Price: $1.99
Serving: 1 tamale, 5 oz.
Calories: 280
Fat: 23%, 15g
Sodium: 27%, 640mg
Protein: 8g
Fiber: 20%, 5g

Nutritionally
Taste-wise

Trader Joe says: Handcrafted cheese and green chile tamales wrapped in corn husks

Amy says: I made a HUGE mistake before consuming this meal. While leaning over Abi’s shoulder I noticed the amount of fat in the product. My jaw dropped and then my head exploded when Abi informed me that the 15 grams of fat is in one, ONE pinche tamale!!! And the sodium is through the roof too! Dios mio!! I was ready to plop down and eat both of the tamales, but upon revealing the true nature of this beastly tamale I had to re-think my game plan.

The fat discovery likely played a large role in my lack of excitement for the tamales. I dare say that it made the tamale a bit sour at first bit. Yeah, dig the psychosomatic bit. About halfway through the first tamale I realized two things: 1) I was starting to enjoy the taste of the tamale, and 2) that there was no way I could eat the second tamale. This lightened my mood quite a bit and improved the flavor of the meal. I also took it upon myself to drizzle some (spill a ridiculous amount of) Trader Jose’s Mexican Sauce on the side of the plate. This ‘Mexican Sauce’ added to the tastiness of the lunch, but not so much to the fat content. The tamale was pretty tasty, filled with a generous serving of cheese and little bits of green chiles. The corn mush was not too mushy, but not too dry and each tamale held up in the microwave, aside from the cheese spilling out the ends. However, overall I would say that the taste of this meal does not make up for the outrageous fat and sodium content.

I learned an important life lesson today: I should either read the nutrition facts before buying the product or not buy it at all.

Price: $3.50
Serving: 1/2 box, 11 oz.
Calories: 300
Fat: 16%, 24g
Sodium: 29%, 700mg
Protein: 16g
WW Points: 6 Winning Points

Safeway says: Peppered to Perfection! Spicy chicken breast strips served with rice, water chestnuts, onions, celery, yellow carrots, and mushrooms.

Carolyn says: This was the most disappointing frozen meal I have had in a long, long time. The large size of the portion had me excited for a big, hearty lunch. The box clearly said “TWO SERVINGS”, but if it was good I knew I could finish the meal. As soon as I took the tray out of the microwave I realized this meal was not going to be as the picture suggested. The vegetables were soggy and brown. I’m not sure why they decided that bean sprouts were appropriate for a frozen meal, but it was a very bad decision. The onions were brown and soggy clumps, the celery was slimy, and the only thing that displayed any crispness were the water chestnuts. The peppered sauce coagulated while heating, and despite my stirring, there were areas of caked teriyaki sauce along the sides of the container and in two corners. The chicken was the only decent part of the meal, so once I finished the pieces of chicken, I threw the rest away.

Price: $2.79 ($1.99 on sale)
Serving: 1 meal, 12.25 oz.
Calories: 330
Fat: 5%, 3.5g
Sodium: 23%, 560mg
Protein: 20g
Carbs: 21%, 62g
Fiber: 28%, 7g
Meal Exchange: 2 Very Lean Meat, 2.5 Starch. 1 Carbohydrate
WW Points: 7 Points

Healthy Choice says: White meat chicken with fiesta sauce, rice, vegetables and caramel apple dessert

Abi says: After wrestling with the film cover on the dessert, my hands were redolent with the scent of caramel. I love caramel. I also love to try things that are vaguely hispanic, like me. I know it isn’t a good sign that I’m more willing to write about having caramel hands than eat this meal, but look at those pictures. You and I both know that this isn’t going to be delicious. At this point, I’m not even looking for delicious, I’m looking for something that will keep me from ordering pizza.

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Price: $1.25 (sale)
Serving: 1 meal, 8.25 oz
Calories: 220
Fat: 6%
Sodium: 25%

Lean cuisine says: Roasted chicken tenderloins in a garlic-rosemary sauce, spinach and brown rice.

Abi says: Responses to the scent of this meal vary. I thought it smelled like any other microwaveable entree until my coworker Jess said “Is somebody eating cereal?”. Don’t sip Diet Coke while eating this. The chemical reaction that occurs will produce a burning spinach/grain sensation. Ew. Shouldn’t Lean Cuisine assume that a lot of their patrons are going to be drinking Diet Coke? The Diet Coke test should probably be added to the production and edibility cycle of food development for any company that produces ‘diet’ foods. I am glad that I brought a bagel today, because I was unable to finish this meal. Wait, the word ‘finish’ probably implies that I ate most of it, which is not true. The most scientific way to put it is that I ’sampled’ the Lean Cuisine Rosemary Chicken. I would suggest not ever, ever sampling it in the future.