Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Frozen Lunches: The Good, Bad and Yummy

Unlike my fellow bloggers, I'm usually stuck eating frozen food lunches. I do this not because I am a masochist, but (and here's a list, because I like lists) because:

  1. In Chicago, buying your lunch every day can set you back $50/week. I like to spend that $50 on my weekend meals.
  2. I see frozen lunches as a way to curb my calorie intake. I figure I should attempt to do that with at least one meal a day.
  3. I work for an asshole and don't normally get to take my federally mandated lunch break. Frozen lunches mean I'm away from my desk for 4 1/2 minutes plus 1 minute of possible extra heating time.

Target often sells Lean Cuisine meals for $2 each. My favorites tend to be ones that are comfort food or have some sort of creamy sauce. Those are usually more filling, as opposed to the rest that I finish and think, "I could sure eat another one of those." I like these:




I also like the new lunch in a bag options. It's less fussy, no ripping of a box (such hard work), no slitting of the plastic cover (so violent), etc.
I find their sandwich options draw attention to me as I "prepare" my lunch. People stare as I prep my food on that stupid silver platform to be heated in the microwave. But I do like these:

I get sick of Lean Cuisine after a while, though. So lately, I've switched to Amy's and Kashi. Kashi's frozen lunches are much more satisfying. It feels sort of decadent for lunch. And Amy's enchiladas remind me of Luby's enchiladas in Texas, which is always a good thing.


So, the moral of the story here is that you should remember us less fortunate people as you're enjoying your cooked-to-order lunch.

4 comments:

  1. too many of them have bell peppers. why do 80% of frozen meals have to have bell peppers in them? WHHHYYYYY????

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  2. When I was a kid we would occasionally go to Safeway/Appletree after church and my parents would sometimes buy Budget Gourmet meals for lunch. Are those still around and are they any good?

    I agree with you TRE, what's with all the bell peppers?

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  3. I can't cook to save my life (I burn water!) so what I often do is put my frozen meal (once heated) on plate. This way it will look like I'm a kick ass cook when in reality I'm not. I guess its the culinary version of fake designer purses

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  4. I love all the flatbread, panini, and pizzas by Lean Cuisine....that crisper thing does wonders I burn the crusts so to me they taste even better

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