasted vegetables over whole grain pasta and topped with fresh tomato garlic basil sauce, parmesan cheese and Kashi® 7 Whole Grain Flakes

Veda says: The Kashi Chicken Pasta Pomodoro was a pleasant surprise. Now, don’t get me wrong, I like Kashi products. However, I sometimes find that they taste just a bit too healthy for me. This was not the case with the Chicken Pasta Pomodoro. These vegetables were crisp and plentiful and the pasta al dente. Plus, Kashi’s sauce would make a Tuscan mother proud. Zesty, slightly spicy and filled with fresh tomato flavor, I’d buy this meal for the sauce alone. Even more of a pleasant surprise, I was full! Way to go Kashi. I’ll definitely buy this one. So, for anyone who likes their healthy foods veiled under tastiness, go with the Kashi pastas. You can’t go wrong with whole grains.