Lean Cuisine Panini

I finally tried one today after hearing lots of rave reviews about it. Tried the cheese, chicken, mushroom and and spinach.

Unfortunately, I'm dissapointed. :( I was hoping they'd taste amazing. I had to drown it in ketchup to make it taste better (I'm a big ketchup freak for everything!!)

The crust of the bread was rather hard, the insides of the bread were rather soggy. (I cooked it for about 3 minutes in the microwave High as recommended.)

The only thing that was good was the good amount of stringy melted cheese. But I guess that's where all the calories go.

Oh well, its not like they were an amazing health food find anyways!

Does anyone here love these? Why??

I had one of these quite awhile ago...  I remember thinking the bread was very good - crispy and buttery tasting, but I also thought they were not worth the calorie count.  I haven't had one since.

Not big on the paninis... some of the other Lean Cuisines are good, though.

I love paninis but have to agree that for the calorie count in this type it isn't worth it.  They don't taste that good.  For the same calories you can make one that is waaaaaaaaay better tasting.

Original Post by lilminime:

I love paninis but have to agree that for the calorie count in this type it isn't worth it.  They don't taste that good.  For the same calories you can make one that is waaaaaaaaay better tasting.

Sooooo true! 2 slices of good thick homemade italian peasant bread shouldn't run you more than 170 calories, grab two fat free sharp cheddar slices at thirty calories a piece, a couple of slices of foster farms over roasted chicken breast at 20 calories a slice, and all the veggies you want!

"homemade italian peasant bread ", how do you amke that?

C_JAMIE

It sounds like the majority of the calories you ate were in the Ketchup...lol

Thanks for the forewarning on the paninis.  I'll stick to my South Beach Diet Meals.

I don't particularly care for the mushrooom and spinach one, but the chicken tuscan and chicken club are pretty good.  Paired with a medium apple, it's a decent lunch, IMO.

Given a choice, I prefer the flatbread melts.  But as already mentioned, you can make a tastier melt or panini youself, if you have the ingredients - the LCs are for convenience.

martee - you're probably correct about the ketchup judgement :P

but again, that sounds correct for about all my meals.

i am such a sauce freak. i get wayyy too many calories from sauces.

I quite like the chicken paninis - not too fond of the steak one tho.  I just stocked up on them (on sale 3 for $10) just to have on hand for those Saturday nights when I'm just dying for pizza!  I always eat them "open face" - seems like you're getting more somehow!

Split

I eat them open face, too. Also, I agree on the steak ones not being so good.  SOmething about the steak flavor reminds me of something indistinguishable that I ate in my past, and it freaks me out.

I tried the Healthy Choice variety because it was on sale and I had a coupon.  I guess one can say, you get what you pay for.  Very dissapointing flavorless bread, with some cheese on top.  I suppose I could have pepper and a bit of sea salt for flavor.  Sigh.  Live and learn.