Amy’s Kitchen 'Lightens Up'

NEW LIGHT AND LEAN MEALS CUT SODIUM, FAT LEVELS

Amy’s Kitchen has introduced a new line of “Light and Lean Meals.” Each of the four meals has fewer than 300 calories, 5 grams of fat, and 590 mg of sodium. Each meal is 8 ounces and sells for a suggested price of $4.89.

Amy’s says the Light and Lean Meals were created in response to consumer requests for meals that would fit their diet plans. Light and Lean Meals are organic, vegetarian, and made without use of trans fats or genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

The four Light and Lean Meals flavors are:



Light and Lean Spinach Lasagna has

just 250 calories and 5 grams of fat.

 Spinach Lasagna—Lasagna layered with ricotta, Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses, and organic spinach, then covered with Amy’s special tomato pasta sauce. Nutritional values are 250 calories, 5 g fat and 540 mg sodium.


Pasta & Veggies—Rotina pasta tossed in a light tomato sauce and tender shallots, organic asparagus, and broccoli florets. Nutritional values are 210 calories, 5 g fat and 470 mg sodium.

Soft Taco Fiesta—Two soft corn tortillas layered with brown rice, shredded vegetables, sweet corn, black beans and cheese, flavored with a blend of tomatillo and ranchero sauces. Nutritional values are 220 calories, 4.5 g fat, 560 mg sodium, and gluten-free.



Black Bean & Cheese Enchilada has

just 240 calories and is gluten-free.



Black Bean & Cheese Enchilada—A mixture of organic black beans, tofu, brown rice, vegetables and cheese tucked into a tortilla covered with tomatillo and ranchero sauces. Organic brown rice with carrots and sweet corn complete the meal. Nutritional values are 240 calories, 4.5 g fat, 480 mg sodium, and gluten-free.

TFFG SAYS: Credit to Amy’s Kitchen for tackling that old bugaboo of frozen foods—too much sodium. Amy’s has also kept the calorie and fat levels in check with these products without compromising taste and texture. A frozen meal for almost $5 is a bit high, but reasonable nutritional values and the bonus of being gluten-free make these products a solid value.

Amy’s Hears the Call for Low Sodium

ROLLS OUT NEW BURRITOS, VEGGIE BURGERS

Ever hear a faint, plaintive whimper coming from the frozen food aisle when shopping at your local supermarket? That soulful sound is the cry for more low-sodium options among the wide array of frozen foods and brands.

Fortunately, the innovators at Amy’s Kitchen have heard the call and answered with two new low-sodium, organic products: Light in Sodium Burrito and Light in Sodium California Veggie Burger.

The Light in Sodium Bean & Cheese Burrito and the Light in Sodium Bean & Rice Burrito feature an organic flour tortilla wrapped around organic pinto beans, rice and vegetables in a mild Mexican sauce. The Bean & Rice Burrito is a non-dairy option. Suggested retail price for each 6 oz. burrito is $2.69.

The Light in Sodium California Veggie Burger is a blend of organic grains, mushrooms, vegetables and walnuts, and contains only half the sodium of Amy’s regular California Burger.

A package of four veggie burgers (about 2.5 oz. each) retails for a suggested price of $5.79.

TFFG Says: The incidence of high sodium levels in processed foods has long been a concern of nutritionists and wellness advocates, so it’s good to see Amy’s rolling out these low sodium options. The Frozen Food Guy is a regular buyer of veggie burgers, and he has been concerned that longstanding brands have suffered from “nutrition level” creep the last few years. These brands have shifted their veggie burger products from just 1 gram of fat per serving up to 2.5, 3 and sometimes even 4 grams of fat while the fiber levels have been reduced. Check your labels closely as the “all vegan” and “California” veggie burgers can sometimes have twice the fat of a “garden veggie” or vice-versa based on whichever manufacturer makes that particular brand. Don’t be fooled by the package front, not all “veggie” products are the same. Contrast and compare the nutrition levels listed on the back of the package for fat grams, fiber grams, calories and sodium content levels.