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Create Your Own Salad Bar
Most of us don’t have a lot of extra time to put together a healthy lunch before work, so it’s important to set yourself up with convenient options. Too often, the convenient options are the unhealthy options. You can change this by taking a few minutes each week to prepare your food so that you can make a healthy lunch in minutes. Who doesn’t love saving time?
Tip: Create your own “salad bar” for the week.
Your shopping list:
Pre-washed bag of spinach or mixed greens (you may need 2 bags depending on the size)
Mini pearl tomatoes (organic is always best)
2 bell peppers
Trader Joe’s beets (found in the refrigerated produce section)
Trader Joe’s steamed lentils(also found in the refrigerated produce section)
1 can of artichoke hearts (in water)
Low sodium turkey breast, sliced
1 tub of crumbled goat cheese (a little goes a long way)
Low fat or fat free dressing of your choice (be sure to check the sugar count in fat free varietals)
*Feel free to toss in more of veggies of your choice*
When you get home from the store, slice up the peppers, beets and artichoke hearts and store them in separate Tupperware containers. Wash & dry the tomatoes so that they’re ready to use.
By completing these simple steps in advance you’ll be able to prepare a healthy lunch in minutes. Just toss the ingredients into a bowl, sprinkle with goat cheese, top with a slice or two of turkey, and a splash of dressing and you’re ready to go!
Robin Long
Robin Long, founder and CEO of Lindywell, certified Pilates instructor, Nutrition Therapy Practitioner, and author of 'Well to the Core,' blends 15 years of expertise with a lifelong commitment to holistic health.
Learn more about Robin Long
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4 thoughts on “Create Your Own Salad Bar”
i love this idea! : )
Appreciated the share!
Nancy
I’ve been trying to do something close to this. Restaurant style food prepping my groceries before they go into the refrigerator. It does help with the convenience factor on work days. The only thing I dislike is the time it takes to prep putting away the groceries. I’ve also been trying to put things in one-use increments… like putting a little lunch meat, a couple slices of cheese, some spinach, cucumber, tomato and onion in their own little baggies and into a bigger ziplock with a bread roll… just grab the bag on the way to work in the morning then go ahead and make a fresh sandwich on my break. I’m not a morning person, and I work 12 hour shifts an hour away from home. I want to start trying once a week cooking, and have started experimenting with soups. I should make little salads I can just grab… great idea!! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
That’s great Tammie! I love the idea of soup too. Recently I made a big batch of soup in the crock pot and then froze it in individual servings. It’s great to take it out in the morning and have something hearty for lunch. Thanks for sharing!