As Oprah likes to say, here are a few things I know for sure: We need to eat healthy meals if we want to feel good. And if you are busy working all day, that means planning ahead. But this I also know: stuff happens. So I don’t always plan ahead, my family is starving when I come home, and chips and snacks can be opened in seconds. So I was very anxious to try a new line of time-saving, family-size entrées from Stouffer’s called Easy Express. The claim is that you can take the entrées directly from the freezer, put them into the microwave and they will be done in less than 20 minutes. They also have no preservatives. I tried the cheesy garlic lasagna and cheese manicotti.

The instructions say you can cook them either in the microwave or the oven. If you use the oven, it takes about an hour. Each entrée makes enough to serve four average appetites. Add some salad and Italian bread to make a meal.

The bottom line: Stouffer’s, in my opinion, has always made top-of-the-line frozen foods, and these are no exception. Although I don’t think anyone has made a frozen product that’s as good as fresh, these taste good. The only reason you might not like them is they have a bit of a garlicky aftertaste, particularly the lasagna. However, I am the only one that noticed it. Even my 2-year-old taste tester enjoyed them both. The suggested retail price is $7.39.

Lifestyles reporter Sylvia Anderson may be reached at sylviaanderson@npgco.com