Diet Food Reviews
Garden Lites Zucchini Portabella
By: | May 15, 2009
New products have the ability to make my day, especially if they're healthy, so when I saw Garden Lites Zucchini Portabella I was pretty excited. First of all, this is definitely a side dish or a snack. If you really wanted to make a meal of it I suppose you could add chicken or tofu, but it isn't quite hearty enough on its own. While not necessarily bad, it was basically a bunch of julienne vegetables in a tomato sauce, and while I enjoyed the taste, it was a tad too watery (water is even listed in the ingredients). I suppose I expected something more after shelling out a hefty $4.99.
Each Garden Lites Zucchini Portabella "bowl" (7 ounces) provides 80 calories (that's the tip off that this wasn't going to be a big meal), 4 grams of fat (none of which are saturated), 510 mg of sodium, 2 grams of protein and 12 grams of carbohydrates which includes 3 grams of fiber.
Other than the sodium, this is not too bad nutritionally, plus it's made of all natural ingredients too. On the ingredients list are zucchini, onions, tomatoes, water, portobello mushrooms, eggplant, canola oil, sugar, salt and spices - nothing foreign at all. Like I said I bought this at my local market for $4.99, and for an average tasting dish I found that pretty pricey! I might buy this again if I was really in a rush, but I think I could probably whip something up at home just as quickly.
See more on: Frozen Meals
, Vegetarian
, frozen dinner
| 16 Comments
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Hmmm. Too expensive, not enough food, but it sounds tasty! Maybe I can whip up my own copy-cat concoction in the kitchen.
Thanks for reviewing this - I've seen it in stores and wanted to try it! I think I'll save my money.
Where can I purchase garden-lites?
eek! I justed heated and tossed it in the garbage! it looked NOTHING like the picture on the box. I was almost afraid to try it finally did and looks were not deceiving. ick....
@Elaine try a store like Whole Foods.
@anonymous ewww - sorry you had such a bad experience.
I found Garden Lites Souffles at my local Shop Rite
I just tried Garden Lites Broccoli Souffle. Too bad it didn't look like the picture that shows a souffle with EGG. Broccoli from home would have been more tasty and at this price I could have had more food!!
Does anyone know if Garden Lite products are available anywhere in the southwest? I live near Phoenix and have tried Whole Foods, Trader Joes, Safeway, Albertsons, Walmart...to no avail :(
Liz- You can try a kosher market...I found a lot of gourmet markets have them now but even before they did, the souffles were in kosher markets.
Garden lite is a fraud, they use weight watchers points without permission are in breach of WW copyrights. They claim Glutten Free yet the manufacturer produces alot of gluten/flour based product out of the same plant. Finally the caloric claim is questionable. The product taste like cardboard and cost way too much for 7 oz.
Hi All,
Thanks for reviewing our Garden Lites product. We appreciate hearing your opinions, both positive and critical. Related to some of your comments, we’ve recently reformulated the entire line of Garden Lites products. In fact, you’ll be able to see them in about a month along with brand new, inviting packaging. That said, let me address the concerns you’ve raised:
1. Water in the product (Emily) – we initially made it too lite, and there was too much water. In the new formulation of the Zucchini dishes, we’ve reduced much of the water, which will help bring out more of the taste.
2. Taste not where it should be (Rosemary) – we’ve made the product tastier, but it cost us a few calories. The new Zucc Port will be 110 calories and 2 WW points.
3. High Cost (Almar): we are working with various grocery chains and have the product in many stores everyday between $2.99 - $3.99.
4. Claim: We used Weight Watcher points without permission (Almar) – Actually, we have a contract with WW which allows us to put the points value of the product on the back of the box.
5. Claim: Not Gluten Free (Almar) – In reality, we are a strict HAACP facility prescribing to all food safety rules and regs with the approved sanitization and sterilization of machinery that allows us to be gluten free.
6. Claim: We aren’t being honest about the calories (Almar): Our products are sent out to independent labs to ensure precise nutrition facts.
For those of you who enjoy the products now – it’s only getting better. Those with a less-than-amazing experience, I hope you’ll give us another try with our new iteration. We’re also working on a new website to allow for more consumer interaction with the brand. The site should be up and running soon. BTW – to get a sneak peek of the new package, visit the placeholder garden-lites.com. They’re early mock-ups – the real ones will be a bit different with different nutritionals.
Thanks again for your feedback. It is always appreciated as we look to create a brand that is not only healthy but tastes great.
Best,
Eli Weinstock
VP Sales and Marketing
Hi Ladies, I just want you to know that I to have bought every single Garden Lites Product.. But I have only the most amazing things to say. First Off the Spinach, Cauliflower and Butternut Squash Souffle are the most amazing healthy (frozen)food I have tried.. I bought out the whole entire frozen food section of Shoprite.. Remember healthy food is always going to be pricier than unhealthy food. I have lost a total of 65lbs since my 11month old son was born and my mom has lost 40lbs these really came into our lives at the right time. I was getting so bored of the same old food. The Cauliflower and butternut Squash remind me of my great grandmas cooking during the Jewish holiday. Minus the 1000 calories. I have to agree that the Zuchinni was not even worth the 80 calories of watery soup.. But you could pour that over chicken or fish..anyway Keep up the Great work Garden Lites.. New Jersey Loves YOu!!!! p.s. my 11month old son Jacob loves them!!!!!
This is absolutely the worse product I have ever bought. The box looked so inviting and I enjoy vegies so I tried it. The picture on the box is a joke. I am suggesting to Shop Rite to discontinue selling your product. Completely fooling the consumer like me, You should be ashamed.I spent $2,99 for garbage.
Where can I buy Garden Lites souoffles in the Highland Park, IL area?
can you please be so kind as to tell me where in the 11743 area code of long island or close by that i can purchase your products for under 4.00 or 5.00 the price is absolutely off the top..pleae guide me in the right direction..thanks..516-637-1609
I bought your butternut squash 70 calories per serving and yes it cost 5.49 that is alot it was a great product I went back to waldbaums on long Island, ny but they did not have any more and 5 other waldbaums never had it so I found them ai fairway supermarket but the product was different more calories 180 for the squash and not at all the same product. so I am confused as to which butternut aquash 70 calorie or 180 calorie is the newer one hope it's the 70 calorie it was great it's hard to find this product. harriot young