Balducci's Stores: Rotisserie Chicken

The good thing about buying a whole rotisserie chicken at the food store is that it is hot and ready to eat. I generally like them, and Balducci's version is a notch above other stores. They put herbs and spices under the skin of the chicken before cooking it. This imparts a wonderful flavor to the chicken. The chicken itself was moist and very tender. The skin was browned perfectly. I have gotten them at other stores and sometimes the wings are dried out and inedible, but not this chicken, the wings were good too. Balducci's has locations on the east coast. I went to the one in Bethesda, MD.

Han's Chicken Sausage

All natural chicken sausage with garden vegetables and asiago cheese. These sausages have the veggies mixed right in. They have no nitrates, nitrites, or msg added. You just have to heat them up since they come fully cooked. They are also quite good, the vegetables and cheese add an interesting flavor. They are a good main dish when you want a quick dinner.

Trader Joe's: Chile Lime Chicken Burgers

This is a four pack of frozen burgers, ready to thawed in a refridgerator for 2-3 hours then cooked by you. The burgers are made out of ground chicken and have lots of seasoning. I didn't care for the texture, they were mushy. The flavor was decent, the seasoning really helped things out, without it these burgers would have been a looser, with it. Other pros are lots of protein and not much fat or carbs, which is good. Overall, they are ok, although I am sure if you put on them all the stuff that the box's picture shows they would be pretty good. (3g fat, 4g carbs; 15g protein; 11% salt)

Lean Cuisine: Chicken enchilada suiza

Chicken enchilada with a sour cream sauce and mexican style rice. I liked the sauce, it had a smooth, creamy texture and good flavor. It is clearly the highlight of the meal. The enchilada wrapper was doughy and soggy and the filling was bland. Plus, there wasn't much chicken in it. The rice was decent, not great, but not bad either. The cooking time is also anoying, 8 to 9 minutes at 50% power. I think if the enchilada were better this would make a good microwave lunch, but since it isn't, I can't recommend it. (4.5g fat 10g protein 47g carbs, 270 calories, 5 Weight Watchers points)

Veggie Patch Meatless Garlic Portabella Burgers

Yup, fake hamburgers, from the fine folks at Veggie Patch. They do have a mushroom flavor, though not much in the garlic department. On their own I think they are a bit boring. You really need some flavorful condiments to go with them, like fried onions, or salsa. The texture is thick and smooth, not crumbly, it gives you something to chew on, which I like. Overall, decent, if you add good condiments. (4.5g fat, 12g protein, 100 calories)

Baja Burrito

This is my favorite burrito from Baja Fresh. Actually, it is pretty much the only one I like. it has meat (chicken, steak, or pork carnitas). Monterey jack cheese, guacamole and salsa. Notice the lack of rice. Most times when you buy a burrito from a place such as this, they load it up with rice and go light on everything else. The best part about Baja Fresh is the salsa bar. Three different types of salsa, plus jalepenos, and cilantro that you can pile on as much as you want. It is why I like Baja Fresh better than Chipotle's. Since there is guac on them, they have a hefty amount of fat, plus the chips, which have even more, don't eat his every day. (the Steak one has 46g fat, 49g protein, 437 calories; the chicken one has 38g fat, 52g protien, 440 calories; the chips have 9g fat, 3g protein, 210 calories)

Stagg 'Silverado Beef' Chili with beans

This is a two-bean beef and tomato chili. It is 97% fat free. I like a good chili, and while chili from a can can't compare with home-made (or Hard Times Cafe) chili, this is still good. lots of meat, not too many beans, tomato-y a little spice (but be prepared to add some hot sauce if you like it real spicy). Not totally loaded with fat like most other canned chili. It only has 250 calories, which really is a bit short, but toss some cheese on it, or have a slice of toast with it and you'll be good. Overall, a quick, tasty lunch. (7g fat, 17g protein, 250 calories)

Healthy Choice: General Tso's Spicy Chicken

Tempura Battered chicken breast in a spicy brown sauce with a rice and vegetable medley. Unlike most Healthy Choice entrees, this one doesn't come with a divided dish. The brown sauce is also more sweet than spicy. It is decent. It also has mroe calories (430) than most dinners. Not great, not bad either. I will eat it every once in a while, but it isn't one of my standard choices.
(9g fat, 17g protein, 430 calories)

Hard times Cafe

Hard Times Cafe is a chili parlor. What does that mean? Well, most of their menu is chili, and variations on chili. If chili is what you do, then you better do it well, and Hard Times does it well. They have four kinds of chili, Vegetarian (soy based), Texas (no tomato), Cincinnati (red, a little too sweet for my taste) and Terlingua (another red chili, also tasty) My favorite dish there is the Chili Mac (chili served over spagetti) with cheese on top, they call this the three-way. Even better is getting it with half Texas Chili and half Vegetarian Chili. Sooo, good.

Archer Farms Garlic & Herb chicken breast skewers

This is one of Target's frozen products. it is chicken kabobs with garlic and herb seasoning. They are easy to cook and tasty too. I like them.

They aren't cooked, and you are supposed to thaw them before cooking, which is a bit of a downer, but the cook in about 15 minutes.