{"id":14273,"date":"2013-01-17T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2013-01-17T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/?p=14273"},"modified":"2023-02-16T19:40:20","modified_gmt":"2023-02-17T05:40:20","slug":"review-lean-cuisine-asian-style-chicken-salad-additions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/2013\/01\/17\/review-lean-cuisine-asian-style-chicken-salad-additions\/","title":{"rendered":"REVIEW: Lean Cuisine Asian-Style Chicken Salad Additions"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Lean<\/a><\/p>\n

Contrary to a review history which leans towards a diet based exclusively around breakfast cereal and fast food, I do not hold anything against the vegetable food group. I count Larry the Cucumber<\/a> among my favorite recording artists, have been known to munch on frozen peas as if they were beer nuts, and might, according to my grandmother, even transform into a vegetable one day thanks to hours spent watching college sports on TV. <\/p>\n

So no, I’m not a veggie-phobe by any means, and I certainly wouldn’t spurn the chance to nosh on a salad that could increase my lifespan.<\/p>\n

But here’s the thing: vegetables are complicated. Buying them, cooking them, and even knowing which part to eat are all tricky. Also, if I want to add a totally chic “lean protein” to the salad, I have to wield a knife and totally risk salmonella with my careless Millennial kitchen hygiene habits (not to mention risk chopping off a finger). <\/p>\n

Of course, I could go the convenience route, but that can be expensive. Last I checked, Panera had a rockin’-looking Asian chicken salad. But $7.09 plus tax is pricey. I mean seriously. That\u2019s like seven and a half small Wendy’s Frosty desserts forgone. If you really want me to eat my vegetables, then get me something cheap, not complicated, and something which won\u2019t go bad should I, you know, put off the whole veggie eating thing in favor of those Frosty desserts for a few days.<\/p>\n

Lean Cuisine meals might not be aesthetically pleasing, but they aren’t complicated. Taking something out of the freezer and heating it up in the microwave oven is, based on numerous test runs, pretty simple. A head of lettuce? Well, aside from exercising restraint and resisting the cereal aisle at the grocery store, that actually seems relatively painless as well. <\/p>\n

Also, ‘Asian style’ food isn’t complicated. I’ve never been one to even try to understand what separates Korean, Chinese, and Japanese cuisines, but throw some carrots and broccoli in there, dress it up with something gingery and soy-based, and my white person American taste buds are totally basking in the idea of ethnic food.<\/p>\n

\"Lean<\/a><\/p>\n

Lean Cuisine’s new Salad Additions look to engage my yearning for de-complicating veggies by combining the miracle of refrigeration with some good old fashioned step-by-step heating instructions, all the while keeping me well away from knifes. <\/p>\n

After keeping the ethos of Asian-style and picking up a head of green leaf lettuce and some spinach at for a combined $2.73 at my local Lotte plaza<\/a>, I made sure to follow the directions by placing my sesame-ginger vinaigrette in room temperature water to thaw. It didn\u2019t. At least it didn\u2019t within the three and a half minute microwave window the box told me to nuke the vegetables and chicken for, and it still didn\u2019t thaw completely after I stood around and inhaled the smell of bland lettuce for five minutes after that. <\/p>\n

This was a most disheartening wait given that the vinaigrette passed from a consistency bordering on root beer float popsicle to that of diarrhea, all the while waiting to be drenched on a hodgepodge of cut up colors that provided little truth in advertising to the juicy pieces of pineapple and grilled chicken breast that the package photo displayed.<\/p>\n

\"Lean<\/a><\/p>\n

Finally reaching a vinaigrette consistency that might fool you for an actual vinaigrette, I decided to make my salad pretty. Despite an art background which includes numerous preschool awards for staying within the lines, I was unable to make my salad appear exactly as it was on the box. The salad tastes like what you\u2019d expect from a mediocre fast food attempt to make a similar salad. <\/p>\n

\"Lean<\/a><\/p>\n

The chicken doesn\u2019t really taste like chicken, but with ten ingredients to make \u201ccooked white meat chicken,\u201d that might be expected. The chicken strips ranged from gummy to dry and were mostly salty with a bit of that gelatinous gunk you sometimes encounter with canned chicken.<\/p>\n

\"Lean<\/a><\/p>\n

The broccoli and edamame would best be described as terribly bland. However, I can accurately report the orange and yellow carrots tasted like absolutely nothing. Compared to absolutely nothing, bland might as well be chocolate cake. I believe, but cannot confirm, I received one or two small slices of pineapple, which tasted canned and were cloying, like the dressing. However, I do appreciate that dressing as well as the crunchy noodles. Together they contributed salt, sweetness, crunch, and a bit of fat, albeit in a very McDonald\u2019s salad kind of way.<\/p>\n

Lean Cuisine\u2019s new Asian Chicken Salad Addition is not very complicated, not very Asian, and not very good. But because it\u2019s also not very expensive and not very horrible, it leaves me feeling significantly less guilty about my purchase than an overpriced and not very good salad from say…McDonald\u2019s. It also leaves me less likely to purchase something that will significantly decrease my lifespan, and leaves me with a buttload of leftover lettuce. And you know what they say when life gives you a bunch of lettuce?<\/p>\n

Yeah, I don\u2019t really know either. I just hope it doesn\u2019t involve buying more Lean Cuisine Salad Additions.<\/p>\n

(Nutrition Facts \u2013 260 calories, 80 calories from fat, 8 gram of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 25 milligrams of cholesterol, 510 milligrams of sodium, 400 milligrams of potassium, 30 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 16 grams of sugar, and 17 grams of protein.)<\/small><\/p>\n

Item:<\/b> Lean Cuisine Asian-Style Chicken Salad Additions
\nPurchased Price:<\/b> $2.00
\nSize:<\/b> 7.2 ounces
\nPurchased at:<\/b> Weis Markets
\nRating:<\/b> 3 out of 10
\nPros:<\/b> No fuss vegetables. Tasty vinaigrette. Noodle strips. Cheaper than most \u2018Asian-style\u2019 fast food salads. Fitting in with the middle aged women at the office lunch table. Forces me to buy lettuce. Turning into a vegetable via too much college sports watching.
\nCons:<\/b> Gives vegetables a bad name. Insipid two-carrot mix. Not very many vegetables. “Grilled” chicken that doesn\u2019t taste much like chicken, and contains nine ingredients which aren\u2019t actually chicken. Vinaigrette looks like frozen Dr Pepper. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Contrary to a review history which leans towards a diet based exclusively around breakfast cereal and fast food, I do not hold anything against the vegetable food group. I count Larry the Cucumber among my favorite recording artists, have been known to munch on frozen peas as if they were beer nuts, and might, according […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1440],"tags":[1571,1756],"class_list":["post-14273","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews","tag-frozen-food","tag-lean-cuisine"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":16211,"url":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/2014\/01\/28\/quick-review-lean-cuisine-salad-additions-greek-style-chicken\/","url_meta":{"origin":14273,"position":0},"title":"QUICK REVIEW: Lean Cuisine Salad Additions Greek-Style Chicken","author":"Marvo","date":"January 28, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Purchased Price: $2.99 Size: 7 1\/4 oz. Purchased at: Target Rating: 8 out of 10 Pros: Holy chickpeas! There are a lot of chickpeas! I possibly could make hummus with that many chickpeas. The entire salad has a nice mild dill aroma. Tasty cucumber dill dressing makes me want to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Reviews"","block_context":{"text":"Reviews","link":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/category\/reviews\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Lean Cuisine Salad Additions Greek-Style Chicken","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farm4.staticflickr.com\/3799\/12186367904_95bb7df93d.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":14289,"url":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/2013\/01\/18\/review-lightning-round-frozen-food-edition-1182013\/","url_meta":{"origin":14273,"position":1},"title":"REVIEW LIGHTNING ROUND (FROZEN FOOD EDITION) – 1\/18\/2013","author":"Marvo","date":"January 18, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Here are some quick reviews of new-ish store brand products we're too lazy to write full reviews for: Item: Lightlife Amaz'n Asian Sesame Chik'n' Purchased Price: $3.99 (on sale) Size: 9.7 ounces Purchased at: Safeway Rating: 7 out of 10 Pros: Not amaz'n, but appetiz'n. Awesome source of fiber and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Reviews"","block_context":{"text":"Reviews","link":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/category\/reviews\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Lightlife Amaz'n Asian Sesame Chik'n","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farm9.staticflickr.com\/8475\/8390769307_cffaefe504.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":28903,"url":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/2018\/05\/22\/spotted-on-shelves-lean-cuisine-edition-5-22-2018\/","url_meta":{"origin":14273,"position":2},"title":"SPOTTED ON SHELVES (LEAN CUISINE EDITION) – 5\/22\/2018","author":"Marvo","date":"May 22, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Here are some new or limited edition Lean Cuisine entrees found by your fellow readers. If you've tried any of the products, share your thoughts about them in the comments. Lean Cuisine Marketplace Limited Edition Sweet & Spicy Harissa Meatballs Lean Cuisine Marketplace Limited Edition Moroccan-Style Spiced Beef (Spotted by\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Spotted on Shelves"","block_context":{"text":"Spotted on Shelves","link":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/category\/spotted-on-shelves\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Lean-Cuisine-Origins-Butternut-Squash-Lasagna.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Lean-Cuisine-Origins-Butternut-Squash-Lasagna.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Lean-Cuisine-Origins-Butternut-Squash-Lasagna.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9952,"url":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/2011\/08\/15\/review-lean-cuisine-broccoli-cheddar-dip-with-pita-bread-lean-cuisine-spinach-artichoke-dip-with-pita-bread\/","url_meta":{"origin":14273,"position":3},"title":"REVIEW: Lean Cuisine Broccoli Cheddar Dip with Pita Bread & Lean Cuisine Spinach Artichoke Dip with Pita Bread","author":"Kelley","date":"August 15, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Do you work in an office? 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The chefs at Lean Cuisine recently helped give birth to four new flavors of their frozen meals that appeal to dieting women, people who can't boil water and the folks who run frozen\/microwaveable food review\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Spotted on Shelves"","block_context":{"text":"Spotted on Shelves","link":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/category\/spotted-on-shelves\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":15059,"url":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/2013\/07\/09\/quick-review-lean-cuisine-honestly-good-honey-citrus-chicken\/","url_meta":{"origin":14273,"position":5},"title":"QUICK REVIEW: Lean Cuisine Honestly Good Honey Citrus Chicken","author":"Marvo","date":"July 9, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Purchased Price: $3.99 (on sale) Size: 10 1\/8 oz. Purchased at: Target Rating: 7 out of 10 Pros: Honestly good. Chicken was surprisingly a little moist and easy to cut through with a fork. 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Half\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Reviews"","block_context":{"text":"Reviews","link":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/category\/reviews\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Lean Cuisine Honestly Good Honey Citrus Chicken","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farm6.staticflickr.com\/5342\/9243524952_9396957ff8.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14273","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14273"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14273\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14273"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14273"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14273"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}