Is anyone having trouble with the boxed food? I am ok with the cereals (yummo), and the frozen foods but I just can not seem to handle the food in the box. I am a pasta finatic but I just could not get through the rotinin and meatballs i thought it was awful. Anyone else having this problem? What do you do do you substitue other foods? I am going to order all frozen next time but for the time being I need some suggestions.

Thanks!

For me, it depends on which shelf-stable food. I tried a couple when I first started that I didn't like (it wasn't the flavor so much as the texture that bothered me -- kind of mushy), so it turned me off to them for awhile. But then recently, I tried a few I hadn't before and really liked them. So don't write them off all together, you may find ones you really like. I try to remember to try just one new food each week or every other week. That way, if I don't like it, it was only one meal, and I know I'll like the rest of what I'm having that week.

Also, I know I'll probably sound like an echo of everybody else, but it's true that just adding a few spices and veggies really does bulk it up and improves the flavor and freshness. I add course ground pepper to just about everything. Also great spices to add are (depending on the dish) garlic, basil, oregano, red pepper flakes, green onions, and a little grated romano cheese (a limited free). I also find that mushrooms (if you like them) go well with just about every dish, and really improve the flavor for me. Spinach is a good one to add as well (except it gets a big soggy in the microwave).

For example, I tried the Swedish Meatballs for the first time just a week or so ago, and before I popped it in the microwave, I added tons of sliced fresh mushrooms, a little garlic, lots of black pepper, a few red pepper flakes (I like everything spicy!), and a tsp of grated Romano. It was SO yummy, I was really pleasantly surprised.

I don't know if that helps any, but I know there are many, many great ideas here on the boards for jazzing up the meals. Maybe try searching for the name of the meal you'll be having that evening for some quick tips?

Good luck!

Steph

You are not alone - many of us do not care for the non-frozen main entrees. You can avoid them by doing the personalized menu (costs will be higher because the frozen entrees are more expensive), but to me it is worth it. If I don't like a food (especially if it "grosses me out") I won't eat it and that set me up for snacking and other bad habits.

oh thank you so much i thought I was doomed. I dont mind the extra expense if I am going to eat it. the frozen stuff is actually good for me so maybe I will stick with that. Thanks so much

I also don't like the boxed meals at all i order the frozen ones because if you don't like something it makes it harder to try to force yourself to eat it.

I keep some Mrs. Dash with me and I use it to jazz up the flavor. I also experiement with other seasonings and sometimes I use some cheese from one of my milk servings during the day.

cheese is a meat serving

According to recent posts by the dietician, 2 oz of low fat meat may be used in exchange for 1 milk serving.

For me, adding some chili powder and chopped up bell pepper or tomatoes to any of the red-sauce dishes makes a WORLD of a difference. It just makes it taste more like the pasta sauce I like/am used to. Even some fresh garlic, sauteed a little bit adds a lot.

It's funny that you said that. Because I HATE that one too! It tastes just like the Nutri Systems version, which I also hated. The two I know I like are the SW Chicken w/beans & rice and the Turkey Chili. I am also trying the Lentil one this go around.
To go along with the theme here, I am a spice hound too! I put Cavenders on everything, not to mention a ton of other spices.
Hope this helps.

I feel the same! Sadly I have noticed if I cheat it'll be after the non-frozen meals...I can't seem to finish them. I will begin asking for only frozen meals...

I do not enjoy the boxed food either, so I pass on them each and everytime. The fozen food is fine, I enjoy adding appropriate seasonings, and when and where possible adding some volume to it.......

Make a good day

I don't like the box foods either and order only frozen. It is a texture issue for me too. As far as spicing it up, sometimes I find it too spicey already, like the potato soup.
Mary

The turkey chili is actually one of my faves, I heat it up on the stove and pour it on top of a nice big salad with some salsa. I feel just like i am having a taco salad at a restaurant. Try it I think you will like it.

The shelf food are disgusting. The only one i will eat is the Chili..the rest remind me of NutriSystem foods,I only buy the frozen entree's. They cost more,but they taste good...especially when you add volume to them...Christine

I really like some of the shelf stable foods. Turkey chili seems to be the one a lot of folks like best, and I'd put it into the "keeper" category, too. I love its versatility - either poured over a huge salad, or mixed up in a pot with a ton of veggies. Yesterday I had the rotini for lunch, and while the pasta isn't cooked "al dente", and it is a bit on the mushy side, it's a lunch that I really enjoy. I find it very satisfying - it's comfort food for me. Sure, homemade pasta is better, but let's not forget what brought us all to JC in the first place. We're dieting here - shouldn't judge these dishes against the ideal. They are what they are... portion controlled, pre-made, well-balanced diet meals. Nothing more. Oh. And the SW Chicken/Rice is another that I really like - pour that puppy all over a big lunch salad - big yum. Oh. And another! Love the cookout chicken!I don't eat mushrooms, so never tasted the Swedish Meatballs and can't comment on that. And, I swear the Chicken Pasta Parmesan is identical to the similarly named NS entrée. It's not great, but I'll eat it... every once in a while I forget to strike it from my menu, and it finds its way home with me from JC. I like the ravioli too! Again, of course homemade is better, but it's a satisfying serving, especially after I add a ton of veggies.

poozieny,
Hey Girl, how are you? How is the program treating you? How much have you lost so far? I WI this afternoon,send luck my way! I have folowed the program 100% this week! Plus, all the exercising I have been doing hopefully will help! Let me know how your doing! Have a great day! Christine

I'm choosing the meatless entrées, so I have to include the pasta fagioli and cheese ravioli in the rotation. I'm sure the other shelf-stable foods could be made fantastic with a little effort.

'Tis the season for fresh spinach, so I sauté onions in a teaspoon of olive oil (or Mazola spray olive oil) until clear, stir in the spinach until it just starts to wilt, add the ravioli and heat through. It's so good, you won't believe it.

The pasta fagioli gets upgraded with canned or fresh tomatoes and sautéed mushrooms. Yum yum yum... so glad this on my menu tonight for dinner!

I totally skip the cans and go right for the frozen entrees.

Kelly

I grew up on lentils and LOVE the beef and lentils. I steam some carrots and onion in the microwave first and add them to the lentils before I heat them up. If you like lentils, it's really tasty.

I haven't tried the lentils yet, but will do so based on your recommendation because I do love them too.

Like others, I am in LOVE with turkey chili and SW chicken with rice and beans - that is just so scrumptious I have both ever week.

To me, the Chicken Pasta Parmesan is not bad either and the canned chili con carne is awesome. My husband has me buy extra cans so he can have some on his hotdogs! (he's obviously NOT on JC ).

I think all the soups need a flavor makeover and the Soupitsizers are *the worst*. Simply inedible. I'd much rather have a cup of low sodium, organic chicken, beef or vegetable broth with some mushrooms and a few thin green onion slices.

Try the favorites in this thread before completely abandoning the shelf stable foods. We all need variety!!

Good luck!

I'm a rejoin to JC but wanted to add my two cents. The Beef and Barley Stew is amazing! It doesn't come in a can but in a microwavable bowl. But since it isn't frozen, I thought it might go into this category.

Also, I hated the rotini too!

I am also pretty turned off by that box food too and it does taste just like Nutrisystem!!!! That's what I didn't like about Nutrisystem. I sometimes buy them when I'm not paying attention to the menu when I'm picking out my food so I have a couple of them on the shelf in my pantry. I think it will make great hurricane food. LOL...LOL I am after all in S. Florida.

Love,
Dina

p.s. The Beef & Barley stew is really good tho.

yes yes yes
i just received my order from order direct and that is all there is...i was so desapointed....i know, from doing jenny before, that those boxed food...i did not like....after a call, i learned that in my area, quebec, they don t send frozen food...so make sure you live in a place where they ship frozen, and don t charge for money exchange....i was not told on the initial phone call ...i was sooooooooooo ready....i already threw out my lunch which was italian wedding soup (which i usually like ) but it was awfull...anyway thanks for reading, i needed to vent...
lise

today is my first day & I had trouble with the mashed potatoes & beef, also the soft chocolate chip cookie. what got me thru is that I customize my order, so if I don't like it, it's GONE! (i.e. it won't be ordered again)

are JC & nutrisystem really the same? OMG!! and I keep dissing NS on the phone to my consultant! No wonder she got so quiet! LOL!