I wonder if there is a Lifetime Achievement Award for Salisbury steak, the gravy-smothered hamburger patty that has been a frozen dinner staple since Swanson put out the first TV dinner. Weight Watchers Smart Ones serves their Salisbury steak with roasted potato wedges, sliced carrots, and green beans. With a 6 PointsPlus value, the meat patty is not smothered in gravy; but it has enough to facilitate the process of pretending that it’s gooey comfort food.

Other pertinent nutrition facts include carbohydrates at 21 grams and sodium at an amazing 740 milligrams. In my review of Szechuan Style Vegetables and Chicken, I was concerned about a sodium level of 710. In a Chinese entrée, it’s to be expected. Yet, I didn’t expect to find an even higher level in relatively bland American food. From what I’ve observed so far, when carbohydrate levels are lower, sodium levels soar. I’m not a chemist or nutritionist, so I can’t explain why this happens. It may be as simple as a greater need for sodium as a preservative in some meals as opposed to others, which would be unrelated to the fall of carbohydrate levels.

According to the allergy warning, Salisbury steak contains milk, soybeans, and wheat.

Back to those factors that I can understand: Flavor, texture, and portion size. The flavor is about the same as other frozen Salisbury steak entrées (I’ve never tasted it home-cooked or in a restaurant). The texture is soft enough to cut it with the side of your fork, but it’s tough enough for you to feel resistance. The carrots and green beans are al dente, but the potatoes didn’t survive the freezing process as well. Their texture is a little dry and flaky. It’s a good thing that there is just enough extra gravy to lubricate them as they travel through your esophagus. There’s reality for you – gravy is merely a salty lubricant.

The portion was not as satisfying as some of the other Weight Watchers products. I found myself scrounging in the kitchen within an hour or so. This is exactly what I want to avoid. Some of my worst food decisions come from that intangible feeling that something is missing. I’m not a binge eater per se, but I often eat the wrong thing because it was in the way of the right thing (creamy onion dip sitting directly in front of the cottage cheese).

When I bought Weight Watchers Smart Ones Salisbury Steak, it was with a feeling of “better than nothing” because I wanted to stock up on frozen entrées to prevent lunchtime malnutrition. Prior to buying these entrées, I would get a piece of challah (egg bread), butter it, and eat it with a cup of coffee. I’d follow that with an apple or orange, and maybe some cheese. The trouble was that I wasn’t eating reliably. Being alone during the day, I got lazy. No leftovers? I’ll nosh till it’s time to make dinner. I want to break that cycle. Salisbury steak is not the way to do it.

Recommended: No