The very first time I tried a frozen entrée was when I moved into my then-fiancés condo. Since he had been living alone for quite some time, and was dependent on quick and easy meals, he had quite the assortment of tv dinners – or, “emergency food” as he liked to call them.
Well, since the introduction of moi, my husband’s stash of frozen meals has decreased dramatically. But, it’s still very common to find emergency food in our freezer; normally his 10:00pm fix if he’s hungry again after an early dinner.
However, I’m incredibly picky about which entrées make it home with us; I regularly check fat, sodium and fibre content before a product makes the cut. That’s why I’m really enjoying NEW Healthy Choice Gourmet Steamers.
With Healthy Choice Gourmet Steamers, you can enjoy unbelievably fresh tasting, healthy meals cooked to perfection in your microwave. The secret? High-quality ingredients and a unique DuoTray SteamCooker which circulates steam throughout the meal during cooking.
The good folks at Healthy Choice sent me a selection of Gourmet Steamers to review. Most of the products were enjoyed by my husband, but he did save me at least a couple of forkfuls per meal ;) We tried Cajun Chicken & Shrimp, Mediterranean Grilled Chicken, Sweet Sesame Chicken and Thai Curry Chicken.
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PICTURED: SWEET SESAME CHICKEN |
First, the cooking technique is pretty darn revolutionary. The steamer basket is filled with meat, vegetables and pasta, potatoes or rice (perfectly portioned – you’ll definitely get your full servings from Canada’s Food Guide). The meal rests above the sauce bowl, and your microwave helps create steam from the sauce which cooks the meal in the steamer basket. To finish, simply combine the ingredients. The sauce bowl can double as a convenient serving bowl, and I love that you can add as much or as little sauce as you want!
You can see the steam in action here.
Now the important part – the taste. The very first time I tried the Thai Curry Chicken, I pushed it away. You may laugh, but I almost found it tasted TOO healthy. Where was the salty, over processed mystery meat that I had come to identify with? But after a few more forkfuls, my opinion began to change subtly… I noticed the crispness of the vegetables, the tenderness of the meat, and of course, the delicate sauce that was perfectly seasoned and not over-processed at all. And all of a sudden, I realized that THIS is how healthy entrées should taste! Two thumbs up!
With summer around the corner (read: shorts and swimsuits!), why not trade fast food for quick, convenient and healthier choices. You’ll look better – and feel better too. And when you visit Healthy Choice Canada’s website, you can discover ways to add a healthy balance to your life, including low-impact exercise ideas, stress-less plans, cuisines to complement your lifestyle, and more!
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PICTURED: CAJUN CHICKEN & SHRIMP |
Be sure to join Healthy Choice Canada on Facebook for expert advice, nutrition tips and exclusive offers. You can also check out the latest articles and discussions from Margaret Wallis-Duffy (one of Canada’s foremost educators, corporate speakers and authors in the health and wellness industry) and Bruno LoGreco (Professional Life Coach who has been applying his gifts for motivating and mentoring others seeking to live happier and healthier lives for more than 10 years).
My family will be making the move from “emergency food” to Healthy Choice Gourmet Steamers. Go on and try them – I promise, you won’t look at frozen entrées the same way again!
Good to know!! I've always been weary of buying anything but mac & cheese from the frozen food section. The meat honestly scares me, and the salt content usually makes the meal not worth it! I'll have to give these a try. Thx :)
Good to know!! I've always been weary of buying anything but mac & cheese from the frozen food section. The meat honestly scares me, and the salt content usually makes the meal not worth it! I'll have to give these a try. Thx :)
I think that's the only one I haven't tried, I'll take your word for it and try it next. They are great for quick meals, and usually you can get them on sale too!Thanks for the great review, Lena!
I think that's the only one I haven't tried, I'll take your word for it and try it next. They are great for quick meals, and usually you can get them on sale too!Thanks for the great review, Lena!
@Shauna – give 'em a try. The sodium content is a tad higher than I'd like (approx. 600mg per meal) but I like that since you control the amount of sauce, you can control the salt too (we only used half of it most of the time). @Tammi – They're almost always on sale! Try the Thai Chicken and the Mediterranean Chicken – my two faves.
@Shauna – give 'em a try. The sodium content is a tad higher than I'd like (approx. 600mg per meal) but I like that since you control the amount of sauce, you can control the salt too (we only used half of it most of the time). @Tammi – They're almost always on sale! Try the Thai Chicken and the Mediterranean Chicken – my two faves.
I actually do like these and buy them all the time, my fav is the grilled chicken. I like how the chicken pieces are actually big and don't taste fake and rubbery. Plus I usually have coupons for these too (find them in grocery stores around the products) and it's a decent value.
I actually do like these and buy them all the time, my fav is the grilled chicken. I like how the chicken pieces are actually big and don't taste fake and rubbery. Plus I usually have coupons for these too (find them in grocery stores around the products) and it's a decent value.
I've tried these before and love them. You are bang on when you say they can taste 'too healthy' but that just shows you how horrible other frozen dinners are.
I've tried these before and love them. You are bang on when you say they can taste 'too healthy' but that just shows you how horrible other frozen dinners are.
I love quick and easy food. Especially for work. Thanks for sharing. I must try this out!
I love quick and easy food. Especially for work. Thanks for sharing. I must try this out!
I love these! My fav is General Tao Chicken….it doesn't taste like a f-f-f-frozen dinner!