by Marianne Plunkert
Overall rating: 5.0 of 5.0
Meal Description and Cooking Instructions
This is another eDiets entrée for which the title on the menu plan and the title on the packaging differ a bit. The packaging calls this “Picante Beef Stew with Chicken and Yellow Rice,” which is more descriptive of this luncheon meal.
The entrée consisted of a stew, laden with bite-sized beef chunks, peas, diced carrots and carrot slivers, red peppers and bits of onion. The stew was served over a mound of brown rice, and two small, thin slices of chicken breast lay on top. The meal plan calls for the dieter to provide a fruit accompaniment. I opted for ½ of a large apple.
Beef and Chicken Stew Picante, Yellow Rice Pilaf
The cooking instructions called for a microwave time of 1 ½ to 2 minutes. I heated mine for 15 seconds more, which made it deliciously hot.
My General Impressions
Just looking at the stew as I spooned it into my bowl made my mouth water. The chunks of beef and vegetables were both colorful and plentiful.
The meal was as delectable as it looked, too. The stew offered a delightful blend of textures and was nicely seasoned to enhance the various flavors rather than overwhelm them. I could distinguish the unique taste of each individual ingredient.
The rice had been cooked perfectly, so its texture was evident with each bite. It was not the least bit mushy or sticky.
This being said, I should point out that I neither observed nor tasted any spinach in the stew although it appeared on the list of ingredients, but I enjoyed the green peas, which were not on the list.
The chicken, albeit scant, was moist and tender. The chunks of beef were chewier than beef chunks I’ve enjoyed in other eDiets entrees, but they were still good. The meal tasted as fresh as if it had been served directly from a pot on the stove.
Nutritional Content
Only 23% of this delectable entrée’s calories are from fat. It contains 21 grams of protein and 30 grams of total carbohydrates, with 4 grams of fiber and 5 grams of sugar.
It is rich in Vitamin A, supplying 160% of the recommended daily average requirement of that vitamin. It also supplies 30% of the recommended daily average dose of Vitamin C and 10% of the iron and 4% of the calcium requirements.
This entrée contains a lot of nutritious vegetables, and the apples I contributed to the meal provided me with a serving of fruit. The chicken and beef were probably a full serving of protein, and the brown rice may have been a serving of starch. There was no item from the diary food group, however.
Food Rating/Quality
On a scale of 1 to 5, this meal rates a perfect “5” with me. It looked and tasted as fresh as if it had just finished simmering on the stove. The seasoning used added zest, but didn’t overpower the wonderful flavors of the meats and vegetables themselves.
And each spoonful offered a delightful blend of tongue-tantalizing textures.
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