Slim Pickings

Stouffer's Fit Kitchen Monterey Chicken frozen meal
Stouffer's Fit Kitchen Monterey Chicken frozen meal

WHAT: Stouffer's Fit Kitchen

STATS: Vary by flavor. The Monterey Chicken contains 400 calories and 12 fat, 46 carbohydrate, 5 fiber and 26 protein grams. We found some varieties at the Wal-Mart Supercenter, 4450 McCain Blvd., North Little Rock. More information at stouffers.com/fit-kitchen.

THE SKINNY: Four hundred (!) calories? Don't light frozen meals usually contain fewer calories than that?

They do. But they also contain less food and less protein than are found in Stouffer's Fit Kitchen (tagline: "Hearty, Satisfying Meals") entrees.

Each 14-ounce Fit Kitchen selection contains at least 25 grams of protein, as well as vegetables and complex carbs. Varieties include Monterey Chicken, Steak Fajita, Rotisserie Seasoned Turkey, Cilantro Lime Chicken, Oven Roasted Chicken and Bourbon Steak.

The decent Monterey Chicken included a buttery-tasting side of green beans (beans are the first listed ingredient, therefore the product contains mostly vegetables), strips of grilled white meat and diced red-skin and sweet potatoes topped with a sweet barbecue sauce and a sprinkle of Monterey Jack and cheddar cheeses.

It was noticeably more substantial than other frozen meals. It not only fulfilled my midday hunger, it barely fit in my lunch bag.

Slim Pickings is a weekly review of light foods. Email:

jchristman@arkansasonline.com

ActiveStyle on 07/20/2015

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