Michelinas Lean Gourmet Beef Pepper Steak and Rice

By: Tanya Taylor, PhD | Jan 21, 2006

I really do love Michelina's Lean Gourmet. I love that the meals are very affordable, and mostly healthy. I just reviewed the Roasted Sirloin Supreme and talked about how much I loved the Five Cheese Lasagna, but now, unfortunately, I've hit upon one of Michelina's meals that I really didn't care for, the Beef Pepper Steak and Rice. As usual, I went to Michelina's website for some explanations.

You say, "try one bite of this entree, and you won't believe that it's low fat." True enough. "You'll find hearty beef strips, juicy green bell peppers and mild onions in a light sauce, all nestled on a bed of soft white rice." What's this light sauce you refer to? Why didn't you warn us that it is basically a tomato based sauce. I have made no secret of my dislike for tomato paste, and I don't think it goes well with pepper steak anyway, but my taste buds were totally unprepared for this taste. Maybe if I has been forewarned by some reference to the type of sauce on your packaging, I would not have disliked it as much.

I'm also used to seeing a bit more meat than I saw in this Lean Gourmet meal - it was pretty skimpy. I know Michelina's is a smaller portion than many of us are used to, but not so much less! I counted about 5 small pieces total. Of course, not having a lot of meat, and having smaller portions means that this meal is only 260 calories, 4.5 grams of fat (7% of daily recommendations), 1.5 grams of saturated fat - but somehow it still manages to have 880 mg of sodium (37% of recommended daily amounts).

I still love you Michelina's, but I might have to stay away from this Beef Pepper Steak.

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