Smartmade Mexican Chicken Bowl: Nutritional Breakdown

The SmartMade Mexican-Style Chicken Bowl is a frozen meal option that combines grilled chicken, black beans, brown rice, and roasted vegetables coated in chili-lime sauce, with a sprinkle of Monterey Jack cheese. While the product is not a direct Weight Watchers meal, it is produced by Smart Ones, a brand that caters to consumers trying to lose weight. The meal is available in a 9 oz box and can be prepared in a microwave or oven.

Nutritional value

The SmartMade Mexican-Style Chicken Bowl is a frozen meal containing grilled chicken, black beans, brown rice, and roasted vegetables coated in chili-lime sauce, with a sprinkle of Monterey Jack cheese. It is a convenient, healthy option for those who want a quick, home-style meal.

The nutritional value of the SmartMade Mexican-Style Chicken Bowl can be broken down into several components. Firstly, it is a good source of protein due to the grilled chicken breast fillet strips, which are chargrilled and seasoned with sea salt, spices, and garlic. The chicken is also a source of rib meat, providing additional flavour and texture.

The bowl contains a blend of vegetables, including poblano chillies, roasted red bell peppers, roasted onions, corn, and black beans. These vegetables offer dietary fibre, vitamins, and minerals. The corn and bell peppers are especially flavourful, with the corn providing sweetness and the peppers adding a rich, juicy taste. The vegetables are also a good source of antioxidants, which can provide various health benefits.

The SmartMade Mexican-Style Chicken Bowl also contains brown rice, which is a complex carbohydrate and a good source of dietary fibre. Brown rice is also a source of essential nutrients, including B vitamins, magnesium, and selenium.

The bowl is topped with a green chili lime sauce, which adds a tangy and spicy flavour to the dish. The sauce is made with a blend of spices, including cilantro, garlic, turmeric, and natural flavours. While some people enjoy the sauce, others have found it to make the dish soggy.

Finally, the dish is sprinkled with Monterey Jack cheese, adding a creamy texture and savoury flavour to the bowl. The cheese also contributes protein and calcium to the nutritional profile of the meal.

Overall, the SmartMade Mexican-Style Chicken Bowl offers a convenient and nutritious option for those seeking a quick, healthy meal. While it may not satisfy larger appetites, it can be a good choice for those watching their weight or looking for a low-calorie option, as it is filling without breaking the calorie bank.

Sensory score

The sensory score of a product is based on its flavour and texture attributes, which are measured by trained tasters. The SmartMade Mexican-Style Chicken Bowl has received mixed reviews in this area.

Some reviews praise the flavour of the dish, with one person saying that it has "so much flavour" and another stating that the vegetables are "full of flavour". The chicken is described as "delicious" and "moist without being rubbery". The dish is also said to have a wonderful aroma, with one person commenting that the "Mexican-cantina aroma" filled their kitchen when they cooked it.

However, other reviews are less positive. One person describes the chicken as having a "sour taste" and a "bitter aftertaste", while another says that the dish lacked flavour and that the seasoning was too salty.

The texture of the dish has also received mixed reviews. One person describes the chicken as "rich and juicy", while another says that the chicken is "rubbery". The sauce has been described as "watery", which made the other ingredients soggy.

Overall, the SmartMade Mexican-Style Chicken Bowl seems to have a fairly positive sensory score, with most reviewers finding the flavour and texture to be enjoyable, despite a few negative comments.

Calorie count

The SmartMade Mexican-Style Chicken Bowl is a frozen meal option that contains grilled chicken breast fillet strips with rib meat, black beans, brown rice, roasted vegetables, and Monterey Jack cheese. The meal is topped with a green chilli lime sauce.

The calorie count of the SmartMade Mexican-Style Chicken Bowl is approximately 250-260 calories, making it a suitable option for those conscious of their calorie intake. This calorie count is significantly lower than other frozen meal options, which typically contain 400 or more calories.

The chicken in the bowl is grilled rather than fried, contributing to its lower calorie count. It is also described as being rich and juicy, with large chunks of meat, which sets it apart from other frozen food brands that may offer smaller, less satisfying portions.

The vegetable portion of the meal includes sweet corn, green bell peppers, poblano peppers, tomatoes, and onions. These vegetables are roasted, adding flavour to the dish. The roasting process may also contribute to the overall calorie count, as roasting can be a healthier alternative to other cooking methods.

While the dish has received some positive reviews for its flavour and convenience, there have also been criticisms regarding the seasoning and taste of the chicken. Some reviewers have found the seasoning to be too salty, while others have described the chicken as having a sour and bitter aftertaste. However, overall, the SmartMade Mexican-Style Chicken Bowl appears to be a satisfying and flavourful option for those seeking a low-calorie meal.

Chicken quality

The SmartMade Mexican Style Chicken Bowl contains grilled chicken breast fillet strips with rib meat. The chicken is chargrilled and seasoned with sea salt, native food starch, spices (including celery), chicken stock, torula yeast, evaporated cane syrup, dried garlic, and onion.

Some customers have praised the product for its generous portion of chicken. However, others have criticised the chicken for having a sour taste and a bitter aftertaste. One customer stated that they "wasn't a fan of the chicken".

The chicken in the SmartMade Mexican Style Chicken Bowl is grilled rather than fried, which is intended to make the meal healthier. The grilling also adds flavour to the dish, with one customer commenting that the meal has "multiple layers of flavour added from roasting veggies, grilling chicken, the Mexican spices, sweet corn and herbs".

Customer reviews

However, there are some mixed reviews regarding the sauce. While some customers find the chilli lime sauce tasty, others mention that it makes the dish soggy. In addition, a few reviewers comment on the small quantity of the meal, with one person specifically mentioning the lack of grains.

One reviewer expresses disappointment with the overall taste, describing the seasoning as overly salty and unlike authentic Mexican cuisine. Another reviewer notes that the meal smells strange when heated in the microwave, although they clarify that this does not affect the flavour.

Despite some minor criticisms, the SmartMade Mexican-Style Chicken Bowl appears to be well-received by customers, particularly those seeking a convenient, low-calorie option that does not compromise on taste.

Frequently asked questions