In 1981, Nestle started the Lean Cuisine brand as an offshoot of its famous Stouffer's frozen food brand. Lean Cuisine microwave meals appeal to dieters and those who are interested in eating quick, low-fat, low-calorie entrees.
The Roasted Honey Chicken entree is one of Lean Cuisine's dishes. This chicken entree uses Asian-inspired flavors to create a light, sweet and savory stir-fry served over whole grains.
Product Line
Lean Cuisine Roasted Honey Chicken entree is part of the company's Spa Cuisine product line, which was launched in 2005. The sixteen Spa Cuisine entrees contain 3 to 6 grams of fiber, and also use no artificial flavors or preservatives. All of the Spa Cuisine entrees have 310 calories or less per a serving. Whole grains are used in all the meals.
Ingredients
The Roasted Honey Chicken entree has roasted white-meat chicken, carrots, snap peas and yellow beans coated in a honey sauce. This sweet chicken and vegetable stir-fry is served with whole wheat orzo. Orzo is a rice-like pasta, and it has a slightly nutty flavor.
The honey sauce is made of ingredients like: chicken broth, brown sugar, roasted red pepper puree, soy sauce, sauteed vegetables, soybean oil, canola oil, water, chicken fat, garlic, apple cider vinegar, spices, chicken flavor, orange juice concentrate and yeast extract.
Nutritional Information
One package of Roasted Honey Chicken has 300 calories, 4 g of total fat and 1 g of saturated fat. It also contains 46 g of carbohydrates, including 18 g of sugars and 5 g of fiber. The meal contains 18 g of protein. Sodium is at 560 mg, or about 25% of a daily value for a 2,000 calorie diet.
Although low in calories and fat, the Roasted Honey Chicken entree is a bit high in sugar and sodium. However the amount fiber in this dish is a good amount for a frozen entree.
Healthy Eating Options
Although a Lean Cuisine Roasted Honey Chicken entree is relatively healthy, it's important to round out your quick meal so it's more filling. If you eat less than 400 calories for one meal, you might be still hungry and indulge in junk food.
You can pick an item like a whole grain roll, a side salad, fresh fruit, small yogurt or another healthy side dish to complete the meal and add extra nutrients. You should also vary your eating patterns, and choose fresh foods in addition to the occasional frozen entree.
References
- Lean Cuisine: Nutritional Information for Roasted Honey Chicken
- Lean Cuisine: FAQs
- "Refrigerated & Frozen Foods" magazine; State of the Industry: Driven to Succeed Healthy New Product Activity Targets Upscale Taste, Ethnic Adventure and, Yes, Even Health Itself; June 2005
- MSNBC; Should You Defrost Your Diet? Frozen Meals May Be Quick and Easy, But Weight-loss Is Another Question; Karen Collins; April 2006
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