Reminder - A packed Lunch Doesn't have to be Boring or Complicated! (Red & Yellow Bean Salad RECIPE below)
This week I'm enjoying a simple Bean Salad, paired with some crackers and fruit. It took less than 15 minutes to prepare and is keeping me full until dinner.
One thing I strongly believe in is the power of taking back your Health and your Finances at the same time. Eating healthy doesn't have to be expensive. As a health coach, I offer a deep dive into Money-Saving Grocery Tips to my clients. It saddens me to hear that people think they can't afford to eat healthier, when even my first client commented on how surprised she was that she was saving money eating this way, and feeling better doing so!
A little back story, my advanced degree involved me taking on a large amount of student loan debt. During school and since then, I've learned how to make the budget stretch. Once I realized how much better I felt on a packed lunch rather than drive-thru food, and saw how much money it saved, I couldn't go back!
For only a few dollars I can fuel my body with a life-giving lunch. I like to say that each meal we eat is either life-giving or life-draining. And I picture a battery in my head. This isn't meant to stress over a splurge or holiday meal. It's not about striving for perfection or obsessing over every bite we take. It's about considering whether what we put in our bodies most days is fueling us for a positive future. Heck, is it even fueling us to avoid a post-lunch food coma?
If you're on the fence about whether to spend the time to meal prep for weekday lunches, consider this:
- How much will it cost me to pack a lunch versus eat out? How much does that add up over the week and month to come, and could it help me reach my financial goals sooner?
- How will this lunch make me feel? Would it help me avoid reaching for a sugary coffee drink during an after lunch slump?
- Will it save me added calories, sodium, and sugar that could thwart my health goals?
- Could I use the time I don't spend on driving to the drive-thru to go for a walk on my lunch break, or meditate, or text a friend?
Just some food for thought.... Now, on to the recipe!
Red & Yellow Bean Salad
Serves 3 lunch-sized portions.
Eat with crackers or over a bed of lettuce, and add fruit, for a balanced and filling meal.
To a medium mixing bowl, add:
- 15 oz can of dark red kidney beans, low sodium, drained and rinsed
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 yellow (or orange) bell pepper, diced
- 2 Roma tomatoes, diced (or 1 beefsteak tomato, or 2 on the vine tomatoes)
Stir up and Pour over this simple dressing:
- 1 Tbsp Cilantro, dried
- 1/2 tsp Paprika
- 1/2 tsp Garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/8 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 3 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil (*replace with low sodium broth for oil-free version)
- 1/2 of a lime, juiced
Stir Well. Let flavors meld for a few hours or overnight. Then divide into three 2 cup storage containers for lunches. : )
Enjoy!
Btw, did you know beans are a proven longevity food?... That's a topic for a future blog post!
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