He Says: Healthy Ones
Paige from Healthy Ones sent us a generous offering of coupons to exchange at my local grocery. The real meats tasted much better than the coupons. More on that very soon. First, a special message at the advisement of my psychiatrist.
You know me, I’m honest. Sometimes I’m overly florid because I have no one to talk to about interesting things all day. It’s just not part of my day job. So I’m saving up a bunch of good words to use on you. When you’re least expecting they will be unleashed. We’ve also established that I’m not easily surprised. Some people walk around with bulging eyes, grinning a mouthful of 50 incisors all day like they’re continuously winning the lottery and birthing dodeca-tuplets. Sure, I have my ups and downs but overall I’m an even keeled character.
In plain words I tell you, I’m pleasantly surprised by the quality and taste Healthy Ones supply.
Receiving deli meat in a plastic container was cause for hesitation for me. My grandmothers would instantly not have approved and allowed you to believe that in their days John Rambo cleaved cow fresh seconds before Mario Batali pan seared it and fleet-flickered to the John Paul for a quick homily prior to delivering it atop a doily to your table – no matter what your father did for a living. The dollar was strong then. A loaf of bread could be had for an Indian head nickel. Life was hard but it was good. And so it rolls.
Rather than make a quick judgment in either direction I’ve done what I consider to be a wise thing. Firstly, tell myself I’m beautiful every morning when I look in the mirror and secondly, forget this stuff comes in a plastic container and give it a fair shake. I didn’t cringe when Heather bought me the 99 cent per pound store brand Turkey during Budget Month and that was probably full of nitrates and fillers. Why would I now?
I ate this stuff – Turkey and Ham – all week for 2 weeks. Sandwiches, straight out of the package, pan friend for egg breakfast sandwiches, with cheese, without cheese. You name it. It tastes good and according to the FDA it’s healthy for me.
I am beautiful and so is my byo Lunch Bag.
All Healthy Ones packaged lunch meats are American Heart Association certified. A single serving of any packaged Healthy Ones stats up like this:
- 480 mg or less of sodium
- 3 g or less of total fat (less than .5 g trans fat)
- 1 g or less of saturated fat
- 60 mg or less of cholesterol
- 10 percent or more of daily requirements for protein
- No fillers
- No artificial flavors
- No by-products
Here are some examples of Heather’s love for me manifesting itself in sandwich form. Homemade Honey Oatmeal Bread, dried cranberries, Healthy Ones turkey breast, Sargento shredded cheddar cheese, and sprouts.
I’ll give it to you straight. While the taste and texture are quite acceptable, cold cut snobs (ahem, Boar’s Head – ahem, Heather) will never get over the fact that Tony the Butcher didn’t cut it fresh before her sparkling eyes. There are better quality (and also much more expensive) meats to be had but they won’t last as long (due to the usual shoddy paper wrapping) and just aren’t as damn near convienent to reseal. Given my inexperience with waiting on line at the butcher or deli counter I’d be very comfortable picking up the Turkey/Ham Variety Pack and going on my merry way.
March 2nd, 2009 at 3:44 pm
I am particularly fond of the lunch bag that came with it!
March 2nd, 2009 at 3:47 pm
Great review, He
I’ve never seen these before. I rarely buy lunch meat, but it’s nice to know there are some “okay” ones out there.
March 2nd, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Love the lunch bag! I’d try the meat, thanks for sharing!
March 2nd, 2009 at 4:34 pm
mark, your posts are so fun. i love it when you chime in. thanks for the deli meat review. and WOW, what an impressive sandwich from heather!
March 2nd, 2009 at 4:43 pm
Thanks for the review! I eat deli meats almost every day! Yes Boars Head is my favorite but I would try this!
March 2nd, 2009 at 5:06 pm
Mark.. I can’t get past the fact that you actually know what a doily is !!!!
March 2nd, 2009 at 5:22 pm
Yay – a post from Mark. Heather’s sandwich looked amazing, and I have to admit, I’m a deli meat snob as well. Bring on the Boar’s Head!
March 2nd, 2009 at 5:29 pm
hahaha..cold cut snobs, wish i could be one. here in college, our coldcuts are cut once a week and they are so cold they are….mind i say it, FROZEN……
March 2nd, 2009 at 5:48 pm
Can Heather make me a sandwich too? That looks tasty. Love the lunch bag as well.
And I see you have a new layout. Very snazzy.
March 2nd, 2009 at 5:50 pm
Love the layout, and although I’ve never tried that particular brand of resealable presliced deli meat, I am a fan, it definitely lasts longer, and some days I don’t make it to the store in time when the deli is still open.
March 2nd, 2009 at 5:57 pm
I love the lunch bag!
March 2nd, 2009 at 6:35 pm
um, i sort of love your lunch bag. and I’m thinking you do too, seeing as you appear to have quite a firm grip on it!
I really want a bit of that bread…. living with heather must be so fab
March 2nd, 2009 at 8:01 pm
wow, that sandwhich sure looks like love to me
March 2nd, 2009 at 8:47 pm
Yummy sandwich! Cool Lunch bag too!
March 2nd, 2009 at 9:18 pm
I am in serious need of a new lunch bag! My current one is an REI paper bag! Love yours!
March 2nd, 2009 at 10:02 pm
Mmm sandwiches. Great review!
Also I love the new look of your site!
March 2nd, 2009 at 10:10 pm
I think you can either sacrifice a little on the bread or the meat but not both to have a great sandwich. I have tried Healthy Ones before (on sale!) and I thought it was pretty good. seriously that bread though…yum
March 2nd, 2009 at 10:44 pm
Hey I like your new site! Very snazzy!
Sandwich looks really good – especially the honey bread!
March 2nd, 2009 at 11:03 pm
My dad is a complete cold-cut snob. He cannot walk past a deli counter that sells Boar’s Head without getting their Sausalito turkey. It’s pretty darn good, actually. I like the lunch meats that come in the plastic containers – you can re-use the sturdy ones!
After working at a deli counter myself, the only cold cuts I can stomach are smoked, honey, or spicy varieties of turkey. But don’t give me that flaccid white butterball stuff. Guh.
March 3rd, 2009 at 1:04 am
Mark, it must be a man thing because John is the only other person I know who eats deli meat taken from the shelf next to the hot dogs and bacon. I, like my Bestie, only choose from the Boar’s Head varieties. Seriously, cracked peppercorn turkey is heaven (it’s NOW the only deli meat that John eats. I am proud to have converted him).
March 3rd, 2009 at 1:05 am
HP, LOVE the new layout and the homegrown RI apples. And the little smiley face above the copyright sign below. I know that was HP!
March 3rd, 2009 at 6:00 am
O
K
A
Y
people ask me this and now I HAVE to ask you: is it really as fun and awesome being you as it appears in the blog?
I Love you two.
March 3rd, 2009 at 9:34 am
great reiew! I really like healthy ones as well. quick and convenient! the taste is okay not boars head but it is what it is. I’d rather buy healthy ones than oscar myer.
March 3rd, 2009 at 10:52 am
Yummy-looking raw cashew butter!
March 3rd, 2009 at 10:52 am
whoops, that was meant for the She post. Sorry, He . . .
March 3rd, 2009 at 11:51 am
love this!!! great review on the lunch meats! i usually buy the Hormel Natural for my boy- but maybe I can get the Healthy Ones instead!
March 3rd, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Great review! And love that lunch bag!