The Why:  Mesquite-seasoned white-meat chicken strips are combined with green peppers, tomatoes, onions, cheese and Southwest-style sauce on sourdough bread. I’ve been taste-testing these for about three weeks now. The taste is great. And get this: They’re filling and only 280 calories.  I still haven’t figured out how to get the bread crispy each time even though I’ve been using the special tray that helps to crisp it — but I’m working on it.

The Health Bonus: Each Panini has about 30 percent of your daily calcium needs and 15 percent of your iron as well as 3 grams of fiber and 20 grams of protein. And did we mention they’re low in calories?       

What We Liked Best: Great-tasting, low-calorie sandwiches prepared in a matter of minutes.

What We Liked Least: The bread isn’t whole grain, and the crisping tray performs haphazardly. The paninis are also high in sodium, as are most frozen dinners.

The Price: $3.09. 

Offerings: Chicken, Spinach & Mushroom; Steak, Cheddar & Mushroom; Southwest-Style Chicken; and Chicken Club. Two more, Chicken Tuscan, which has tender white-meat chicken, peppers, olives, tomatoes and margherita-style sauce on Italian herb bread (340 calories, 8g fat, 0g trans fat); and Philly-Style Steak & Cheese, with steak, red and green peppers, onions and cheese sauce on sourdough bread (350 calories, 9g fat, 0g trans fat) will be available some time in July.

Web Site: www.leancuisine.com

Where to Buy: Any supermarket.

Nutritional Information: Serving size one package (6 ounces), calories 280, calories from fat 70, total fat 7g, saturated fat 3g, trans fat 0g, polyunsaturated fat 1.5g, monounsaturated fat 1.5g, cholesterol 30mg, sodium 730mg, potassium 140mg, total carbohydrates 32g, dietary fiber 3g, sugars 3g, protein 20g.         

Ingredients: Visit this Web page to view.

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