Texans on Reddit Have Thoughts About H-E-B’s Prepared Meals

I don’t live in Texas, so I can’t with good authority tell you what to buy from H-E-B. (Though my colleague Jordan Myrick, who’s visited a few times and conducted their own research, definitely can.) But that, folks, is where the good people of Reddit come in. If you’re a Texas resident and you’ve been sleeping on H-E-B’s heat-and-eat meals, wake up!!! Your fellow Texans have spoken.

H-E-B’s prepared food line is called Meal Simple. One standout from the line: the Crab Stuffed Atlantic Salmon with Broccoli

The original Reddit poster was “blown away” by the Seafood Stuffed Salmon. I mean, the photo is pretty impressive; they definitely don’t skimp on the crab stuffing. It’s priced at $9, which looks like a great deal to me, but I live in Los Angeles, where something like this would at least be $12.99. People seem to be mixed in their opinion on the price—most think it’s a good value, but some think they’re a little pricey compared to cooking from scratch.

Price aside, the comments still had the same consensus: H-E-B’s prepared meals are usually high-quality, nicely seasoned, and actually nutritious.

I really was expecting more of a debate on this thread about whether these were any good, but for once, Americans seem to agree on something. Per one Redditor’s particularly insightful feedback: “Ah, the good ole’ salmussy.” Thanks for that one, @TexasTantrum.

Redditors also chimed in with some of their other favorite ready-to-cook options at H-E-B, if you’re looking for recs:

Garlic Parmesan Green Beans (multiple people mentioned this one)
Steak Pinwheel
Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings (apparently these sell out fast so you have to get there early)
Chicken Alfredo Pasta

And on the subject of nutrition, I’ve seen a few Redditors say their oven-ready meals have helped them lose weight, since the meals typically pack a lot of protein and veggies while going light on the carbs. But definitely check the sodium levels, since these seem to be high in sodium, too. (Anything you’re ordering from a restaurant is certainly going to be comparable in terms of sodium content, though.)

That said, I have to note one particular warning… because it came up a couple of times:

Check the expiration dates, do a sniff test, and cook them thoroughly. Apparently, people have been burned by these before. There’s always a risk with these, since they’re fresh, not frozen, and rely on proper handling and turnover in-store. Be careful!