Serving: 1/2 box / 11.5 ounces
Calories: 300
Fat: 11%,
Sodium: 22%,

A Taste of Thai says: Ready in 4 minutes. Real Thai, real easy. Mix, heat & enjoy. Microwavable container. No preservatives. No trans fats. Gluten-free. No MSG. Authentic Thai taste in just a few minutes. Enjoy real Thai cuisine anytime, anywhere. All in one container. We’ve included all the authentic ingredients and flavors. Produced in Thailand.

Abi says: While there are cooking directions on this box, there are not preparation directions, and that’s where the Peanut Noodles take the eater down the unfortunate road of reheating, mashing up chunks of coagulated coconut milk, and giving in to the eventuality of eating two servings. Two servings of gelatinous rice noodles coated in what could be crushed peanut candy.

Two servings of Peanut Noodles provide half of your saturated fat for the day. Why? Well, this meal comes with many packets. One of these is a dehydrated coconut milk foil pouch. Upon opening the packet, I mistook it for sugar. It is not sugar. It is nature’s way of killing off people who indulge in Peanut Noodles too often.

Price: $3.29 ($2.79 on sale)
Serving: 1/2 Tray, 5 oz.
Calories: 160
Fat: 11%, 7g
Sodium: 10%, 250mg

Green Guru says: Chickpeas sauteed with onions, tomatoes, peppers & exotic spices.

Kate says: Delicious. It is just spicy enough to cause the lightest perspiration under my eyes. The chickpeas are firm and the sauce is flavorful. Green Guru’s Channa Masala would be good on rice, but it also holds up alone.

Price: $3.79/box
Serving: 4 pieces, 3 oz.
Calories: 170
Fat: 7%, 4.5g
Sodium: 24%, 580mg

Morningstar says: Delicious, classic, corn dog taste in a two-bite size

Abi says: Mini corn dogs do not a meal make. It would be very easy to eat many mini corn dogs in a single sitting. Today, I showed perseverance and consumed a single serving of Morningstar Mini Corn Dogs. I expect to receive my award at a ceremony held later today on the lawn of the FDA building.

Actually, I don’t know if the FDA even has a lawn, but the USDA is right on the mall, so that could work well as a ceremony site subsititute. Illusions of grandeur aside, the toaster oven instructions for Morningstar mini-corndogs could cause consternation among your coworkers. Cooking them according to the directions on the package would mean using the toaster oven for almost 15 minutes. Instead of hogging the toaster oven only, heat them in the microwave for 35 seconds, then put them in the toaster oven. That way you are guaranteed fully cooked and crispy bites of goodness.
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Price: $3.19
Serving: 1 Burger, 2.36 oz.
Calories: 100
Fat: 4%, 2.5g
Sodium: 15%, 350mg
Dietary Exchange: 1 lean meat, 2 vegetables

Morningstar says: Each pattie is a savory vegetable and grain burger with a blend of carrots, mushrooms, bell peppers, black olives, brown rice and rolled oats.

Jess says: I am a cheap bastard.

I am proud to call the Morningstar Veggie Patty one of my staple items. You get a package for about $3 and some change and you have four relatively healthy meals. I like to throw them in between some toast ($.99 for about 12-16 slices) and add some ketchup ($1.29 for a bottle). If I’m feeling fancy, I can melt some cheese on top. Or I can add some tomato slices or even spread some roasted red pepper hummus on there. (In the case of hummus there is no ketchup. Damn that would be nasty). One box and I have 4/5 of my work lunches taken care of which allows me to focus on the more important things of life like where to go to happy hour or why Americans like dipping sauces so much or why writing lunch blurbs is so inexplicably entertaining.
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