Potatoes in a Pouch

Mashed potatoes are an almost always welcome addition to a meal, especially during the colder months. But sometimes the work involved in preparing them from scratch is just not going to happen. When you want delicious mashed potatoes for just yourself or maybe two other people, give Betty Crocker’s Pouch Potatoes a try. Available in handy pouches, the three varieties—made with 100% real potatoes-- include: Creamy Butter, Roasted Garlic and Cheddar & Sour Cream—and, in spite of the robust sounding names, each has only 80 calories per serving, and 3 grams of fiber.

Pouch Potatoes are so quick to make that you might want to have them regularly. Or have two different varieties at once. And at about $1.00 a pouch, you can. All you have to do is add hot water, mix, and scrumptious mashed potatoes have been created. The texture and taste are satisfying and authentic

Easy to prepare, good for you, delicious, and reasonably priced. Haven’t you tried them yet?

Macaroni Grill at Home

If you like some of the entrees available at casual restaurants like, Macaroni Grill, for instance, but would rather prepare them at home and in the least possible amount of time, you might try the Romano’s Macaroni Grill Restaurant Favorites from General Mills. It cooks quickly, just as the directions, state—about 20 minutes—and you can add fresh veggies or veggie meat in addition to or in place of some of the other called for additions.

There are four varieties so far: Creamy Basil, Parmesan Chicken and Pasta; Chicken Alfredo with Linguine; Garlic and Herb Chicken Penne; Chicken Marsala with Linguine

One of our respondents had this to say about the Parmesan Chicken and Pasta: “ I liked this meal because it cooks quickly and tastes like it came from a restaurant. It lived up to my taste expectations.”

Another told us “It really was easy to make. I added some of those frozen steamed vegetables to the Garlic and Herb Chicken Penne and had a great tasting and pretty healthy meal. I really wish there were more servings per box, though.”

Another way to serve this is as a side dish, adding a touch of restaurant taste to the rest of the meal.

Delicious Pancakes with Fiber

Like pancakes? Concerned about perhaps not getting enough fiber and maybe too much cholesterol per serving? (and that’s not counting any butter or topping you may heap on the mesa of that pancake pile.)

Try this one. Fiber One Complete Pancake Mix from General Mills gives you 20% of your daily fiber with 0 trans fat ( 3.5 grams of fat per serving). But the best part is these pancakes taste really, really good. The taste is slightly sweet and the cakes are very light and fluffy. And since the mix is complete, all you need to add is water so making pancakes is quick, and the result is a tasty alternative to fat-heavy pancakes. And the mix can also be used to make waffles.

Fiber One Complete Pancake Mix. Add water to the mix, add some fruit and milk or soymilk to the meal and you have a satisfying and healthy breakfast, perfect for the cold weather slowly but surely heading our way.