THE SNOOPER'S LO-CAL, LO-FAT
FROZEN DIET ENTRÉE PAGE

The Lakeland Snooper has started a diet. In doing so, he decided to check out the various low calorie and low fat frozen luncheon entrées and giving them a critique from what his taste buds tell him.

Along with the hot entrée he adds a salad with a tablespoon or two of low calorie dressing.

The primary focus will be on luncheon entrées, but there will be some critique on dinners also.

Michelina's
The Budget Gourmet
Stouffer's Lean Cuisine
Weight Watchers
Healthy Choice

Michelina's Lean'n Tasty* or Low Fat**" Back to Menu

1. Lasagna with Vegetables and 4 Cheeses**
   • Size=9oz./255gm
   • Calories=270
   • Fat=6g/Sat. Fat=3g
   • Sodium=720mg
   Comments: Good flavor and enough sauce to cover the mini lasagna noodles. If your are looking for vegetables, you may have to search a bit. I give it a T T T rating.

2. Southwestern Brand Sauce w/ Chicken & Pasta*
   • Size=8oz./227gm.
   • Calories=220
   • Fat=2.5g, sat. fat .05g
   • Sodium=810mg.
   Comments: Plenty of tasty, slightly spicy sauce. In keeping with the Southwestern theme of the dish, the pasta is in the shape of wagon wheels. Because of the high sodium content, it misses being rated 4 T. I give it a T T T rating. MaMa, not so heavy with the salt, please.

3. Black Bean Chili with Rice*
   • Size=10oz./284gm.
   • Calories=410
   • Fat=5g., sat.fat 1g
   • Sodium=
   Comments: The flavor is acceptable, except there is too much rice. This entrée would be better eaten as a dinner if you are seriously working at weight loss. T T on this one.

4. Mostaccioli Parmigiana, Tomato Sauce w/Parmesan Cheese
   • Size=8oz./227gm.
   • Calories=280
   • Fat=5g., sat. fat 1.5g
   • Sodium=510mg.
   Comments : Sauce doesn't look like there would be enough, but it coats all the mostaccoli. A touch heavy on garlic. Would be over 300 calories if it were the average entrée size of 9-9.5oz. My taste buds rate it at T T.

5. Chicken Primavera w/Spirals*
   • Size=8oz/227g
   • Calories=280
   • Fat=7g., 3.5 sat. fat
   • Sodium=810mg.
   Comments: Sorry MaMa, to my taste, not one of your better entrées. Sauce is nice and thick, but chicken pieces dry, very little flavor overall, and much too salty. Only rates a T on my taste test .

6. Chicken Pasta with Penne (creamy pesto sauce w/white meat chicken and pasta)
   • Size=8oz./227gm.
   • Calories=280
   • Fat=6g. sat. fat 3.5g.
   • Sodium=620mg.
   Comments: A nice light pesto flavored sauce served over penne pasta. Snoop thought it well worth a rating of T T T.

7. White Meat Chicken Cacciatore with Spirals
   • Size=8oz/227gm
   • Calories=260
   • Fat=6g sat. fat 1g
   • Sodium=750mg
   Comments: Good for you MaMa. Lots of sauce loaded with with green peppers and onions and nice chunks of chicken. Very tasty. Rate thisT T T.

8. Pepper Steak and Rice (w/green pepper and onion)**
   • Size=8.5oz./241gm
   • Calories=260
   • Fat=4.5g/Sat. Fat=1.5g
   • Sodium=920mg
   Comments: There are a lot of pepper and onion pieces and just a few pieces of sliced beef, tender, but sparse. Found it very flavorful, but because of the sodium content can only give it a T T rating. Chief, back to the kitchen and see if the salt can be reduced.

9. Spaghetti Bolognese (pasta in Italian-style sauce)**
   • Size=9oz./255gm.
   • Calories=280
   • Fat=4g, sat. fat .1g
   • Sodium=690mg.
   Comments: Surprisingly, very tasty. The sauce was full of menat and for a frozen meat, the spaghetti just a little past al dante. Snoop had to rate this one T T T T, 'cause he wanted more. "Please, Sir, may I have. . . . .more?"

10. Spicy Spirals Pomodoro (pasta in zesty tomato sauce)
    • Size=9oz./255gm.
    • Calories=280
    • Fat=2.5g, sat. fat. .5g
    • Sodium=550mg.
    Comments: It is spicy, it is tasty and it si filling. Sauce reminds me of a Spanish type sauce. Rate it T T T.

11. Waiting for a taste run.
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The Budget Gourmet Light Back to Menu

1. Fettucini Primavera w/Chicken, bits of garden vegetables in a savor herb sauce.
   • Size=10oz/284g
   • Calories=270
   • Fat=6g. sat. fat 2.5g
   • Sodium=580
   Comments: Made for a tasty, filling meal. A real must try. Rate this T T T T.

2. Chicken Oriental and Vegetables served with Linguini.
   • Size=9oz./255g
   • Calories=255
   • Fat=6g. sat. fat 1g
   • Sodium=730
   Comments: Good flavor and quite filling. A rating on the high side of T T T.

3. Orange Glazed Chicken Breast on Golden Rice/w celery and broccoli.
   • Size=9oz./255g.
   • Calories=270
   • Fat=3g. sat. fat 1g.
   • Sodium=920
   Comments: Nice chunks of white meat and lots of rice. The sauce is a bit overpowering with its sweetness. Individuals who must restrict their sodium intake, beware. Even with the high sodium content, I rate this T T T.

4. Pasta in Wine and Mushroom Sauce w/Chicken
   • Size=
   • Calories=290
   • Fat=7g. sat. fat 2g
   • Sodium=
   Comments: Very flavorful. Lots of noodles for the sauce. Taste rating, T T T.

5. Penne Pasta w/Chunky Tomatoes and Italian Sausage
   • Size=9oz./255g.
   • Calories=290
   • Fat=6g. sat. fat 1.5
   • Sodium=500mg.
   Comments: The serving I tried did not have enough sauce for the amount of pasta, so the light flavor was lost. Nice amount of sausage. I'd call it medium spicy. The sauce would have been very good if there had been a tablespoon or two more. This is taste tested at T T, but will give it another chance.

6. Mandarin Chicken w/Rice Medley, Chicken and Vegetables in Plum Sauce
   • Size=10oz./283gm.
   • Calories=270
   • Fat=5g. sat. fat 1.5g.
   • Sodium=820
   Comments: Very good flavor. For the salt watcher, this is a bit hight in the sodium content. You will find most of the dinners/lunches contain zuccini, carrots, mushrooms and/or tomatoes as the primary vegetable fillers. Snoop rates this T T T.

7. Zita Parmesano
   • Size=9oz./255gm.
   • Calories=300
   • Fat=7g. sat. fat 2g
   • Sodium=600
   Comments: Sorry BG, but this was not even worth the weeks special price of 99¢. Very little flavor and the pasta was like chewing rubber tube. It left me with the feeling that I still wanted something to eat. Guess what this one scores. T.

8. Pasta Primavera Parmesan (Radiatore pasta in light creamy cheese sauce)
   • Size=10.75oz./304gm.
   • Calories=280
   • Fat=7g. sat. fat 3.5g.
   • Sodium=720
   Comments: Nice large serving with plenty of sauce to coat the radiatore. Only criticism I have is that it could use a bit more parmesan cheese in the sauce. Taste rating, T T T.

9. Italian Style Vegetables and Chicken (in herb sauce w/rice and tiny bow tie pasta)
   • Size=9oz./255gm.
   • Calories=240
   • Fat=6g. sat. fat 2g.
   • Sodium=560
   Comments: Don't be fooled by the cover on this one. Lots of rice, few chicken bits and very little flavor. I tossed it and bought a 'burger (shame on me). Rate this a resounding T.

10. Fettucini and Meatballs in Wine Sauce with Green Beans
    • Size=10.25oz/290g
    • Calories=300
    • Fat=8g sat. fat 4
    • Sodium=630
    Comments: Once again a welcome change from chicken. A tasty sauce for the fettucini and French cut green beans. I thought the meat balls a little heavy with pepper, but they are meaty with the only fillers being spices and bread crumbs. Rate this T T T.

11. Mandarin Chicken (chicken and vegetables in a savory plum sauce w/ a rice medley)
    • Size=10.9oz./309gm.
    • Calories=310
    • Fat=7g., sat.fat 2g
    • Sodium=670mg
    Comments: Worth having occassionally for lunch, mainly because of the higher sodium content. A tasty blend of tender chicken pieces, begetables, rice and sauce.
    Give this one T T T.

12. Tagliatelle Pasta with Tomato and Wind Sauce (Maderia wine adds a little kick to this tomato-vegetable sauce)
    • Size=10.9oz./309gm.
    • Calories=310
    • Fat=7g., sat. fat 2g
    • Sodium=670mg.
    Comments : Tagliatelle are like flat noodles with curly edges. The sauce was loaded with bits of carrot, zuccini, tomatoes and olives. Makes for a tasty meal. T T T.

13. Waiting to be taste tested.
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Stouffer's Lean Cuisine Back to Menu

1. Chicken Marinara Rotini (Grilled Chicken Breast w/Garden Vegetables and Pasta)
   • Size=9.5oz./269gm.
   • Calories=260
   • Fat=4g., sat. fat 1.5g.
   • Sodium=590mg.
   Comments: Nice blend of twist pasta, chicken, vegetables in a tasty sauce and . Rich flavor. Snoopers rating gives it T T T T.

2. Penne Pasta w/Tomato Basil Sauce (and Sun Dried Tomatoes)
   • Size=10oz./283gm
   • Calories=290
   • Fat=4g., 1g. sat. fat
   • Sodium=360mg
   Comments: Hmmmm! This one you are going to have to eat one penne at a time just to make the savory taste last, or you might be tempted to rush back to the freezer and pop another one in the microwave. A very tasty tomato sauce with plenty of tomatoes.
   This is T T T T treat!!!

3. Three-Bean Chili w/Long Grain Rice
   • Size=10oz./283gm.
   • Calories=260
   • Fat=6g sat. fat 2g
   • Sodium=570mg.
   Comments: I'm not used to rice in my chili, but fairly good flavor and mildly spicy. Except for the small amount of shredded cheese, it could be used as a vegetarian dish.
   This one get a T T T rating.

4. Macaroni and Cheese (made with real cheddar cheese)
   • Size=10oz./283gm.
   • Calories=290
   • Fat=7g. sat. fat 4g.
   • Sodium=590mg.
   Comments: This is one dish you will have to critique yourself. I was raised with macaroni & cheese as an accompaniment to meat in place of potato and find it hard to make this a main course. To my taste it rates the low side of T T T, but you will have to be your own judge.

5. Bow Tie Pasta and Creamy Tomato Sauce (w/broccoli, sun dry tomatoes, carrot slices & turkey bacon bits)
   • Size=9.5oz./269gm.
   • Calories=290
   • Fat=7g sat. fat 2g.
   • Sodium=460mg.
   Comments: Once again another really filling entrée. The "Creamy Tomato Sauce" sort of put my off a little bit. My first thought was my dear departed mom's spaghetti sauce made(don't laugh) with condensed tomato soup as a base. After I managed to push that memory aside and indulged in my the first taste, I voted this a T T T T.

6. Waiting for a taste run.
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   NOTE: The following listings are Stouffer's Lean Cuisine "Hearty Portions." They make a great main dish for your dinner dining pleasure. Add a salad and vegetable, light the candles and pour a glass of wine (only 4 oz. please).

7. Roasted Chicken with Mushrooms (chicken tenderloins and rice and creamy mushroom sauce)
   • Size=12.5oz/354g
   • Calories=410
   • Fat=7g. Sat. fat. 1g
   • Sodium=630mg.
   Comments: Filling and tasty. Nice pieces of tender chicken in a rich, flavorful sauce. The rice is a mix of white and wild rices. If it weren't so filling, I'd rate it four T's, but lets just rate it a high T T T.

8. Chicken Florentine (chicken tenderloins and vegetables in a mild cheese sauce w/pasta)
   • Size=13.75oz/375g
   • Calories=420
   • Fat=9g Sat. fat. 3g
   • Sodium=720
   Comments: One more filling and flavorful dinner entrée. Good portions of chicken tenders, pasta and vegetables with plenty of sauce. The sauce could have been a little richer in cheese flavor. Still, it was very good. Snoop's rate - T T T.

9. Lasagna (with meat sauce)
   • Size=15oz/425g
   • Calories=440
   • Fat=9g Sat. fat. 4g
   • Sodium=830
   Comments: Its not exactly lasagna in the sense of a layered noodles, cheeses and sauce. It is more a meat sauce and large, wavy pasta noodles. As as pasta meal, it has lots of sauce, good flavor and quite filling. Snooper will pass this one with T T T.