Finally, Fresh-Baked Taste From The Microwave With New Healthy Choice Baked Entrees

OMAHA, Neb., Oct. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Restaurant trends dictate what consumers crave at home, and this year the demand is for familiar, comforting foods like roast chicken, meat loaf and macaroni and cheese.[1] Unfortunately, comfort cuisine is not known for being synonymous with healthy, until now. To meet consumers' desires for better tasting, healthy comfort food, Healthy Choice is introducing a new line of Baked Entrees that deliver those classic comfort foods, without sacrificing on taste or nutrition. In fact, the Healthy Choice Four Cheese Ziti Marinara was preferred over Smart Ones® Three Cheese Ziti Marinara, the number one selling better-for-you meal, in a recent national taste test.[2]

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121002/CG84669)

"Consumers are looking for delicious meals that replicate the comfort foods they know and love but also fit within their goals to lead a healthy life," says Dana Southard, Healthy Choice brand manager. "Healthy Choice Baked Entrees deliver fresh baked taste, with flavors they love but without any of the guilt."  

Freshly-made pastas, flavorful sauces and blended cheeses take center stage in the six delicious recipes in the Baked Entree line, including Four Cheese Ziti Marinara, Roasted Chicken and Potatoes, Fettuccini Alfredo Bake, Italian Sausage Pasta Bake, Lasagna with Meat Sauce and Chicken and Rice Cheddar Bake.

Healthy Choice Baked Entrees are served in a unique Even Bake tray, designed to cook evenly and minimize burnt edges, delivering fresh-baked taste, straight from the microwave.  All varieties are available nationwide and can be found in the freezer aisle near other Healthy Choice meals for approximately $2.50 each.

Healthy Choice is always looking to add new, healthy, delicious options for consumers. The Baked Entree line is the brand's newest innovation in the frozen food aisle, just off the heels of this summer's launch of Healthy Choice Greek Frozen Yogurt.

From quick lunches and tasty dinners cooked to perfection, to delicious treats, Healthy Choice offers a variety of healthy offerings. For more information on all Healthy Choice offers, visit HealthyChoice.com. Consumers also have an opportunity to join "The Healthy Crowd" on Facebook, an exclusive community for brand fans with special offers, rewards and opportunities to share ideas and celebrate living a vibrant, healthy life. Visit www.facebook.com/healthychoice to learn more.

ConAgra Foods, Inc., (NYSE: CAG), is one of North America's leading food companies.  With brands in 97 percent of American households, ConAgra Foods provides some of America's long-time favorites. Consumers can find Chef Boyardee, Egg Beaters, Hebrew National, Hunt's Tomato Sauces and Ketchup, Marie Callender's, Orville Redenbacher's, PAM, Reddi-wip, Slim Jim Meat Sticks and Beef Jerky and many other ConAgra Foods brands in grocery, prepared, mass merchandise and club stores. ConAgra Foods operates ReadySetEat.com, an interactive recipe website that provides consumers with Easy Dinner Recipes and more. ConAgra Foods also has a strong business-to-business presence, supplying frozen potato and sweet potato products as well as other vegetable, spice and grain products to a variety of well-known restaurants, foodservice operators and commercial customers. For more information, please visit us at http://www.conagrafoods.com.

[1] Technomic, Leading U.S. Restaurant Trends for 2012 http://www.technomic.com/Pressroom/Releases/dynRelease_Detail.php?rUID=125
[2] Smart Ones® is a registered trademark of H.J. Heinz Company.

SOURCE ConAgra Foods, Inc.