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Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion

frozen food

Two Thumbs Up: Personal Gourmet by Rose Reisman

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If you caught my post from a couple of weeks ago entitled I LOVE It: Personal Gourmet by Rose Reisman, you’ll know that I had the opportunity to test drive her Person Gourmet Frozen meal plan for two weeks.

(Delicious, healthy and convenient meals for two whole weeks? Twist my arm!)

Now that the program is over, I decided to take a moment to put some thoughts together on how to make the most of the service, and decided the best way to do that was to formulate some sort of list. Technically, the following points are just a collection of conversations I’ve had with family and friends, describing (and raving about) the program. So here we go… if you live in the Greater Toronto Area and are looking for healthy meal solutions, may I offer……

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Lena Loves… M&M Meat Shops

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REMINDER: Drawing for a winner tomorrow!


*Note: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only*

Here’s a challenge for you: when you think of M&M Meat Shops, what’s the first thing that comes to mind?
1. Delicious Taste
2. Quick, Convenient Meals
3. Frozen Food

4. Terrific Selection and Value
5. Healthy and Heart-Smart Options

I’d be willing to bet that any or all of the above could conceivably fit the bill. Now, what would happen if I removed “Frozen Food” from that list?

I just blew your mind, didn’t I? Well, it’s TRUE!

“M&M Meat Shops is pleased to introduce a fresh approach to convenient home-cooked meals that are ready when you are! Whether you have five minutes or 40, M&M Meat Shops Fresh Solutions entrées offer real meals with real flavour, really fast.

HOMESTYLE MEATLOAF W/ GRAVY

Tight on time? Visit the M&M Meat Shops coolers to discover the new Fresh Solutions entrée collection that includes: Chicken Masala, Beef Masala, Meatballs in Marinara Sauce, Pork Pot Roast, Homestyle Meatloaf with Gravy and Roast Turkey with Gravy. These slow-cooked, refrigerated mains are loaded with fork-tender meat and just the right amount of sauce. Each serves 2-3 or 2-4 people and is ready from the microwave in 14 minutes or less!”

I am so excited about the new Fresh Solutions collection, especially since I can now enjoy the taste and quality that I’ve become used to… in less time! And priced at just $8.99 each, M&M still has value in mind. If you do that math, it’s about $2.75 per person, which makes their fresh meals on par with the less flavourful, sodium-heavy frozen foods you’ll find at your neighbourhood grocery store. #winning!

PORK POT ROAST
I’ve been meaning to swing by my nearest M&M’s to pick up a few of the fresh entrées to try, but I’ve been otherwise busy with my mini renovations. And then it occurred to me – I can save myself the hassle of cooking, and offer a delicious meal my family will surely love! So hubby has official instructions to grab a few meals tonight. I’ve been dying to try the Roast Turkey with Gravy (I’m a sucker for holiday-esque meals), Chicken Masala (my mom makes a mean one – let’s see how M&M delivers) and Homestyle Meatloaf with Gravy (I never make meatloaf myself, but am not opposed to a little comfort food!). Reviews to come!

CHICKEN MASALA
And don’t forget… M&M Meat Shops offers a wonderful selection of slice ‘n serve or bake-it-yourself frozen desserts, including cookies, cakes, pies and squares to bring a sweet ending to any meal. After the recent Easter binge, I think I’ll be taking it light… but the Pineapple Skewers are a great option!
M&M Meat Shops offers hundreds of meal ideas for today’s busy families in just one aisle. Fresh Solutions entrées can be found at participating stores in the refrigerated section. For more information on M&M Meat Shops and to find meal ideas and recipes, visit www.mmmeatshops.com.


M&M Meat Shops has generously offered one Listen to Lena! reader the chance to win a $100 Gift Card! To enter, choose one Fresh Solutions entrée – then pair it with an appetizer, side and dessert from M&M’s huge selection of frozen goods. Leave a comment here with the four (4) items that you’ve selected to treat your family to.

You can also qualify for extra entries! Remember, you must leave a separate comment for each. You can:

(1) Follow my blog, Listen to Lena!
(2) “Like” Listen to Lena! on Facebook
(3) “Like” M&M Meat Shops on Facebook
(4) NEW Follow Listen to Lena! on Twitter
(5) Tweet about this giveaway (http://tinyurl.com/4359pbh). You may tweet daily.

I’ll draw for a winner on May 27th. Special thanks to M&M, and good luck everyone!

Healthy Choice Gourmet Steamers

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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.

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!

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!