My Quest for a Low-Fat Spring Roll

In this world there are two different categories of food: healthy, good for you food and tasty, delicious, artery-clogging food. Like a venn diagram, a dish rarely ever falls into both categories. Staying health-conscious among a menagerie of incredible foods is a constant struggle, and typically the items tempting you most are the ones inevitably adding to your waistline. Everyone has at least one food that you order from every place that offers it-- you know what I’m talking about, whether it’s fried cheese or chocolate chip cookies, if it is on the menu, you have to order it. For me, that food is spring rolls, the fried crunchy outside protecting the savory contents inside, I just can’t get over it. It doesn’t even matter if I prefer another restaurant’s rolls, I will order one anyway simply because they are on the menu. Sadly, I become instantly overwhelmed with guilt after consumption because I know how the roll became so crunchy. Bubbling, hot, greasy, oil. Yet I keep coming back, knowing the guilt but not caring because I am addicted.

Delicious, 200 calorie snacks

Because of this weakness, I began a quest, looking high and low for an alternative to satiate my need for crispy, fried spring rolls. I sought refuge in the grocery store, perhaps frozen foods were the way to go, of course there are so many varieties of frozen egg roll from which to choose. Sadly, these options contained just as much fat as their restaurant counterparts, what’s the point of eating frozen food if it isn’t going to be any healthier than take out? But all that changed when Lean Cuisine started cooking up what they call “casual cuisine”, basically they took all of the best junk foods and turned them into 200 calorie snacks. I don’t know what they took out (or put in) to make these guilty pleasures not-so-guilty but I am thoroughly impressed.

My favorite item is the Garlic Chicken Spring Rolls (pictured here), they heat up in the microwave with the same crunchy coating and warm insides that come from something straight out of the fryer. Chocked full of white meat chicken, spinach, parmesan cheese and caramelized onions, these rolls will satisfy your junk food craving in a guilt-free manner. There are dips and other rolls which I am intrigued to sample, the broccoli cheese dip received excellent reviews and the personal portion helps fulfill your craving without making you feel like a fatty after you finish eating. I give these Lean Cuisines five stars because not only do they taste amazing, they let you feel like you are indulging without the consequences. Try them, if you hate them, at least you didn’t waste 600 calories figuring it out.