Michelina's Lean Gourmet Shrimp Scampi

Calories: 290
WW Points: 6

Their description: Angel hair pasta in a light, white wine sauce with tender shrimp, crisp carrots and juicy tomatoes. Rich, fresh and delicious.

At first glance: The sauce is yellow. Smells good, though. Don't see the tomatoes.

Upon closer inspection: I didn't know angel hair looked like a nappy-ass clown wig. It's spaghetti at best; don't kid yourself, Michelina. My husband gave me a spoon to eat this with when he pulled it out of the microwave. At first I was like, "A spoon? C'mon, it's pasta." But apparently I've been transported back in time, either that or Michelina likes to believe everyone's five years old and needs their pasta cut up into little 1-inch strands. Thanks. Thanks a bunch. There isn't much shrimp, but what do you expect for a dollar? I see the carrots. Still no tomatoes.

Taste: Not bad. The pasta is horrible soggy to the point that it's almost inedible. Luckily (or not), I was too hungry to care. There are seven tiny salad-size shrimp, which isn't too bad after all. The sauce is more salty than anything else, but I still detect a nice buttery, garlicky-ness. I'd eat it, again. It's just not a fave. Of course, for a dollar, you can't do much better.

Overall rating: 5

Michelina's Budget Gourmet Chinese-style Vegetables & White Chicken

Calories: 310
WW Points: 6

Their description: A delicious rich sauce with crisp Chinese-style vegetables and white meat chicken served over fluffy white rice.

At first glance: Ah, if only it looked as good as the food.

Upon closer inspection: I can find the chicken (I think), but veggies? I think not. A few slivers of carrot and green pepper just don't cut it.

Taste: Bleh. Salty, boring. The mushy sauce is just... ick. There's very little flavor in any of it. I don't know what makes this "Chinese-style," other than the fact that they probably used some soy sauce. An insult to every Asian who ever lived or will live. This one lives up to its $0.77 pricetag.

Overall rating: 1 (the rice wasn't terrible, so it gets a point for that)

Michelina's Budget Gourmet Szechwan-style Vegetables & White Chicken

Okay, before anyone judges me, it was $0.77. That's SEVENTY-SEVEN cents. I'd be freaking nuts not to try it.



Calories: 280
WW Points: 5

Their description: Crispy Szechwan vegetables nestled in a rich and tangy Asian-inspired sauce with noodles and white chicken.

At first glance: Dang, this is a tiny-ass bit of food.

Upon closer inspection: Noodles, sauce, peppers, carrots... I smell the ginger. That's nice.

Taste: Surprisingly tasty. There's a good zing in that sauce, all gingery and garlicky... Okay, so the noodles were a bit soggy. And the chicken, a bit spongy. And this isn't enough food to satisfy my 9-month-old. But the flavors were good. It could be a good snack. Meal? Meh. If you're the size of a fetus, maybe.

Overall rating: 7

Lean Cuisine Chicken Florentine Lasagna

Calories: 280
WW Points: 6

Their description: Chicken Florentine Lasagna with white meat chicken, spinach and vegetables.

At first glance: Where's the chicken? Nevermind that -- where's the LASAGNA?

Upon closer inspection: It really is swimming in that sauce, isn't it? Looks very soggy. What a shame.

Taste: Bland. Then garlic. Bland. Then a bit of cheese. But mostly bland. If there really were veggies in this lasagna, it might have more taste. Do they put hardly any in there to appeal to more people, or what? What's the point of calling it "florentine" if it has hardly any spinach in there at all? Boo, Lean Cuisine. Boo.

Overall rating: 2