Originally Posted by Lyn2007:
When I want pizza, I eat Red Baron Four Cheese Thin Crust individual pizzas. They are 300 calories which is the same or better than the "diet" pizzas but they taste SO GOOD.

I love those stupid pizzas. They really are delicious, though I try not to buy them very often. The only time I ever eat pasta anymore is in a Lean Cuisine. I just can't be trusted around it.

I eat the box meals, but I try to sync it up with what my family is having for dinner.
For instance: They order Pizza Hut, I bust out the LC Pizzas (And I agree, the Garlic and Chicken pizza is really good!). My brothers get Stoffers gourmet calorie-packed lasagna and I'll have the LC version. I think it works out well and it helps me with portion control too.

I personally hate them--- I think that anything that has tons of varieties and they ALL smell the same once nuked is a scary thing. :)

I think for 300 calories you can get a LOT more food... If I'm going to stick something in the microwave at work, I bring leftovers from what I cooked for dinner the night before, just in a smaller quantity. Nutritionally better for you, I'm sure... and I know *exactly* what's in it!

I keep a few on hand for emergencies. I like kashi and HC the best. I try to not to eat too much processed foods. But I do feel that is it better to grab a low cal boxed meal and add some veggies in a pinch than running off to the local burger joint for a gut bomb and fries when I am in a hurry.

I figure if it is between a LC and a frantic call to Pizza Hut ordering things I will hate myself for in a span of twenty mins...then heck yes go LC, lol. Besides I am all types of proud of myself when I don't fix 3 LCs to eat and can stick with one, lmao.

They are good in pinch, but I would add a veg & dairy serving.

For more than a pinch, they are too salty for me & I try to stay away if the ingredient list is really long. But you know we all have those days where we don't want to cook & it's either that or a bowl of cereal. ;)

guilt free indulgence
 

Originally Posted by thistoo:
I love those stupid pizzas. They really are delicious, though I try not to buy them very often. The only time I ever eat pasta anymore is in a Lean Cuisine. I just can't be trusted around it.

This is exactly why I like the prepackaged meals. I know that there are some foods that limiting my portions is much easier if I pay someone else to do that part. Then I can feel at ease that I will eat only a portion which doesn't later create a guilty giving up.

Originally Posted by txsqlchick:
I try to eat "real" food for dinner too, but at lunch it's usually a Lean Cuisine. They're so easy to throw in the fridge at work and nuke at lunchtime.

I love the LC and SmartChoice, they are portion controlled and even cheaper than the other options, like a huge salad I will drench with dressing, or a sub is $8 here. So I enjoy them witha yogurt to up the protein in them and some fruit.

Honestly, I do eat quite a few of these... I know they are PACKED with sodium so I try to look for the ones that have less than the others. And I always add a serving of fruit/veggies, protein, or both, just to be sure that I'm getting some nutrition with my meal. I usually eat a lot of LC and Michelina's Lean Gourmet... Occasionally a Smart Choice but eh. I like to get Amy's Kitchen stuff, too, since I'm a vegetarian. And I love getting pre-packaged things from Trader Joe's!! They're usually a bit healthier than other brands. Mmmm. :)

I agree with what a lot of people have been saying--they are SO convenient, and I like that it pretty much forces you to control your portion on something that might normally trigger overeating, such as pizza or pasta. I would never pick out a piece of pizza the size of a postage stamp out of a big box of pizza (lol) but when I actually eat the single serving (along with some veggies or tofu or what have you) it's surprisingly filling... Same with the pasta. It looks like such a small amount but I always end up full. :D

I hope the fact that I eat these a lot doesn't hurt my weight loss. I've given up a LOT of things for my plan... But pleeease don't make me give up my frozen dinners, too! Lol.