Wednesday, July 19, 2006
The Thing About TV Dinners...
an indepth look at my recent lunch trend
Now that I'm poor (as usual) and lazy (as usual) and trying to save money while losing weight (odd), TV dinners start to seem like an interesting option.
Over the past two days, I have tried two examples of these frozen meals: Lean Cuisine's Chicken Pecan ($2.47 at Target) and Weight Watchers Smart Ones' Santa Fe Style Rice and Beans ($1.89 at Target).
Smart Ones Santa Fe Style Rice and Beans
Fat 6 g, Cal 310, Carbs 51 g, Cholesterol 15 mg, Dietary Fiber 4 g, Sugar 6 g, Protein 10 g
Serving Size: 283 g
Claims to use a 'Now Tastier South of the Border Recipe'.
Also, there was something in it that tasted and looked like zucchini, but zucchini is not listed in the ingredients. Chicken pieces and chicken broth were, however, which was slightly disconcerting as I didn't see or taste chicken and, until I read that, had been under the impression that it was a vegetarian dish.
Still, it tasted good (probably because of the cheese and sour cream), it wasn't bad for me and it was cheap.
Lean Cuisine Chicken Pecan
Fat 6 g, Cal 260, Carbs 32 g, Cholesterol 30 mg, Dietary Fiber 4 g, Sugar 6 g, Protein 9 g
Serving Size: 255 g
I found this box much more calming. Smart Ones had too much scary red.
This is part of Lean Cuisine's 'Spa Cuisine', which means it uses 100% whole grains, no preservatives and no artificial flavors. I liked that a lot. It was almost like Sonoma but without the chopping and cooking. Lazy Sonoma.
I also found the Chicken Pecan tasty. The tastiness of the dishes was very surprising to me, as I am used to frozen meals tasting like particularly chewy cardboard. I think this is because I've mostly tried pastas in the past.
Overall, though the Lean Cuisine is a little more expensive, if I had to choose one, I'd go with that. Probably because Sonoma has trained me so well. I am wary of white grains. Bad grains.
The thing about TV dinners is, however, no matter how tasty or healthy...they don't leave me feeling quite full. Almost full. But not quite. Not sure what to do about this. I may try adding a piece of fruit. Then again, if I started to eat regular breakfast again, I might not be so hungry at lunch and this might not be a problem anymore.
Now that I'm poor (as usual) and lazy (as usual) and trying to save money while losing weight (odd), TV dinners start to seem like an interesting option.
Over the past two days, I have tried two examples of these frozen meals: Lean Cuisine's Chicken Pecan ($2.47 at Target) and Weight Watchers Smart Ones' Santa Fe Style Rice and Beans ($1.89 at Target).
Smart Ones Santa Fe Style Rice and Beans
Fat 6 g, Cal 310, Carbs 51 g, Cholesterol 15 mg, Dietary Fiber 4 g, Sugar 6 g, Protein 10 g
Serving Size: 283 g
Claims to use a 'Now Tastier South of the Border Recipe'.
Also, there was something in it that tasted and looked like zucchini, but zucchini is not listed in the ingredients. Chicken pieces and chicken broth were, however, which was slightly disconcerting as I didn't see or taste chicken and, until I read that, had been under the impression that it was a vegetarian dish.
Still, it tasted good (probably because of the cheese and sour cream), it wasn't bad for me and it was cheap.
Lean Cuisine Chicken Pecan
Fat 6 g, Cal 260, Carbs 32 g, Cholesterol 30 mg, Dietary Fiber 4 g, Sugar 6 g, Protein 9 g
Serving Size: 255 g
I found this box much more calming. Smart Ones had too much scary red.
This is part of Lean Cuisine's 'Spa Cuisine', which means it uses 100% whole grains, no preservatives and no artificial flavors. I liked that a lot. It was almost like Sonoma but without the chopping and cooking. Lazy Sonoma.
I also found the Chicken Pecan tasty. The tastiness of the dishes was very surprising to me, as I am used to frozen meals tasting like particularly chewy cardboard. I think this is because I've mostly tried pastas in the past.
Overall, though the Lean Cuisine is a little more expensive, if I had to choose one, I'd go with that. Probably because Sonoma has trained me so well. I am wary of white grains. Bad grains.
The thing about TV dinners is, however, no matter how tasty or healthy...they don't leave me feeling quite full. Almost full. But not quite. Not sure what to do about this. I may try adding a piece of fruit. Then again, if I started to eat regular breakfast again, I might not be so hungry at lunch and this might not be a problem anymore.
Cuz you're on the right track...
Day: 1
Mood: Bright Outlook
Weight: 34
That's right, those extra pounds don't WANT to stay on. They just need a little encouragement to drop off the face of the earth (or get burnt to a crisp in this heat).
Exercise: 30 minute speedwalk/run
Breakfast: Skipped because I am a horribly unhealthy person...and I didn't feel like eating my yogurt
Lunch: Chicken Pecan Lean Cuisine made with whole grain (6g fat, 260 cal, 4 g dietary fiber, 5 points), Maggie Moo's Red Bull Sorbet (I can't help it- they're EVERYWHERE!!!)
Snack: 2 pieces of gum, water; 100 calorie Nabisco snack pouch (Oreo. New Favorite thing.
Dinner: Garlic-Lemon Chicken (from book of Mediterranean recipes- Mmmm!) with whole grain rice and a salad made of lettuce and bleu cheese. White wine. Delish.
Quote of the Day:
Bear in mind that you should conduct yourself in life as at a feast.
~ Epictetus
Mood: Bright Outlook
Weight: 34
That's right, those extra pounds don't WANT to stay on. They just need a little encouragement to drop off the face of the earth (or get burnt to a crisp in this heat).
Exercise: 30 minute speedwalk/run
Breakfast: Skipped because I am a horribly unhealthy person...and I didn't feel like eating my yogurt
Lunch: Chicken Pecan Lean Cuisine made with whole grain (6g fat, 260 cal, 4 g dietary fiber, 5 points), Maggie Moo's Red Bull Sorbet (I can't help it- they're EVERYWHERE!!!)
Snack: 2 pieces of gum, water; 100 calorie Nabisco snack pouch (Oreo. New Favorite thing.
Dinner: Garlic-Lemon Chicken (from book of Mediterranean recipes- Mmmm!) with whole grain rice and a salad made of lettuce and bleu cheese. White wine. Delish.
Quote of the Day:
Bear in mind that you should conduct yourself in life as at a feast.
~ Epictetus
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Oops, let's try this again...
Day: I'm not counting this up...tomorrow I'll start over, at 1.
Mood: Nothing wrong with admitting I was wrong and starting over...
Weight: (hangs head and whispers)...36
I'm back.
Apparently, I have to account for what I eat (if only to myself). I kept eating like a runner when I wasn't running so much anymore and was back up to 30 by the beginning of the summer. Then I went on a cruise. Then I went to the beach for a week and ate constantly.
So...36 pounds to lose before I hit my ideal weight.
Okay. Alright.
Am considering hopping back on the Sonoma Diet, but I have very little money right now for all of the fresh food.
Exercise: 30 minute speedwalk/run
Breakfast: Sugar-free popsicle (meant to eat more, but somehow didn't)
Snack: Maggie Moo's Red Bull Sorbet (a co-worker won some for free from a radio station...only 90 calories and, luckily, tasted better than Red Bull)
Lunch: Weight Watchers Smart Ones Santa Fe Style Rice and Beans (310 calories, 7g Fat, 4g Dietary Fiber, 6 points)...have decided the secret to not spending lots of money/calories at work is to find interesting and easy things to eat...Pink20, Water for Women (no cal, full of vitamins and calcium and stuff women need)
Snack:Maggie Moo's Red Bull Sorbet (they left a lot in our office freezer), 2 sugar-free popsicles
Dinner: Persian roll (don't know what kind of bread this is exactly, but it only cost 33 cents), Spanish egg (with beans and orange pepper)
Snack: Smart Pop Kettle Korn popcorn (uh...entire bag), Hershey's syrup (not sure how much)...problem: I like to eat in the evenings while I write.
Goals:
- Drink More Water
- Develop new eating plan
- Develop new exercise plan
- STICK TO THEM!!!
Quote of the Day:
If at first you don't succeed...try, try again!
Mood: Nothing wrong with admitting I was wrong and starting over...
Weight: (hangs head and whispers)...36
I'm back.
Apparently, I have to account for what I eat (if only to myself). I kept eating like a runner when I wasn't running so much anymore and was back up to 30 by the beginning of the summer. Then I went on a cruise. Then I went to the beach for a week and ate constantly.
So...36 pounds to lose before I hit my ideal weight.
Okay. Alright.
Am considering hopping back on the Sonoma Diet, but I have very little money right now for all of the fresh food.
Exercise: 30 minute speedwalk/run
Breakfast: Sugar-free popsicle (meant to eat more, but somehow didn't)
Snack: Maggie Moo's Red Bull Sorbet (a co-worker won some for free from a radio station...only 90 calories and, luckily, tasted better than Red Bull)
Lunch: Weight Watchers Smart Ones Santa Fe Style Rice and Beans (310 calories, 7g Fat, 4g Dietary Fiber, 6 points)...have decided the secret to not spending lots of money/calories at work is to find interesting and easy things to eat...Pink20, Water for Women (no cal, full of vitamins and calcium and stuff women need)
Snack:Maggie Moo's Red Bull Sorbet (they left a lot in our office freezer), 2 sugar-free popsicles
Dinner: Persian roll (don't know what kind of bread this is exactly, but it only cost 33 cents), Spanish egg (with beans and orange pepper)
Snack: Smart Pop Kettle Korn popcorn (uh...entire bag), Hershey's syrup (not sure how much)...problem: I like to eat in the evenings while I write.
Goals:
- Drink More Water
- Develop new eating plan
- Develop new exercise plan
- STICK TO THEM!!!
Quote of the Day:
If at first you don't succeed...try, try again!
