Chicken Teriyaki Rice Bowl by EATING RIGHT

As teriyaki goes, I thought this Chicken Teriyaki Rice Bowl by EATING RIGHT was a little light on flavor. With 930 mg of sodium, I anticipated a little more teriyakiness to it. For $2.99 and gluten-free, it’s hard to knock it. The chunks of real white meat chicken are of good consistency.  There were a couple of soybeans, a few water chestnuts, but no other veggies in this bowl. In their defense, I did try this dish one other time and there were a lot more vegetables in it. So, they don’t seem to be very consistent.

Overall, I probably would not purchase this again. It wasn’t “bad” but it wasn’t all that, either. I wouldn’t have purchased it a second time if I hadn’t been lazy and forgotten to write the review the first time.

Van’s Gluten Free Apple Cinnamon Waffles

I figured I’d try these Van’s Gluten Free Apple Cinnamon Waffles because sometimes it’s nice to have something hot that’s quick and easy to prepare. I got them on sale at Safeway for a very decent price (can’t recall exactly, sorry).

These waffles are gluten-free, Kosher, all natural, no artificial colors or preservatives, egg-free, dairy-free, and corn-free. Wow. Is there anything left? Two waffles are considered a serving, and they have 200 calories, 6 grams of fat, 35 grams of carbs, and 2 grams of protein. Not hideous. I do like that they are made with canola oil and not soy. That’s a plus for me.

While they’re toasting, they smell awesome, I’ll give them that. Granted, my toaster oven is a piece of junk, but these guys were not very crispy after one cycle. so I put them back for a second. It could be my oven, or, it just could be that they were a bit old and that’s why they were on sale. Even after the second toasting, they weren’t as crispy on the outside as I was expecting. No big deal.

Because of the lovely aroma coming from the toaster, I expected these to be chock full of apple cinnamon flavor. They weren’t. It was quite muted. I was hoping to just be able to eat these without syrup – just with butter – but there was just not enough flavor to do that. That’s okay, I was just hoping to cut back on my sugar consumption a little. The maple syrup really did complement the flavor, however, and bring out that apple a bit more.

In general, I do like the Van’s brand, and they have an incredibly amazing granola that I’ll write about at a later time. Meanwhile, you can check them out at http://www.vansfoods.com/.

Gluten Free Roasted Vegetable Pasta Bake

I have to say, this Gluten Free Roasted Vegetable Pasta Bake by Eating Right is one of my new favorites. From the package: Roasted vegetables, rice penne pasta and herbed ricotta cheese in a rich marinara sauce.

It’s good. It’s flavorful. It cooks up well in the microwave. Done in less than 6 minutes. 290 calories, 9 grams of fat, 710mg sodium, 41g carbs, and 11g protein.

Now, for those of us who are meatatarians, here’s what I recommend. Cook as directed on the package – 3 minutes, stir, then 2 minutes. Add one serving of your precooked favorite meat (leftovers work great!) – shredded chicken, sausage, burger, shrimp, whatever, and then cook 30 seconds more. Don’t put too much, though – you don’t want to overpower the flavor of this savory dish. YUM!

I got this for $2.99 regular price from my local Safeway store. Eating Right certainly got it right.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Creamy Polenta & Vegetable Medley

This dish by Eating Right is described in small type on the package as creamy polenta and vegetable blend topped with Marsala sauce. Honestly, I’m not sure how I feel about this. The first time I tried it, I assumed by the photo on the package front – which is loaded with diced tomatoes and sprinkled with melty cheese – that it was going to taste like tomato sauce. But instead I got the Marsala sauce, which has a little sweetness to it that just doesn’t seem right with this dish. I thought maybe that since I was expecting one thing but got something else, that might have been my issue with this.

So, I tried it again. This time I added some cooked, cubed chicken for a little more protein. I feel the same way about it. I really think it would be better with tomato sauce (and I’m not a big tomato fan) than with the Marsala. Don’t get me wrong, it doesn’t taste badly at all, there’s just a disconnect in the flavors, in my humble opinion. And I don’t get the “creamy” in the name – do they mean the polenta is creamy? I dunno.

For $2.99 (at Safeway), 330 calories, 18 grams of fat, and 8 grams of protein…. If I want comfort food, I’d rather go with the Homestyle Chicken & Rice Pasta, which is lower in fat and higher in protein.

Recommended? Eh. I dunno. I won’t be buying it again.

Liberte Gluten Free Coconut Yogurt

If you love coconut but hate yogurt, this is the snack for you. That’s right, you can hate yogurt, but that’s okay – because this is not like any yogurt you’ve ever had. This is quite possibly one of my best discoveries so far.

For starters, this doesn’t taste like yogurt. It’s smooth and creamy and light – with none of that nasty yogurt tang. There’s lots of real coconut mixed in with it – no need to stir. It’s not a gross fruit on the bottom kind of deal.

Since it’s not like regular yogurt, and in fact – more like a dessert, Liberte is a bit higher in calories and fat (doy, that’s why it tastes so good!). Still healthy, however: no added color, no artificial flavors, sweeteners, or preservatives, and it contains 8 grams of protein and 5 different strains of live and cultures – it’s totally worth it.

I got this single-serving cup at my local Safeway – 50% off for quick sale – and it ended up being like 60 cents. Again, totally worth it.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

 

LARABAR Apple Pie Snack Bar

Okay, this LARABAR Apple Pie snack bar definitely tastes appley (Yes, that is NOW a word). The consistency is decent, with just the right amount of almonds and walnuts. But there is something about it I just can’t put my finger on. No big deal.

Gluten-free, dairy free, soy free, non-GMO, vegan, and Kosher. Hard to go wrong with that combination. Only 6 ingredients. Back to nature. I got this on sale for 99 cents. I’d say if you see them at that price, grab them. They’re great for airplane or car travel and days out sightseeing. Or just for a snack in between meals.

More at www.larabar.com.

 

 

Eating Right Gluten Free Margherita Pizza Review

Stop the presses! This is something to write home about. (Two cliches, one paragraph. You’re welcome.)

Seriously, this EATING RIGHT Gluten Free Margherita Pizza is pretty good, especially for a microwave pizza. For $2.99 (regular prize at my local Safeway), you get a filling, gluten-free personal pizza that takes up to 3 minutes to cook.

The pizza I got seemed to have had a wardrobe malfunction, with the topping slipping down revealing a naked crust. Oh, the humanity!

Eating Right Gluten Free Carnitas Bake

I know what you’re thinking: what’s a Yankee with a sensitive palate doing eating a Carnitas Bake? Answer: living dangerously.

I have to say, this Carnitas Bake by Eating Right is a bit spicy, but I’m picking the green peppers out, so maybe that’s toning it down a bit. Okay, and I’m also picking out whatever looks like a red pepper.  I will be honest, I actually like this.

It does have a kick to it, but I don’t mind it. The overall flavor is pleasant and a bit on the sweet side. I guess that is balanced out by the peppers for most people. The consistency is fine – I cooked it for 5-1/2 minutes and just the very outside edges of the tortillas got a little hard and crispy. It probably could have gone for 5 instead. There is plenty of meat which is moist and not chewy.

It holds its heat for a nice, long time, too. My only suggestion would be that you might like to add some grated cheese across the top of it. I think it would be great with some guacamole and sour cream.

So, if you want something a little spicy for only about $2.99 – this is a winner. Available at Safeway.

Recommended.