Let's keep this meal on the lighter side... Do you ever notice after lunch you tend to feel a bit tired. You're body is often struggling to digest a heavy meal. I never like to feel bogged down, bloated and tired in the middle of my workday. I've learned over the years that my body, stomach, and mind tend to feel so much better when I eat healthier, and lighter for lunch. Salads are a great option for this and an easy food prep. I make a variety of salads to mix things up each week so it's never dull and full of flavor. And because seriously, no-one wants to eat the same boring salad week after week. I said go healthy, not boring.
#1 Berry & Arugula Salad
This is definitely one of the quickest salad preps to make. Set out five containers. Fill each with arugula, about 4 or so whole strawberries, and a small piece of cucumber. I usually cut the whole cucumber into 5 chunks so there is enough for each day. I purposely don't cut the strawberries and cucumber into smaller pieces until I'm ready to eat them. I find that these taste fresher and don't dry out when they are left whole.
Now take smaller containers and or snack bags for the Crumbled Goat Cheese, Glazed Pecans and Balsamic Vinegar. You can also get creative if you want to add other items. Sometimes I add avocado or the one pictured, I added a little kale. Whatever goes really....It's all in how you want it.
Arugula
Strawberries
Cucumber
Crumbled Goat Cheese
Glazed Pecans
Balsamic Vinegar
*optional-Avocado or additional Green--Kale?
#2 Spinach & Shredded Veggie Mix
Shredded veggies in a salad are a favorite of mine. I think it's because there are such a variety of flavors in every bite when everything is cut smaller. This salad is best described as, anything goes.... So whatever you like, throw it in.... Start with 5 containers. Toss in your spinach for each.
I use a simple hand shredder for the veggies that I want shredded. Typically, carrots, zucchini, cabbage, and radishes are great shredded and I divvy out in each containers
Then I cut the cucumber into 5 chunks and added a few cherry tomatoes. In the salad pictured I added celery. Sometimes I switch and use Arugula, Kale, romaine or a mix of different lettuces. Beets are also a tasty option and while I love onion it does make your salad smell, well....like onion. So I would cut them and container them separately if I really wanted them.
I'm not your normal salad girl... I actually don't use dressing a lot of times and this started a while back when I discovered I was allergic to eggs...Yes eggs, and believe it or not, many, if not most dressings have egg. But not too worry there and several solutions for flavor that can be added with or without dressing. Try using dried figs, or dried cranberry, crumbled goat cheese, cilantro, basil, sunflower seeds or kale chips for a little crunch and extra flavor.
Spinach or Other Green
Carrots
Cabbage
Radishes
Zucchini
Cucumber
Cherry Tomatoes
Celery
*Also note the other additional toppings for more flavor above
#3 Simple Charcuterie
Now it's probably best to leave the wine for home but why not bring the charcuterie with you. You can add everything in one container or get containers with dividers but I tend to baggie each thing separately.
Start with a few Cherry Tomatoes, a few pieces of Cheese (love pepper jack with this), Grapes, your favorite Cracker, cut Carrots, sliced Cucumber and why not add a piece of chocolate. Creates an excellent option that's simple and nutritious.
These are just a few food prep - let's get organized- ideas.
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