Day 11- Not So Lean Cuisine

I was at the gym and overheard someone claiming to their trainer that they ate healthy, and by healthy they said that they ate Lean Cuisine. I'm no scientist, but I'm pretty certain that Lean Cuisine isn't even really food. So for the sake of this blog, I decided to purchase a Lean Cuisine in the name of science and figure out what exactly this foreign substance actually is. So I purchased Butternut Squash Ravioli (yum), which had an added bonus since it was part of their "spa cuisine."

Here is a list of the ingredients in this box:

• Blanched Butternut Squash Ravioli (Enriched Durum Flour (Durum Wheat Flour, Niacin, Ferrous Sulfate, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Water, Butternut Squash, Ricotta Cheese (Whey, Milk, Vinegar, Stabilizer {Modified Cornstarch, Guar Gum, Carrageenan}, Salt), Onions, Egg, Parmesan Cheese (Cultured Milk, Salt, Enzymes), Butternut Squash Powder (Butternut Squash, Maltodextrin, Corn Flour, Cornstarch, Soy Lecithin), Brown Sugar, Modified Cornstarch, Garlic Powder, Salt, Spice), Skim Milk, Snap Peas, Carrots, Water, Yellow Carrots, Peas, Red Peppers, 2% Or Less Of Walnuts, Modified Cornstarch, Salted Milkfat Blend (Concentrated Milkfat, Salt), Soybean Oil, Sea Salt, Vegetable Base (Sauteed Vegetables (Carrots, Onions, Celery), Sugar, Maltodextrin, Canola Oil, Cornstarch, Water, Natural Flavors, Concentrated Carrot Juice, Carrot Extract), Yeast Extract, Mushroom Flavor (Maltodextrin, Modified Cornstarch, Flavoring, Mushrooms, Safflower Oil, Potato Maltodextrin, Ascorbic Acid, Caramel Color, Citric Acid, Glucose), Spices, Xanthan Gum, Dehydrated Onions.

Contains: WALNUT, MILK, EGG, SOY, WHEAT INGREDIENTS

This small box contains over 40 ingredients (I lost count after the 5th listing of salt). Most of these ingredients are preservatives that are included to prevent spoilage. Ferrous sulfate- was used to make ink back in the day and Carrageenan may be a trustworthy topical microbicide for sexually transmitted diseases. Sodium is included in the meal in the amount of 590 mg, which is 25% of the daily value!!! There are also 11g of sugars in the healthy spa meal and only 10g of protein.

The package describes this meal as- a creamy sauce with walnuts, snap peas, and carrots. Although, walnuts, snap peas and carrots don't even show up in the list until you get down to the 5th and 6th line.

I may eat more that the average female, but I don't even think that this size meal would satisfy anyone's hunger. The small box in my hand contains 270 calories, yet if I were to eat this meal, I would be looking for something else to eat right after. No wonder why it's called "lean cuisine," they are trying to starve you! I know that I'm not the only one that feels that way, because I have seen the look on people's faces after they have eaten their boxed meal; that longing for something more.

On a completely different subject, that I won't get into today; you microwave this meal in it's plastic packaging!

Like I said, "I'm not a scientist, but I'm pretty sure this isn't even food."

I'm positive that with a few extra minutes and a little bit more shopping, everyone, no matter how hectic your life is, can make a tastier more nutritious meal that is still low in calories. It's amazing what a refrigerator full of fresh vegetables and organic meats can make. Here's a word of advice: if the food in question has ingredients that you can not pronounce or has more than 10 ingredients (and that's still a lot) choose something else.

Well I hope my science experiment will help you "think outside the box."

Pura Vida!

Alica Ryan, NTP