Healthy Choice Gourmet Steamers Archives

Note: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only.

Sigh, it’s my last Reno-cation giveaway! I’ve had such an awesome time showcasing my new abode – and the companies that made it possible. Here’s another sponsor who made my life SO MUCH easier amidst the chaos: ConAgra Foods.

Now I know you’ve enjoyed goodies from one (or more) of their awesome brands – Chef Boyardee, Healthy Choice, Hunt’s, Orville Redenbacher’s, PAM, POGO, Snack Pack and VH – at any given time, my pantry is stocked with these products!

We’ve already agreed that cooking was not my priority during the renovations, so when the good folks at ConAgra Foods asked if I needed a little help in the kitchen, I responded with a resounding “YES!”

I was very lucky to have received a sampling of their most delicious foods to help create quick and simple meals, and of course, facilitate late night snacks! (Thank you Orville – your New Flavour Shakers White Cheddar Popcorn is simply delicious!)

I’m sure you’ve heard me say Ryder is addicted to popcorn, so his eyes literally lit up when the Smart Pop made it’s way to the pantry. (Did you know that Smart Pop has only 130 calories per 7 cups, 0 trans fat and 20% of your daily value for fibre, per 1/2 bag? Yup, it’s pretty much the perfect snack.)

If you didn’t catch my review on Healthy Choice Gourmet Steamers, shame on you! You’ve likely missed out on tons of quick, delicious and healthy meals!

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.

And if you’re looking for equally delicious, Asian-inspired meals, then you simply must try VH Steamers. I must admit, they’re my fave. Using a similar cooking technology as the Healthy Choice Gourmet Steamers, flavour is locked in – which is especially awesome when the flavour is Shanghai Ginger Beef :)

(The husband has declared VH Steamers his new “emergency food”! They are stacked in my freezer at any given time.)

Wondering what I did with all the other goodies I received? I prepared the EASIEST MEAL EVER – which loosely consists of me throwing together a few items while masquerading as a master chef. Write this down:

Lena’s Quick Un-Pad Thai
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cooking Time: 5 minutes

250g capellini pasta
1 clove garlic, minced
1 cup medium cooked shrimp, deveined
3/4 cup VH Thai Market Pad Thai Sauce
2-3 leaves fresh basil, chiffonade cut
Original PAM Cooking Spray

In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook capellini according to manufacturer’s directions (normally only about 3-4 minutes).

Meanwhile, spray a wok or large pan with PAM cooking spray; set on medium heat. Add minced garlic and fry barely 30 seconds; add shrimp and VH Market Pad Thai Sauce and stir for 1 minute until heated through. Toss with drained pasta, remove to serving bowl and sprinkle with fresh basil.

Ta-da! A delicious, Asian-inspired meal that you can create in minutes if you’ve got a few staple ingredients on hand – including the VH Sauce, of course! All my boys gobble it up, and even though it’s not strictly authentic, the flavours are nonetheless perfectly balanced.

You find all the ConAgra brands at your local supermarket!

One lucky Listen to Lena! reader will win Five (5) Healthy Choice Gourmet Steamers Free Product Coupons and Five (5) VH Steamers Free Product Coupons! (Total Value $50)

To enter, simply visit Healthy Choice Gourmet Steamers and VH Sauces online and choose your two favourite flavours from each of the steamers. Then, leave a comment here telling us what they are.

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) NEW Follow Listen to Lena! on Twitter
(4) “Like” Healthy Choice Canada on Facebook
(5) “Like” Life Unjarred on Facebook
(6) Tweet daily: Please use this ConAgra Foods Giveaway Tweet.

I’ll draw for a winner on June 30th. Good luck everybody!

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!