We previously highlighted the Best Food Products of 2008 chosen by FoodProcessing.com and Hormel Compleats was one of the chosen few. Hormel Compleats can be microwaved in the tray in 90 seconds and do not need to be frozen or refrigerated. Healthy Choice also recently introduced Fresh Mixers, which is another line of meals that is shelf stable and doesn't need to be refrigerated.

We decided to compare a meal from Hormel Compleats for Healthy Lifestyle and Healthy Choice Fresh Mixers to see which one has better nutrition stats. The contenders: Hormel Compleats Beef Steak & Peppers with Noodles and Healthy Choice Szechwan Beef with Asian Style Noodles.

I was actually surprised that Hormel Compleats weighed more, cost less and had as good as, if not better, nutritional stats than Healthy Choice Fresh Mixers. Although the 2 products are not exactly the same, I looked through all the choices of both, and this looks like the trend. But the "Healthy Choice" brand name is more well known and associated with the "diet foods" market - or whatever it is they call themselves these days.