Meat Loaf vs Meat Loaf
I went to a supermarket the other day to do some research on frozen entrees. I was looking at the package and reading the ingredient list, and the first thing that came to mind was, "How can all that stuff fit in the box!" It reminded me of that old TV commercial where the lady asks "Where�s the beef?!"
The photo on the box looked edible. The box told me that the secret of creating great tasting nutritious food was to follow these three steps: 1) Start with quality, wholesome products, 2) Develop an original, delicious recipe, and 3) Prepare it in a healthy way. The manufacturer claimed to do just this with this product and it was guaranteed to satisfy my appetite and eat right.
After some quick calculations (or, you could use the Zone Label Analyzer), I found that it came out to a 48-24-27 balance. That was not too bad. I could bump up the protein a bit and be right in the Zone.
I decided to purchase the product and see how it measured up to a meal that I could prepare using their suggestions to create great tasting nutritious food. Remember? Follow these three steps: 1) Start with quality, wholesome products, 2) Develop an original, delicious recipe, and 3) Prepare it in a healthy way.
Calories: 280
Balance: 48-24-27
Prep / cook time:
Microwave: 6 to 7 minutes with 2 minutes standing time
Conventional oven: 32 to 34 minutes at 350 degrees with 2 minutes standing time.
Ingredients:
Meat Loaf and Brown Gravy: (Beef, pork, water, textured soy protein [soy carbohydrate and caramel color], onion, breader [enriched bleached wheat flour [niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid, durum flour, leavening [sodium bicarbonate, sodium pyrophosphate], yeast], celery, tomato paste, Rochester sauce [distilled vinegar, corn syrup, water, salt, garlic powder, spices, tamarind, natural flavor], roast flavor for beef [hydrolyzed corn gluten, soy protein and wheat gluten, autolyzed yeast extract, partially hydrogenated soybean and cottonseed oil, dextrose, thiamine hydrochloride, disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate], potassium chloride, seasoning mix [torula yeast, hydrolyzed soy protein with hydrogenated soy oil], caramel color, salt, ground black pepper, dehydrated garlic), water, contains 2% or less of: soybean oil, modified food starch, tomato paste, sugar, dried whey, flavorings, autolyzed yeast extract, wheat flour, salt, mono- and diglycerides and datem, caramel color, spice, beef fat), green beans, mashed potatoes: (rehydrated potato flakes and granules [water, potatoes, mono- and diglycerides, sodium acid pyrophosphate, disodium dihydrogen pyrophosphate, citric acid, sodium bisulfate and BHT [to promote color retention and preserve freshness], contains 2% or less of each of the following: canola oil, salt, whey protein concentrate, sour cream flavored powder, sour cream powder, [cultured cream (cream, nonfat milk, cultures enzymes),salt, BHT], and flavorings [contains maltodextrine as processing aid], Apple Crisp: sugar, methylcellulose gum, butter flavor [partially hydrogenated soybean oil, natural flavors [butter oil, enzyme modified butter fat, sweet whey powder, nonfat dry milk powder], and soy lecithin (an emulsifier)], pepper), water, apples, contains 2% or less of: brown sugar, sugar, rolled oats, modified food starch, nonfat dry milk, soybean oil and partially hydrogenated soybean oil, crisped rice (milled rice, sugar, salt, malt), dried whey, honey, brown sugar, molasses, corn syrup, cream, alcohol, soy lecithin, maltodextrin, spice, polysorbate 80, caramel color, sodium caseinate, almond oil, flavors.
Compare that to my own recipe:
Calories: 497 calories
Balance: 38-30-32
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
3 ounces 97% Lean ground beef
Sea salt
2 tablespoons egg white
Fresh ground pepper
1 tablespoon organic sourdough bread crumbs
2 teaspoons minced organic red onion
2 teaspoons minced organic celery
� cup Beef broth
� teaspoon cornstarch
2 cups organic string beans
1/4 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
1 clove pressed organic garlic
3 ounces organic baby red potatoes
1 teaspoon Smart Balance spread
Fresh chopped chives / parsley
� cup apple
� teaspoon fructose
1 tablespoon rolled barley
1 teaspoon Smart Balance spread
� teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon crushed pecans
1 teaspoon whole wheat flour
Now, I don�t know about you, but I know what's in MY meal, I can pronounce all the ingredients, which are whole foods, not synthetic, dehydrated, rehydrated, hydrogenated, hydrolyzed, and emulsified. My ingredients are smashed, minced, diced and mixed... period! Mine does not have a long shelf life. Theirs stated "Best if used by August 21, 2007". I couldn't decipher the creation date, but I bought it on March 26, 2006, and you surely know that it was not rolling off the production line midnight March 25, 2006.
Mine is low glycemic. Okay, I admit, it does come higher in calories - but you could eat 1/2 of it, save the rest, and have enough for a lunch the next day. Plus. I think I'd opt for the extra calories rather than eat synthetic additives, which may or may not add those extra calories.
And let's talk about cost: The packaged meal runs around $3.50 for one serving. My recipe will be around twice that (1/2 pound of hamburger is around $2.00, plus the vegetables, etc.) - but it will feed you twice.
And what about time? Granted - the packaged meals take only 8-10 minutes to prepare (between opening the package, heating it, waiting for it to cool). The meal I made took more like 45 minutes. But again - it feeds me twice, so that's really 20 minutes per serving. And, if I were to make it double-sized, it would serve me 4 times - with the same amount of cooking. I could be eating healthy, wholesome food that took no extra time, is better for me, and costs a similar amount!
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