The Classic T.V. Dinner

Born in the fifties, the TV dinner has an undeniable, kitsch value. While television advertising might have us think otherwise, frozen meals wrapped in plastic and warmed by radioactive waves disgust just about everybody. Or do they?

The diversity of frozen meals can stagger the average supermarket shopper. The TV dinner oasis is Porter Square's Star Market. The aisles gush with boxes of frozen food, the variety of which will satisfy even the most picky connoisseur. Both Swanson TM and Hungry Man TM meals offer Sirloin Beef Tips with noodles and gravy. Most meals also come with a complimentary tasty dessert. Other yummy treats include favs like Traditional Pot Roast, Boneless Chicken, Chicken and Veal Parmagiana, Six Chicken Nuggets, Boneless Pork Rib, Fried Chicken and even good old Salisbury Steak. These Swanson dinners start at $2.49 while Hungry Man meals begin at a pricey $3.09.

For those unwilling to spend over $2 on dinner, Star Market's brand offers substantial savings. For example, a Banquet Value Meal costs a mere $1.69. And for the kid in you, Kid Cuisine dinners are $1.99 and offer enticing choices like "Cosmic Chicken Sticks," "Pirate Pizza with Cheese" and "Frenzied Fish Sticks." The critics agree: the Kid Cuisine desserts are delish!

Of course all of these dinners come in a foil or plastic wrapped tray with several compartments that shape the food accordingly. To add a little fun to TV dinner consumption, read the silly names of side dish options. Names include: Corn Nibblets with Butter, Carrot Wheels and the Extra-Gooey Chocolate Brownie.

But gooey brownies aren't for everyone. Cristy Castellano '99 prefers a less caloric meal, "Healthy Choice of course," she says. Lean Cuisine, another brand for the health-conscious consumer, has earned the praise of certain Harvard students. "I don't really eat [frozen dinners], but on occasion I eat Lean Cuisine TM Angel Hair Pasta Primavera," confides Nora H. Zimmett '00.

Martin M. Edlund '98 has scrutinized the frozen ingredients. He explains, "I'll buy the Salisbury Steak Hungry Man dinner. While it's not true that it contains real meat, neither does the dining hall [food].

For those unwilling to put up with pseudo-meat, seek out higher quality and real ingredients at Sage's Market on Brattle St. Break away from boring frozen options and pick up creative alternatives like Wolfgang Puck's Designer Pizza TM and Taj Gourmet TM Vegetable Korma and Shahi Paneer. Of course these fine options come at a price--the Puck's pizza costs a whopping $5.49. But, hey, sometimes you just gotta splurge.

But even gourmet options leave some students unfulfilled.

Isaac J. Lidsky '99 declares, "I'd rather eat my own feces than a TV dinner; it's probably healthier."