Lean Cuisine facts for kids
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Microwaved Lean Cuisine tortellini
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| Owner |
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|---|---|
| Introduced | 1981 |
| Discontinued | 2023 (Canada only) |
| Related brands | Stouffer's |
| Markets | Worldwide |
| Tagline | Do something good for yourself! |
Lean Cuisine is a popular brand of frozen meals and dinners. It is sold in the United States by a company called Nestlé. In Australia, another company called Vesco sells it under a special agreement with Nestlé.
The brand started in 1981. It offered healthier, lower-fat, and lower-calorie versions of meals from another brand called Stouffer's. Today, Lean Cuisine offers many different kinds of meals. These include traditional dinners, dishes from other countries, pizzas, and even panini sandwiches. The main office for Lean Cuisine in the United States is in Solon, Ohio.
In February 2023, Nestlé Canada announced that they would stop selling frozen meals and pizzas in Canada. This change did not affect sales in the United States, where Lean Cuisine products are still available.
Lean Cuisine: A Quick Look
Lean Cuisine was created in 1981. The idea was to give people a healthier choice for frozen meals. It started with just ten different meals. Now, the brand has grown to offer over 100 different options!
The name "Lean Cuisine" means that the meals meet certain rules. The FDA has rules for foods called "lean." This means they must have less than 10 grams of fat. They also need to have 4.5 grams or less of saturated fat. Plus, they must have less than 95 milligrams of cholesterol.
Lean Cuisine meals also control how many calories you eat. Most meals have between 200 and 300 calories. The lowest calorie meal has 140 calories, and the highest has 400 calories.
Lean Cuisine has some competitors, which are other brands that sell similar products. One major competitor is Healthy Choice. This brand is made by Conagra Brands. Because its name includes "healthy," it also has to meet special FDA rules. For example, Healthy Choice meals must have less than 480 milligrams of sodium. Other competitors include Smart Ones and South Beach Diet meals. There are also store brands that offer similar healthy frozen meals.
Lean Cuisine helps support some good causes. They sponsor Susan G. Komen for the Cure, which works to fight breast cancer. They also support America on the Move, which encourages people to be more active.
Lean Cuisine Meal Types
Lean Cuisine offers many different types of meals. They group these meals into different categories. This helps you find the kind of food you are looking for.
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Lean Cuisine's Journey Through the Years
Lean Cuisine has changed and grown a lot over the years. Here's a look at some key moments in its history:
- 1981 – The brand first started with 10 different meals. The ads focused on "Good tasting entrees at less than 300 calories."
- 1983 – A new slogan was used: "You'll love the way it looks on you." The meals were so popular that sometimes stores ran out!
- 1984 – Lean Cuisine offered a 14-day diet plan. They also had a free booklet called "On Your Way to Being Lean." Another slogan was "It's not just the calories that count, it's the taste."
- 1985 – The number of meals grew to 18. The slogan combined previous ideas: "You'll love the taste. And you'll love the way it looks on you."
- 1986 – More companies started making similar meals. Lean Cuisine's slogan became "Only Lean Cuisine tastes like Lean Cuisine."
- 1987 – The product line expanded to 25 items. This included new options like shrimp, lamb, and veal. The slogan was "More Satisfaction." They even showed how their meals fit into Weight Watchers plans.
- 1991 – 11 new items were launched. The focus was on being low in fat, with messages like "98% fat free!"
- 1992 – 8 new meals were added, including Honey Mustard Chicken. This meal even came with a small jar of Grey Poupon mustard!
- 1993 – 8 more new items were launched, including pot pies and enchiladas.
- 1995 – Lunch Express was introduced as a lower-priced option. These meals could be eaten right from the box. New slogans included "Time to treat yourself right" and "It's not just Lean, it's Cuisine."
- 1996 – Cafe Classics were launched. These meals were inspired by restaurant dishes and had a more modern look.
- 1997 – American Favorites were added. These were classic, homestyle American dishes.
- 1998 – Four new Cafe Classics items were launched.
- 1999 – Skillet Sensations were introduced. These were "kit" meals in a bag that you cooked in a pan.
- 2000 – The slogan "Do something good for yourself" first appeared in ads.
- 2001 – Zesty Selections items were launched. These were spicier and more flavorful dishes.
- 2002 – Bowls and Dinnertime Selects were introduced.
- 2003 – Asian-inspired product lines and pizzas were launched.
- 2004 – Low-carb meals and deep-dish pizzas were added. The old slogan "It's not just Lean, it's Cuisine" was replaced with "Do Something Good for Yourself."
- 2005 – Spa Cuisine meals were launched. These included whole-grain entrees and Dinnertime Selects that came with a dessert.
- 2006 – Preservatives were removed from most (over 80) items. Panini sandwiches and Brick Oven style pizzas were also launched.
- 2007 – Five new Spa Cuisine items with extra vegetables were added. Two more panini sandwiches were also introduced.
- 2008 – Four Flatbread melts were launched.
- 2010 – "The Book of Truth" advertising campaign began.
- 2018 – Vegan frozen meals were launched for the first time.
