November 5, 2024

Easy Healthy Lunch to Go by Crystal Breaux, Wellness Coach/Fitness Designer

 

One of the biggest challenges for busy women can be finding the perfect healthy lunch. Packing the same old sandwich or salad every day can become boring and frustrating. When at a loss, it is easy to slip into old habits such as grabbing whatever is available or eating at the mercy of your nearest fast food restaurant. For busy women, we want variety and an easy healthy lunch to go. One of my new favorites is a Black Bean Power Salad.

RECIPE:

• 1 cup whole-kernel corn

• 2 cans (16oz each) of black beans, rinsed and drained

• ¼ cup chopped parsley

• 2 TBS minced red onion

• ¼ cup balsamic vinegar

• 2 TBS olive oil

• 1 tsp lemon juice

• 1 tsp minced garlic

• 1 tsp honey or brown sugar

• Salt and pepper

DIRECTIONS:

In a large bowl, combine the corn, beans, parsley, onions, vinegar, oil, lemon juice, garlic, and honey or brown sugar. Let it marinade for the 30 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.

NUTRITIONAL VALUE:

Calories 417.6

Fat 6.9

Sodium 220.3

Protein 21.7

Fiber 21.3

It is so delicious and look at the fiber and protein…..a guarantee to keep you full and satisfied. I make it right after church on Sunday to prepare for my upcoming week. It just takes a few minutes each morning or the night before to pack my easy healthy lunch to go. To add a little more protein, I add any leftover grilled chicken (nutritional value not included with chicken). For variety, I reduce my serving size and add cheese and crackers. All together, here is my lunch to go.

photo (2)

Don’t forget your calories with crackers which can add up quickly. My favorite cracker that gives me the most bang for the buck is Triscuits Thin Crisp. At only 150 calories for 15 crackers, half of a serving is perfect.

TriscuitThinCrispsOriginal8_5oz240g500Combine with string cheese at 80 calories and you Black Bean Power Salad and you have an easy healthy lunch to go.

 

Eating Healthy, 

Crystal Breaux

Wellness Coach/Fitness Designer

 

 

A Snack Schedule to Help Keep You Healthy by Crystal Breaux, Wellness Coach/Fitness Designer

Have you ever rushed out the door in the morning with nothing more than a mug of coffee in hand? Then when hunger hits, you discover you are at the mercy of someone or something else for something to eat.  You may even decide to skip a snack which only slows down your metabolism and leaves you famished at your next meal with no control over what you eat.

One of the biggest pitfalls I see with women is not planning healthy snacks. Snacks can be the key in weight management by helping you:

  • Meet your daily nutrient requirements
  • Regulate your metabolism
  • Keep you from overeating at your next meal

I believe conquering this ONE behavior—creating a snack schedule—can lead to a lifetime of weight management and feeling at peace with food.  If the right snacks are not chosen, it can lead to feeling unsatisfied by eating empty, unnecessary calories.

Building My Snack Schedule

I like to build my snacks around nutrient dense foods (foods that have a lot of nutrients) but relatively few calories. At times, I may combine them with a smaller serving of something that is less nutritious.   For example, I love a handful of nuts, string cheese and end with a Hershey’s Kiss.

 cheese almond kiss

 

Sound crazy? The nuts and cheese are nutrient dense, and the Kiss fills my desire for chocolate. I am not tempted to over indulge because I am satisfied and have built my sweet “treat” into my daily requirement.

Another favorite is 1 tablespoon of peanut butter with a banana or apple.

 

 apple and peanut butter

 

Daily Motivation

My prayer each day is that I view what I eat and how I exercise the same way I do other areas in my life.  It is a way to honor God.

The Bible says in I Corinthians 10:31: So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.   

Of course, I am not perfect. There are plenty of times I eat things that were not the best choice; but I take it as an opportunity to give myself a little grace and learn how to do it differently the next time. Have you ever thought about how you eat as a way to bring honor to God? It may give you a new motivation for eating healthy that may include planning a snack schedule.