Weight Watchers Smart Ones Satisfying Selections: Smart or Not?

Weight Watcher's and Heinz team up to produce Smart Ones, frozen meals that are designed to be used with Weight Watchers PointsPlus or for anyone looking to cut calories, but avoid the kitchen.

I was sent a few coupons to try the new Smart Ones Satisfying Selections. Since we focus on healthy eating, let's see how these low calorie, frozen meals measure up.

I sampled Smart Ones Sesame Chicken, which comes in a single serving bag. It can be heated by placing the whole bag in the microwave or the contents can be placed in a non-stick skillet. An 11.7 ounce serving delivers; 360 Calories, 7 fat grams, 6 grams of fiber, 25 grams of protein, and 49 grams of carbs with 10 of those coming from sugar.

The meal was a satisfying portion and it tasted good. It looked to me like there were less vegetables in the actual product, then were pictured on the package and the chicken was breaded, which was a little soggy. I'm not sure why they went that route since breading only adds calories.

Here's where Smart Ones Sesame Chicken derails a bit. This frozen meal contains over 50 ingredients and while this is largely due to the the breakdown of how each main ingredient is made i.e. noodles, sauce, breaded chicken etc., there are some processed ingredients that we should be aware of.

Wheat- This product is predominately wheat based so people with gluten sensitivity should avoid it.

Sucralose- This product is artificially sweetened. Some people have reported allergic type reactions to this sweetener.

Chicken fat- This ingredient is added for flavor, but it also adds cholesterol and saturated fat.

Soy- Soy sauce, soybeans, soy protein, and soybean oil are used in this product so people with soy allergies should avoid it.

Preservatives- This product does contain preservatives. Potassium lactate and sodium phosphate are both used. Both are generally considered safe, but sodium phosphate is also a drug given to people to empty the colon prior to a colonoscopy.

While the taste of Smart Ones Sesame Chicken and portion size are definitely positive, I think the product could be improved nutritionally. They could use grilled chicken instead of the breaded chicken, which would cut down on processed ingredients and calories. To make up the calories saved by this change, they could add more vegetables to the product to increase its vitamin and fiber content.

Overall, Smart Ones seems to be one of the better frozen meal options available, especially for people following the Weight Watchers program who need some quick lunch or dinner options. However, the majority of their meals should be ones in which they prepare themselves using fresh, wholesome, non-processed ingredients.

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Smart Halloween Candy Removal Tips

Growing up, I always had a massive bag of Halloween candy that lasted me a whole year.

Any food that has such a long shelf life is probably not a good choice. I know that many who are trying to lose weight worry about the temptation of candy.

So, even if you don't recognize Halloween, here are some ideas for removing candy from the house.

Participate in a candy buy back program. Dietitians are not the only ones who want you to consume less candy. Dentists want to save your teeth as well! In the USA, we have a buy back program where your local dentist will buy back candy in exchange for coupons, prizes, and cash. The UK also has similar programs.Send your candy to US troops. Many living away from home would love to receive a care package of candy. Soldiers' Angels is one program that will send your candy to the soldiers. Many dentists are also doing this in the buy back programs.Make a craft project! Make a candy mosaic (a picture out of candy), or a festive candy wreath.Call your local hospital or nursing home and do a reverse trick-or-trick. Go around to patients' rooms, and give out candy (as long as you get permission for which patients can eat the candy).Save the candy for the next Holiday. At Christmas, you can make decorations out of it, or use it to make Gingerbread houses. At your next birthday party or gathering, stuff a piñata full of the candy. Donate to a food bank, or shelter. If you live in the USA, contact Feeding America. For Canada, try Food Banks Canada. For Europe, try the Federation of Food Banks. For other countries like New Zealand, try the Salvation Army.

Of course you can eat a few pieces of candy without ruining your health! If you are going to choose to eat candy, I would recommend a healthier option like some dark chocolate.

However, if you ate just three extra pieces of candy per day and kept the rest of your diet the same, it could lead to weight gain over time. And for those dedicated to their weight loss routine, candy in the house is a frustrating obstacle.

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