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Hacking Your HMR Entrees


turkey chili baked potato
 

(Hack: modifying an item to create additional functionality)

At first glance, preparing an HMR entree seems very straight forward. Open the box, vent the lid, microwave for 1-2 minutes, add spices or vegetables, and eat. In fact, there are a lot of other creative ways to enjoy entrees. Let’s take a look at some of the tips and tricks veteran HMR dieters use.

 

Have An Entrée Over A Potato. What could be easier? Microwave a potato, open it up a bit, and pour a heated entrée over it. Instant stuffed potatoes. Here are two recipes to try:

Hearty Turkey Chili Potato
Five-Bean Potato

Mix an Entrée Into A Salad. Too hot to cook? Want to add a little crunch to your entrée? Mix it into a salad. If you purchase a pre-made (bagged) salad mix at the grocery store, you’ll have a meal in about 2 minutes. Here are two recipes to try:

Southwestern Salad
Barbecue Chicken Salad

Turn Your Entrée Into A Soup. Adding an entrée to an HMR Chicken Soup not only adds volume, but also adds a rich creaminess as well. Adding entrees to a soup can really warm you up on a cold day. Here are two recipes to try:

Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup
Classic Pasta Fagioli Soup

Have It At Room Temperature. Because HMR entrees are pre-cooked, they can be eaten at room temperature. This comes in handy on long flights, car trips, picnics, or just when you want a substantial snack. My favorite room temperature entrees include the Chicken Creole, Mushroom Risotto, Lasagna with Meat Sauce, and the Pasta Fagioli.

Turn It Into A Dip. It’s true! Put an entrée into a food processor, add spices, and you have an instant dip. What a sneaky way to get an entrée in! Here are two recipes to try:

Quick 5-Bean Dip
Black Bean Dip

Bonus Hack: Hidden Vegetable Servings. As you probably know, a ½ cup of beans equals a vegetable serving. There are 2 of the HMR entrees that have a ½ cup of beans in them: The Five-Bean Casserole and the Turkey Chili. So have an entrée, and get a free serving. What a deal!

Do you have a favorite tip or trick that helps you with your entrees? I’d love to hear them. 

 

 

by KeithVanGasken on 03/13/2012 | Share Story With a Friend

tags: Weight-Loss, HMR, Recipes, Diet Tools, in the box, strategies

About the Author

Keith Van Gasken

Keith Van Gasken began obesity treatment in a clinic setting in 1982, and has been with HMR since 1992. Roles have included health educator & mentor, as well as program and product development, with a special affinity for product & recipe development. He has maintained a 100-lb. weight loss since 1982.

Comments (3) Post a comment
I'm really glad you included the Black Bean Dip, Keith. One of the clients in my HMR by Phone Classes posted it. It's awesome! She and I live on opposite coasts of USA so we've never met in person, but I'm incredibly proud of the work that she's done -- protecting a weight loss of 44 pounds since 2001. I just sent her the link to your blog for a surprise... :>)
by PeggyatHMC on 03/15/2012
Glad you liked it. It's a super filling meal in minutes!
by KeithVanGasken on 03/14/2012
I loved the way you organized these strategies and recipes, Keith! Makes creating a meal much easier, and a little more exciting :) I had the Mexican bean and beef entree over a baked potato with avocado for lunch today--you're right, potatoes are delicious!
by sailGirl on 03/14/2012