Boxed Meal Reviews

[Janet]

Banquet Homestyle Bakes: Creamy Turkey & Stuffing

I fixed this boxed meal since I was pressed for time for dinner..and here is my review..

If this is the only thing you have in the house to eat...skip dinner, fast, start your new diet at dinnertime, or wait till morning, to shop for real food.

This product was awful..the creamy turkey stew was like a thick white pudding coated with much salt, and a few chunky veggies and eraser size bits of turkey??? The toping (stuffing) was not the best either..it contained no flavor or substance.

To top it off 2/3 of a cup of this dinner racks in 310 calories. Not worth it.

Banquet, you let me down!


If you have any boxed meal reviews, please share them here...good or bad. There has to be something edible out there that comes in a box.

Hugs, Janet

[cat lover]

Kraft Italian Spaghetti Dinner isn't bad. I keep a couple boxes on the pantry shelf really just out of habit! When I was a newly wed (centuries ago, LOL) that is how I fixed spaghetti! It does have a spicy flavor and everything you need other than the tomato paste is in the box. I think I used to pay 79 cents a box back when; now it runs around $1.79. A nice "quick" supper.

I think all the "boxed" meals have somewhat a salty flavor. Sometimes I think it is because we don't add salt at the table and I try not to cook with it either because of HBP. Heck even my flavored water from Dollar General tastes salty to me now! LOL

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Thanks for letting us know Janet!

[katharina]

Kraft Italian Spaghetti Dinner isn't bad. I keep a couple boxes on the pantry shelf really just out of habit! When I was a newly wed (centuries ago, LOL) that is how I fixed spaghetti! It does have a spicy flavor and everything you need other than the tomato paste is in the box. I think I used to pay 79 cents a box back when; now it runs around $1.79.

I have one of these on my shelf and never really get around to making it because I don't know if we'll like it. Do you use it as a main dish or a side? I always had the impression that it wouldn't be enough food to feed more than like two people... maybe I'm wrong about that, though?

[cat lover]

My Dh and I can eat it along with a salad and garlic bread and be plenty full. But you are probably right, for a growing family of hungry kids one box wouldn't be enough. It does have a good flavor and is convenient though! I give it a thumbs up!

[barbszy]

Here's a "bag side dish" review:

Success Whole Grain Brown Rice Mix (http://www.successrice.com/success/product.cfm?prod=10070) Herb Roasted Chicken Flavor

YUCK.

My first disappointment was that the bag contained only 2 servings--usually those mixes contain 4.

But no worries, because the 5 of us didn't even eat up half the bag. It was too salty and not tasty at all. Just checked the nutrition info--half a bag (one serving) gives you 26% of your daily sodium :eek:

We're not big on flavored rice mixes around here but I do keep a pack or 2 around for "emergencies." This one--not worth it.

[cat lover]

The salt in lots of Prepared foods just floors me! Some would be so good if they would leave out the majority of the salt!

[barbszy]

Well, you THINK this one is healthy because it says "brown rice" and "whole grain." They're trying to capitalize on that idea but not let you realize that they're killing you with the salt.

[cat lover]

What really bothers me, is the foods that are healthier cost so much more. They charge more for less! LOL

[ajrsmom]

We tried the Banquet Crock Pot Chicken meal and thought that it was horrible. :( Proving once again that it is so much better when you make it homemade.

[Bilby]

We have here a Continental brand pasta and sauce mix.
It says that there is enough for 2 in the packet, but I think it's only 2 kids worth, there is lots of salt in the sauce to add milk and butter, stir and cook.
They are no quicker than cooking your own pasta and my sauce has less butter and no salt and you cook in the micro so it's quick.
If you're in a bind it will fill a single person but I find the pre packaged pasta and rice packets aren't worth the money there is nothing but rice/pasta and sauce.

[Janet]

I like the boxed Tuna Helper dinners..for something quick.
They can be ready in 12-15 mins..and I always use a large can of tuna when I make it. I usually throw in extras like brocolli flowerets, towards the end of the cooking time, so they still stay somewhat crunchy.
If you eat the recommended portion along with a side salad..it is a great meal when you are in one of those..' hungry, I have to eat now moods!'

:) Smiles, Janet

[happy2bg33k]

I tried one of them and had a similar unpleasant result. The topping was supposed to be light anf fluffy biscuits and they turned out to be dried out and heavy as rocks. Yuck!

[Bilby]

I guess my whine is that these are supposed to be quick easy meals, I guess they are but when you have to put the "extras" in it is just as quick to make it from scratch and you still have to put other stuff in, not cheap not quick. Personally my kids would never eat a boxed mac and cheese, I'd get, where's the rest of it?.

[Janet]

Kathy, I think of boxed dinners quick an easy, for all the ingredients are in the box, and you get it all made in one pan. ha ha.
I like adding extra veggies to our meals, for I think my guys never get enough veggies...so I am sneaking in all the extra I can. lol
Here we can get Tuna Helpers, Hamburger Helpers, for $1.00 a box on special.;)

Hugs, Janet

[tater03]

I like the frozen bag meals that you can buy now with the chicken. I cannot remember the name of them though. I have tried some of the box meals and have really not found any that I really like though.

[Bilby]

Ok so that would be a new one on me, boxed helpers to do ... ?
Either I've never looked in the right places or don't have them here?

[barbszy]

Kathy, some of these box meals come with a can of cooked meat, as well as the noodles/rice, sauce and vegetable. The frozen bag meals also come with meat in the bag. They are pretty high-priced, though. I've tried a couple when I've gotten them "free with coupons" but we didn't care for them.

[cat lover]

I usually find them so full of salt it really makes them hard to eat! They work for needing a quick meal, but not to often!