I’m Just Not a Same Ole, Same Ole Gal. Are you?

It’s true.  I like variety.

As you have gotten to know me this year, you realize this blog is a hodgepodge. I write about parenting, travel, food, and whatever inspires me that day.  I can’t just stick with one topic, or I would be bored.

I like variety in my closet, too.  You can find lively Lilly to Bohemian chic.  Classic Prep to Trendy.  I’m either a stylist’s dream or her worst nightmare.

My husband, on the other hand, shops at only one men’s store, and every day he totes one ham or turkey sandwich with provolone cheese, some type of half-sandwich, and a handful of tortilla chips in a Tupperware container to his office. 

I just can’t eat the same thing every day like he does.  That’s why you can find me lunching with my mom quite frequently, which is not good for the family budget.  I get tired of the same ole sandwich, and sometimes I want to eat a meal that requires a fork.  In fact, when I was in the working world, I ate out every day and probably spent at least $50 of my salary each week.  Did you know that is $2,600 a year?  Yikes.  It’s also hard to keep those restaurant calories in check.

Healthy Choice sent me two entrees to review

When theMotherhood asked me to give my opinion about the new Healthy Choice Top Chef Inspired Café Steamers, I welcomed the opportunity to put some variety in my lunch choices at home.  I lived off of Healthy Choice in my twenties because it was certainly easier to eat those than to cook for one.  Since having a family, though, I have rarely purchased the frozen, single-serving entrées.

Truthfully, I had no idea that Café Steamers were on the market.  I don’t watch Bravo’s Top Chef, and all that I really know about that show is that the contestants can cook better than I can.  In case you didn’t know, either, Bravo’s Top Chef and Healthy Choice have partnered to introduce an exclusive line of dishes that combine bold, innovative, and exciting flavors.

This exclusive new line includes eight healthy varieties that utilize proprietary steaming technology that produces a fresh-tasting meal in minutes.  The unique steaming technology separates the sauce from the rest of the entrée to steam the meal in the microwave, allowing for crisp vegetables, tender meats and al dente pastas.

Will Healthy Choice Break Me from the Same Ole Same Ole Lunch at Home?

I have to admit that I was excited to eat something other than a sandwich for lunch when I popped a café steamer into the microwave.  The first entrée I tried was the Grilled Vegetable Mediterranean with Rice.  What I liked about it was that it was 230 calories and that it had no preservatives.  Honestly, I think I loved having something other than a sandwich to eat for lunch, and eating something hot, healthy, and only 230 calories more than I loved the taste of entrée.  I can’t put my finger on it.  It was just OK to me, but not really memorable.  I also don’t think I’m a big fan of barley, which is an ingredient in the dish. Will I buy this one again?  Maybe. I think it deserves another taste, but based on my tastes, I think I personally would choose the other seven over this one.  They seem more appealing to me.

Two days later, I happily opened the Barbecue Seasoned Steak with Red Potatoes.

Healthy Choice Entree

There is something about a hot meal that is just pleasing to the palate.  In less than five minutes, I sat down at my computer and took my first bite.  WOW! I loved this entrée.  This was “clean the plate good, and wish you had a little bit more.”  It was a great lunch for me.  It was 330 calories, 20 grams of protein, and 4 grams of fiber.  I stayed full until dinner.  I highly recommend this entrée.  In fact, I have even thought about the entrée this week and wished I had another one in the freezer for lunch.

Will I be buying this entrée?  Yes, I’m going to be storing a lot in Baby Diva’s cart on our next trip to the grocery store.

Healthy Choice Top Chef Inspired Cafe Steamers will soon fill this cart
I don't have to eat the same ole, same ole sandwich again. 

Healthy Choice Top Chef Inspired Café Steamers will definitely give me the much-needed variety I crave in my lunch routine.  I no longer have to eat same ole, same ole again.  Who knows? Maybe my husband will even take one to work to change things up a bit.

These entrees are starting to appear on the grocery store aisles with a retail price of $2.75 to $3.50, which beats eating out.

For all the varieties on the market visit, www.healthychoice.com or www.bravotv.com/showdown

Disclosure: I was compensated by theMotherhood and Healthy Choice to write this post.   As always, my thoughts and opinions are my own, and are not influenced by the company. 

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