Central Market - Green Curry Shrimp (5.25/10)

Summary

• Price: ~$4.00
• Overall: 5.25/10.   I definitely wouldn't recommend this dish.  It really had no flavor and the texture was awful.  I had trouble finishing it.
• Healthfulness: 6/10.  The quality of Central Market's ingredients are always high, but this is not a balanced meal.   Very high in carbs relative to the protein and fat.
• Portion Size/Filling:  7/10.  On the larger end of Central Market's offering (500 calories).  The lack of protein and fat prevent a long lasting full feeling though.
• Flavor: 5/10 (Spiciness: 6/10).   Not good.   Nothing about the flavor of this meal was even remotely close to any green curry dish I've had at any Thai restaurant.  I could taste the basil though.
• Texture: 3/10.  It felt as though there was a layer of oil on top of the green curry part of the dish.  Maybe it was the coconut milk.  It really felt like you were eating mostly oil with some other ingredients mixed in.  The shrimp was very nice though.

Beer Pairing - Pete's

Numbers

• Calories:500
• Fat: 13g (0g Trans Fat)
• Carbs: 84g
• Fiber: 6g
• Protein: 13g
• Sodium: 540mg

Details

Healthfulness:  I can never complain about the quality of Central Market's ingredients.  However, the balance was out of proportion in this meal to give it a high score.  The carbs were way too high relative to the protein and fat content.  Maybe it's ok if you're planning to workout a few hours afterwards, but not a good choice for a mid-day meal.  (6 out of 10)

Portion Size/Filling:  The portion size is relatively large (500 calories;  about the same as a 12" Subway turkey sandwich).  However, the protein portion is relatively low which may not give you that long-lasting full feeling.  No shortage of rice though, which is good if you're a big rice fan.  (7 out of 10)

Flavor:  I was not happy with the flavor at all.  I could taste the basil, which was good.  But the other flavors were very muted and washed out by the overwhelming amount of oil and/or coconut milk.  The rice was very nice.  The meal did have some bite to it, but frankly I expected it to be even spicier.  (5 out of 10 for overall flavor. 6 out of 10 for spiciness.)

Texture:  Wow, this was bad.  It was almost so bad that I couldn't finish the dish.  There seemed to be a layer of oil, maybe it was coconut milk, on top of the curry.  I tried mixing the curry furiously to mix the oil with the rest of the curry, no better.  I tried mixing in all the rice into the curry to soak up the oil, no help.  I couldn't escape the overwhelming oil/coconut milk.  The shrimp were very plump and juicy though, with no tails.  The rice was very fluffy also. (3 out of 10)

Central Market - Pad Thai (7.25/10)

Summary

• Price: ~$4.00
• Overall: 7.25/10.  A large, but barely above average attempt at Pad Thai.  The quality of ingredients lifts the overall score here.  I wouldn't bother buying this meal based on the flavor and texture alone.
• Healthfulness: 8/10.  It's hard to beat the quality of Central Market's ingredients.   Surprisingly high in protein for a Pad Thai dish, I guess from the shrimp and tofu.
• Portion Size/Filling:  8/10.  A pretty hearty portion size (520 calories) with a decent amount of protein.  You should plan to be relatively active afterwards due to the high carb content.
• Flavor: 7/10 (Spiciness: 0/10).   The flavor was above average, but not great.   It didn't bring back memories of Thailand, or even Thai Kitchen.
• Texture: 6/10.  Probably the worst aspect to this dish.  I prefer for the noodles to be soft and saucy.  These noodles were dry and sticky.  Maybe I overcooked it.  The tails were left on the shrimp too.  The crushed peanuts were a nice touch though.

Beer Pairing - Singha

Numbers

• Calories: 520
• Fat: 15g (0g Trans Fat)
• Carbs: 73g
• Fiber: 4g
• Protein: 20g
• Sodium: 820mg

Details

Healthfulness:  The quality and purity of Central Market's ingredients are really top notch.  There's nothing surprising or foreign in the ingredient list and you can really taste the quality.  The only drawback is the relatively high portion of carbs compared to the protein and fat.  You'd probably want to be reasonably active after eating this many carbs.  (8 out of 10)

Portion Size/Filling:  This is among the larger of Central Market's frozen offerings (520 calories;  about the same as a 12" Subway turkey sandwich).  There is a decent portion of protein, although a little low in fat and fiber, which helps to keep you full.  Because of the high carb portion, don't hit the sack after eating this meal.  (8 out of 10)

Flavor:  The flavor was ok, but it definitely couldn't be mistaken for an offering from a decent Thai restaurant.  The flavors were mild and muted.  Definitely edible, but don't expect to be licking the bowl.  (7 out of 10 for overall flavor. 0 out of 10 for spiciness.)

Texture:  The texture was not great.  The noodles, the main part of the dish, were dry, sticky and clumpy.  I like my Pad Thai noodles to be loose, saucy and soft.  The rest of the ingredients were similarly ok.  The shrimp were shelled but still had the tails on.  (6 out of 10)

HEB Classic - Spicy Szechuan Chicken (6.5/10)

Summary

• Price: ~$3.00
• Overall: 6.5/10.   A slightly above average, but not great, meal.  If you're craving a step above the mall food court or Panda Express, then you have a winner here.
• Healthfulness: 6/10.  It does have a decent protein portion, but that's about the only thing going for it.  Compared with a Amy's or Central Market meal, this meal doesn't cut the mustard. 
• Portion Size/Filling:  7/10.  On the small end of frozen entrees (280 calories), but a decent portion size for a large snack or light meal.
• Flavor: 7/10 (Spiciness: 3/10).   At first I didn't like it.  The sweet, orange sauce reminded me of the food court Chinese food at the mall.  But it grew on me after a while as the spiciness kicked in.  The addition of sesame seeds was a nice touch. 
• Texture: 6/10.  The most abundant item in the dish was the noodles and they were a let down.  They had a kind of jelly texture which again was very food court-ish.  On the plus side, the chicken was decent quality and the snap peas were somewhat crisp.

Beer Pairing - Bud Light, Coors Light

Numbers

• Calories: 280
• Fat: 5g (0g Trans Fat)
• Carbs: 42g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 15g
• Sodium: 820mg

Details

Healthfulness:  The HEB store brand is usually the mid-tier or low-tier compared to the Central Market generic brand.  This is no exception.  Although the protein content is good, the carbs are too high, the fat content is too low and there is basically no fiber.  The ingredient list reads like a bottle of Coke and the dish is full of sodium, presumably from the artificial flavoring.  This is not the worst I've seen, so still gets a 6 out of 10.  (6 out of 10)

Portion Size/Filling:  The portion is average for the smaller frozen entrees (280 calories;  about the same as a 6" Subway turkey sandwich).  Due to the lack of fat and fiber, though, the full feeling doesn't last more than 2 hours.  In fact, the high carb content can lead to sleepiness after 2 hours if you're not actively burning off all those sugars.  Not a good choice if you're planning on going into a long, boring meeting within a couple of hours.  High carbs are ok if you're planning to work out an hour later.  (7 out of 10, more like a large, healthy snack than a meal)

Flavor:  The flavor was a sweet and sour flavor, kind of like what all the orange-sauced dishes taste like at the mall food court.  After the mild spiciness kicked in, my taste buds were sufficiently numbed to not taste the sweetness.  I did like the sesame seeds, a minor positive.  This meal was not inedible by any means, just not equivalent to a decent Chinese restaurant.  (7 out of 10 for overall flavor. 3 out of 10 for spiciness.)

Texture:  The texture was a let down.  The dish was mainly noodles, so if they don't get that right, then it's all downhill from there.  The noodles were a little too gooey and gelatinous for my taste, maybe because of the viscous orange sauce.  The chicken and snap peas were the bright spots.  The other vegetables were only mainly for show.  (6 out of 10)

Amy's Indian - Palak Paneer (7.75/10)

Summary

• Price: ~$3.50
• Overall: 7.75/10.   Palak Paneer means pureed spinach and (sort of) cheese.  This version is not spectacular if you're looking for authentic, raging spicy Indian food.  Good if you're looking for a relatively small, low intensity, vegetarian Indian meal. 
• Healthfulness: 10/10.  You can't beat the simplicity of Amy's ingredients.  Organic everything.  No artificial flavors or preservatives.  No GMOs.  No MSG.  Gluten free.  High protein, rare for a vegetarian meal, and fiber. 
• Portion Size/Filling:  7/10.  As with all of the $4 or less Amy's meals, the portion is small (300 calories, about the same as a 6" turkey sandwich at Subway).  Perfect for those occasions when you want something larger than a snack but smaller than a gut-busting meal.
• Flavor: 6/10 (Spiciness: 4/10).   Nothing bad to say about the flavor.  I just didn't feel like I was transported to the backstreets of Delhi.  More like downtown San Francisco.  
• Texture: 8/10.  Although it is not mentioned in the main title, if you read the sub-title or look at the picture, you'll see the meal also comes with Rajma (Kidney Beans), which is a nice firm counter to the pureed spinach.

Beer Pairing - Taj, Kingfisher (when eating Indian food...)

Numbers

• Calories: 300
• Fat: 11g (0g Trans Fat)
• Carbs: 38g
• Fiber: 6g
• Protein: 12g
• Sodium: 680mg

Details

Healthfulness:  It's hard to imagine a better frozen entree when it comes to the quality of the ingredients.  When you've eaten as many frozen meals as I have, you can really tell the difference.  The vegetables actually taste as they should, not overpowered by a chemical flavor.  The fact that they are all organic is a bonus. Amy's seems to really strike a good balance with fats, carbs, and proteins and this meal has the perfect balance of the three.  Add in the fiber and you've got a grand slam.  Another bonus is that the serving dish is paper, not plastic.  (10 out of 10)

Portion Size/Filling:  The portion is relatively small though not tiny (300 calories; compare with 230 calories in a small fries from McDonald's), but this meal keeps you full for 3-4 hours.  The high protein and fiber content keeps you full despite the small portion size.  Good for a light lunch if you have a sedentary desk job, or a early light dinner if you're working late.  (7 out of 10, more like a large, healthy snack than a meal)

Flavor:  I was expecting a lot having eaten this dish about a billion times in many different places including many excellent versions.  For me, the taste was a bit of a let down.  It didn't have the intensity or punch that you might expect at a decent Indian restaurant.  It wasn't just the lack of heat, it was the lack of spices in general.  Having said that, if you're in a shared office space and you don't want to overpower your cubicle-mates yet still get your Indian fix, then this may be a good option.  It reminded me of what Indian food tasted like in California.  (6 out of 10 for overall flavor. 4 out of 10 for spiciness.)

Texture:  The texture was very good.  The spinach was well blended and the cheese and kidney beans were firm.  The rice is not quite as light and fluffy as the Central Market frozen meals, but it wasn't soggy or dry either.  All ingredients come in one integrated container, so there could be some blending of the vegetables with the rice while heating, making the rice soggy.  However, that wasn't an issue in my experience.  (8 out of 10)

Amy's Bowls - Brown Rice and Vegetables (8.5/10)

Summary

• Price: ~$3.50
• Overall: 8.5/10.   A vegan's delight, and not a bad mid-day snack for the rest of us. Though vegetarian, very healthy and flavorful.  Avoid eating before quiet boardroom meetings or long drives, due to the high fiber content.
• Healthfulness: 9/10.  Simple, organic ingredients. More protein would've made it perfect, a common drawback to vegetarian meals.
• Portion Size/Filling:  7/10.  Relatively small portions (260 calories) will keep you satisfied for 2-3 hours of sitting at your desk or watching TV.
• Flavor: 9/10 (Spiciness: 0/10).   Brown rice was flavorful and not overpowering.  Could taste all of the wide, pleasing assortment of vegetables and a light mustardy sauce.
• Texture: 9/10. The brown rice was moist and soaked with the flavor of the sauce, not the usual difficult-to-swallow, eat-only-with-three-glasses-of-water brown rice meals. The many vegetables were finely chopped and blended well with the rice. Tofu was firm, not slimy.
  

Beer Pairing - Wolaver's India Pale Ale, Butte Creek Brewing Pilsner


Numbers

• Calories: 260
• Fat: 9g (0g Trans Fat)
• Carbs: 36g
• Fiber: 5g
• Protein: 9g
• Sodium: 550mg

Details
Healthfulness:  Almost perfect balance of fats, carbs and proteins.  A little more protein would've made it perfect.  The ingredients read like a best-seller list from Whole Foods.  There is an array of organic vegetables with very little or no artificial preservatives or flavoring.  (9 out of 10, only lacking slightly in protein)
Portion Size/Filling:  The portion is small (260 calories; about the same as a 6" turkey sandwich from subway), but this meal keeps you "full" for 2-3 hours.  The full feeling comes from the relatively high protein and fiber content, but not the bloated feeling that you normally get from brown rice.  This is a perfect size and balance for a light lunch or a late afternoon snack to hold you over until a late dinner.  (7 out of 10, more like a large, healthy snack than a meal)
Flavor:  The picture on the box does not look too appetizing, and it looks even worse after removing the bowl from the microwave and pulling the film off.  However the taste was surprisingly good.  The abundant amount and variety of vegetables could all be tasted.  Most surprisingly, the brown rice was soft and soaked with the flavor of the light sauce.  I'm not sure what flavor the sauce was, but it was good. (9 out of 10 for the variety of vegetables. 0 out of 10 for spiciness.)
Texture:  If you like vegetables, which would seem like a good assumption if you're buying a vegetarian meal, then you'll love the textures.  The brown rice is soft and soaked with the sauce.  There is an assortment of crunchy vegetables, leafy vegetables and soft vegetables, combining to create a texture party in your mouth. (9 out of 10 because of the texture variety)

Lean Cuisine - Grilled Chicken Caesar (6.5/10)

Price: $2.50
Overall:  6.5/10. Very average tasting, mostly healthy light lunch or late dinner.  The liquidy oil and vinegar flavored sauce is a surprise if you're expecting a creamy caesar dressing.  Portion will make you not hungry but not full.
Healthfulness:  7/10. Ideal mix of protein (17g), carbs (30g), and fat (6g, no trans fat).  Even some fiber (3g).  Not as pure ingredients as Central Market or Amy's meals, for example.
Portion size/Filling:  6/10. Small portion (240 calories) but surprisingly filling because of good protein and fat content.
Flavor: 5/10. (Spiciness 0/10). Not bland, but strange combination of garlic, parmesan and an oil and vinegar dressing.
Texture: 8/10. Firm pasta, crunchy broccoli and white meat chicken. Only detraction was unappetizing skin on some of the chicken pieces.

Beer pairing:  Corona, Shiner Bock

Numbers

• Calories: 240
• Fat: 6g (0g Trans Fat)
• Carbs: 30g
• Fiber: 3g
• Protein: 17g
• Sodium: 530mg

Details

Healthfulness:  The ratio of calories from carbs, protein and fat is almost ideal.  The ingredients list does contain more unrecognizable chemicals and flavorings compared to a Central Market or Amy's meal, though.  (7/10, good ratios but not so pure ingredients)

Portion size/Filling:  It is a small portion, no doubt.  However, it does keep you not hungry for at least 2-3 hours, which is unexpected from such a small portion.  The high protein and fat content helps in that regard.  Probably about the right portion if you have an afternoon of sitting at your desk in front of you. (6/10, pretty small, yet deceptively filling)

Flavor:  The flavor is very average.  Not necessarily bad, just unexpected.  For a dish with Caesar in the name, I was expecting a creamy, garlicky Caesar dressing.  Instead, I got a watery oil and vinegar dressing with lumps of powdered parmesan and a hint of garlic.  Maybe if I knew what I was in for, I wouldn't have rated it so low.  (5/10, 0/10 for spiciness)

Texture:  The texture may be the best part of this dish.  The pasta was firm.  The broccoli was not mushy.  The chicken was white.  The one surprise was a few slimy morsels that I initially thought were mushrooms or tofu, until I realized that they were pieces of chicken skin.  (8/10, unusually firm vegetables and pasta)

Central Market - Chicken Vindaloo (8.5/10)

Summary

• Price: ~$4.00
• Overall: 8.5/10.   Very spicy and flavorful.  Mostly healthy, cheap option if you're craving Indian food.  Great if you're veggie-phobic; only chicken and rice. 
• Healthfulness: 8/10.  Ingredients are simple and healthy.  Great protein (26g) and fat (11g), but a little too high in carbs (62g).  Claims 4g of fiber also.  No vegetables at all, though.
• Portion Size/Filling:  9/10.  This is a medium to large portion size at 440 calories, that will keep you full for 3-5 hours.  Somewhere between a 6" turkey Subway sandwich and a Big Mac. 
• Flavor: 8/10 (Spiciness: 9/10).  Very intense Indian flavors.  Very spicy.  Not for the faint-hearted.
• Texture: 9/10. Light, fluffy white rice.  Good quality chicken with well blended curry.

Beer Pairing - Bass, Guinness
Numbers

• Calories: 440
• Fat: 11g (0g Trans Fat)
• Carbs: 62g
• Fiber: 4g
• Protein: 26g
• Sodium: 800mg

Details
Healthfulness:  Excellent quality ingredients, as you would expect from a Central Market dish.   Who uses Organic Canola Oil in a $4 frozen meal?  With 11g of fat, 26g of protein, and 62g of carbohydrates, the meal is decently balanced, if not a little too heavily weighted with carbs.  The only downside is the lack of vegetables both for nutrition and variety. The box does claim 4g of fiber despite the lack of vegetables.  (8 out 0f 10, would've been higher but for the lack of vegetables)
Portion Size/Filling:  At 440 calories, it is a medium-large meal that would work well for a lunch before a semi-active afternoon of walking or an early dinner with a semi-active evening of cleaning or gardening.  The calorie count is about the same as one-and-a-half 6" Subway chicken breast sandwiches, and after eating this meal, you feel about as full.  (9 out of 10, a lot of rice/carbs so not ideal if just watching tv or going to bed)
Flavor:  The flavor is intensely spicy, which is to be expected from a dish named Chicken Vindaloo. The dish is definitely spicy, with an impact on the first bite.  Make sure you're lips are not chapped, as this will definitely burn them.  (8 out of 10 for the intensity.  9 out of 10 for spiciness)
Texture:  The rice is very light and fluffy, better than most Indian restaurants in fact. The chicken is slightly tough, as is common for frozen meals, but definitely edible. The pieces seemed like mostly white meat with no fat or cartilage. The sauce was well blended and was neither too watery nor too grainy.  Having the rice in a separate compartment from the chicken  allows the rice to remain dry and fluffy during cooking and mixed with the curry only at the time of eating.  (9 out of 10, mostly for the rice)