Lunch Break...Quick & Easy (of course!)

Like many my lunch breaks seem to involve work (not much of a "break").  With that said, I continue my quest for quick and easy lunch ideas.  Lunch time is one of the areas I encourage my clients to increase their vegetable intake, and for me that can even be a challenge.  Today's lunch was fabulous, under 10 minutes, and super nutritious!  I hope you give it a try!

Ingredients:
1 pita bread
2 Tbsp hummus (I used the Trader Joe's Greek Style with lemon & herbs--delicious)
1/4 cup baby cilantro (you can try basil, parsley, or baby lettuce--your choice!!)
2 Tbsp 2% cheddar
1 small tomato, thinly sliced
1 box of Green Giant's Immunity Blend Veggies

Fruit Smoothie
1 cup cherries (frozen)
1 banana
1 1/2 cups fresh limeade (I just juiced 2 limes and added water--no sugar)

Directions:
Prepare sandwich--heat bread, top with cheese on one side, spread hummus on opposite side.  Stack with herbs and tomatoes.  Serve (2 minutes)
Microwave your veggie bag--4 minutes

Meanwhile, throw your fruit in a blender and mix for 2 minutes.

Yep, really that simple and truly a tongue pleaser!

The Lighter Side of Breakfast Tacos

As soon as the tread of my tires cross the Texas line I am on the hunt for breakfast tacos--yes, tacos.  In South Texas breakfast tacos are tradition, a mainstay, a piece of our culture.  They are fluffy eggs, bacon or chorizo wrapped in a fluffy homemade flour tortilla (the small kind--not a burrito), and dolloped with salsa or pico de gallo.  I am salivating just thinking about them! I know, a little dramatic, but when you are out of Texas these are one of the things you miss the most.  Chorizo sausage, bacon, eggs--yes, heart attack waiting to happen.  In order to fulfill my love for these breakfast treats I opt for a lighter version, and I serve it up with a fresh carrot juice smoothie. Hope you give it a try!

Breakfast Tacos--the Lighter Side of Texas

Ingredients:
4 eggs (or 1 cup egg substitute)
2 cups frozen potatoes with onions and peppers
1/2 cup chopped ham or pancetta
Cooking Spray
4 corn tortillas

1/2 cup cheddar cheese (2% if you can find it)

Salsa of your choice

Directions:

In a non-stick skillet sprayed with cooking spray heat potatoes over medium high heat for 20 minutes.  Meanwhile, grate your cheese, cut up your ham, and crack your eggs into a bowl. Add your ham to your potatoes after 10 minutes.  When your potatoes taste tender turn down to low and cover (stirring occasionally).  Heat up a skillet to heat up your corn tortillas--the fresher they are the easier the more pliable they are. Cook eggs in another skillet.  To assemble: place corn tortillas on a plate, top with eggs, pile on potatoes, a touch of cheese, and kiss it with salsa.  Enjoy!

Carrot Juice Smoothie

Ingredients:
3 cups carrot juice
2 apples, sliced
1 piece candied ginger
10 grapes
Directions:
Place all ingredients into blender and spin away!
Great for either breakfast, lunch, or dinner!!

Shake It Up: Quick & Delicious Smoothie for All

After a nice run/hike with my two labs I felt the need for a quick snack. Hmmmm...what looks good...yogurt (had it with my breakfast), fruit (yes, but I need something more), toast (not enough of the good stuff), cereal (same response as toast)...what looks good? There, peaking out at me, was my Pacific Foods Almond Milk that I just bought. So, I pondered, "What goes great with almonds?" Bananas! Thus, became the heart of my shake. Almond milk tastes fabulous, is 60 calories per serving, and only 2.5grams of fat. Here is a great recipe for a recovery shake to try after your next workout:
Ingredients:
1 banana
1 cup Almond Milk
1 scoop Kashi's Go Lean Protein Powder (my favorite because it has 7grams of fiber per serving)

Directions:
Blend and serve. How easy is that? Let me know what you think!

Fuel with Fiber in the Morning!

The holiday season puts everyone in a tizzy. One often forgets to eat breakfast as they rush out the door to catch the opening of their favorite store! Hold up...put your brakes on...eat breakfast! Make your digestive system smile with a high fiber start to the day! My new favorite is Fiber One's Caramel Delight with a whopping 9gm of fiber per serving, and it looks and tastes more like Golden Grahms!

Quick ways to fit breakfast in this holiday season:

1. On-the-Go-Gurt: Add 1/2 cup high fiber cereal to your favorite yogurt (Banana Cream Pie Yogurt with Caramel Delight is Yummy!)

2. Golden Smoothie: 1/2 cup carrot juice, 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt, 1 banana, & 1/4 cup high fiber cereal)

3. PB & Banana Sandwich: Whole wheat English muffin, 2 Tb peanut butter, 1 banana

4. Egg White Scramble: 3 egg whites (beat), 1 Tb. salsa, 1 small corn tortilla (chopped)

Start your morning off with a powerful punch of fiber, and your body will thank you!