Diet Food Reviews
Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers Roasted Chicken Chardonnay
By: | Jul 16, 2007
Healthy Choice didn't just come out with a new meal, they came out with a whole new microwaveable meal concept with their Cafe Steamers line - Steams Fresh in Your Microwave. The sauce is in a special compartment on the bottom which acts as a steaming agent for the rest of the meal in a separate compartment above. I'm probably making it sound more complicated than it really is - all you have to do is remove the meal from the box and put it in the microwave (no need to remove the plastic wrap). When it's done, take out the inner steamer tray and slide the food into the bottom tray which will have the sauce. This technology also cuts cooking time from four minutes to three.
I tried the Roasted Chicken Chardonnay which is chicken breast with pasta and vegetables in a creamy chardonnay wine sauce. The flavors were subtle and delicate, and I enjoyed this meal. I did think it could have used more salt (how ironic it is that there is 23% of the recommended daily amount of sodium in this - and here I am wishing it had even more)! I liked the inovation in technology, and while I did notice the reduced cooking time, I don't know if there was any improvement in quality - if anybody else has tried the Cafe Steamers, we would love to know if you think it tastes better than the regular microwaveable meals.
One serving of Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers Roasted Chicken Chardonnay has 270 calories, 6 grams of total fat and 2 grams of saturated fat, which are both 10% of the RDA, no trans fat, 23% RDA for sodium, 10% of the RDA for cholesterol, 22 grams of protein and 30 grams of total carbohydrates, which includes 2 grams of sugar and 16% of the RDA for dietary fiber (4 grams).
I haven't seen a meal with cholesterol in a long time - so I am concluding that "steaming" doesn't equate to healthier in this case. As usual Healthy Choice can usually be found on sale for a little less than $3.00, but note that the Cafe Steamers line costs more than the regular ones. Is it worth paying extra? I'm not sure, but I'm leaning towards ... no.
See more on: Frozen Meals
, chicken, frozen dinner
| 20 Comments
20 Comments
Leave a comment
Recent Reviews
What We're Cooking
- Weekly Healthy Meals & Menu Plan. Gear up for the Holidays
- Recipe for Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Apples
- Weekly Healthy Meal & Menu Plan Pre-Thanksgiving
- Simple Quick & Easy Tossed Salad
- Weekly Healthy Meal & Menu Plan for the Start of the Holiday Season
- Low Calorie Lunch: Bell Pepper Tuna Boat
Saving on Healthy Foods
Top 20 Tags
Recent Comments
In Australia the way these things are advertised makes them look disgusting. One night, however, I was so tired I just picked one up and tried it - not bad.
I tried the Beef version (err don't remember the exact name, but it was beef with vegetables) and I liked it a LOT better than normal Lean Cuisine beef meals. They had sugarsnap peas (I think? lol they were the whole pea stalk) and they were crunchy and yummy! The beef didn't taste like frozen beef normally does (gross with a hint of "oh god is this going to give me the poops?"
Doubt it's healthier, but it's tastier!
the dinner the guy is referring to is beef merlot. i run the production line that produces these meals. as for as production goes these dinners are a challenge. i hope everyone enjoys
Thanks JP. Good to hear from the pros. I like the concept and I'm looking forward to trying more.
These things are nothing more than a marketing scheme, and they're gross. They took a perfectly functional microwavable meal and turned it into a soupy mess that costs even more than before and requires more work to cook. I guess their sales were lax, and they wanted to change something. Well, they did; they lost a customer. Marie Callender's, here I come!
I'm enjoying the Cajun Chicken and Shrimp as I type. It's not bad. I love the steam tray concept. Would buy again.
Anonymous: the original Healthy Choice meals still exist, so you can always get those. As for Marie Callender's meal - notice how you haven't seen any reviews on here of those - hardly any under 600 calories and usually more than 50% of the daily sodium allotment in one meal - no thanks! But to each his own.
I've tried every lean cuisine, south beach, kashi, smart food, etc. meals out there. The healthy choice steamers are not bad at all. Could use a bit more flavoring but it tastes like food, not some food byproduct. The boca soy chili is pretty good too.
chef steamers are better than peanutbutter jelly.they are fantastic.
Ok, I'm really enjoying the chicken w/red pepper in alfredo sauce right now & I have to say that for being a microwave meal it is VERY good. I had the dill salmon last week & it just needed a little pepper for the perfect flavoring. Marie Callender's line is AWFUL imo. I've tried it a couple of times & it is saturated in salt! This, to me, is better than the original Healthy Choice line. thanks jp!
I have tried the Cajun Chicken & Shrimp, and the Chicken w/Red Pepper Alfredo. both are VERY good!!! I think these are much better than other low fat frozen meals and I would definitely buy them again. At Super Wal-Mart, they are only $2.58.
I think the steamers are great. They're easy to fix and taste better than the typical Lean Cuisine or Healthy Choice dinner. Our favorites are the Chicken w/Red Pepper Alfredo and the General Tso's Chicken. I will definitely buy the steamers again. Thanks for all your hard work, JP!
I just had a cafe steamer healthy choice meal, and I must say it was a fantastic frozen to thawed meal! I've eaten a lot of frozen food (no time to cook most days) and the meat was juicy and tender, the vegetables were tasty and crisp, the pasta was firm and good, and the sauce was a great touch. I had to add a little spice to it, but that's not big deal at all. I'm excited to try this product again, what a quick and easy meal to make, and filling for under 300 calories!
As a professional chef, I am usually very disappointed in the quality of ANY frozen meal. However, after trying the Cafe Steamers line from Healthy Choice, I am falling in love with frozen meals. The Roasted Chicken Chardonnay has a sauce which is somewhat complex while retaining its delicate nature. The Salmon and Pasta with Dill Sauce is another winner. In fact, aside from the cajun inspired Chicken and Shrimp, which is completely insipid, every one of these dishes is of the highest quality. I love them! These are the best frozen dinners on the market and the steaming process seems to create a meal that is VERY close to freshly prepared. Excellent!
i eat one of these cafe steamers almost every day for lunch. anyone who says these are terrible must not have been around the block with frozen dinners. as someone who has a problem with portion regulation, these are the freshest, most filling and high quality dinners on the market. sure, you can buy a marie calendars or something else, but they are loaded with salt, fat, calories...you name it. they aren't very inexpensive either. sooo...why not head to wendys for lunch? i applaud healthy choice for these as someone who is trying to shed a few lbs for her upcoming wedding, and doesnt feel like they have to resort to ricecakes and water. My favorites is the chicken marinara, i just tried the tuscany today which was fabulous, and i also enjoy the chardonney. keep in mind it IS a frozen meal that took 4 minutes to nuke, but when you eat it you almost forget that part!
As someone who is also trying to shed a few pounds, I found the Roasted Chicken Chardonnay to be delicious!
I heated it up a little longer than said and added an extra pinch of salt and parmasan cheese and alot of pepper and it was definately my number two on favorite frozen dinners. (#1 being the Creamy Rigatoni w/Chicken & Broccoli from Smart Ones)
The thing is... You can't expect it to be top quality... It's a frozen meal! But just like "s" said, If you're looking for portion control, easy cooking, and a meal under 300 calories... This one's for you.
My husband and I have just discovered Cafe Steamers. We love them!! Both of us are very busy and we are trying to lose some weight and they are perfect for taste, portion control, and low in calories. Keep on making them!!!!
I think they are tasty and the portion size is more generous. I feel full longer. I think they are a homerun.
I bought 4 of these for 8 bucks for lunch at work. I have 2 chicken with marinara and 2 chicken with peppers and some cream sauce. I have to say they are very good and much more filling than lean cuisine...which just piss me off. the combonation of protiens, carbs and fats make them very satisfying and they do not make me sleepy or still hungry after eating...to have lunch for 2 bucks a day... i will be buying more.
The trick with these is to cook them longer than it says. Or let it sit a few min before yo eat it