's MOTD Sun Dec 3, 2006

[Guest guest]

's Daily Message SundayDecember 03, 2006MEALS, PART II

Well, I hope after yesterday`s message that you had a good breakfast this morning! I made myself an asparagus frittata in my steamer, and I also had some spiced peaches with cinnamon and a little brown sugar. Yum! Today we`re going to talk about LUNCH!

I know everyone has some horror stories about the lunches that they had in elementary school. Well, I don`t have a horror story because the lunch program at St. Louis Cathedral School was fantastic, and believe me, I was on a first name basis with everyone in the kitchen! That way, I got a little extra red beans and rice and spaghetti and meatballs with garlic bread.

The lunches at Cor Jesu High School that I attended were delicious, too. My college lunches were spent just grabbing anything I could get my hands on quickly. You know… burgers, fries, hot dogs, and pizza. Can you relate to that?

Lunch is also a very important meal because by midday, your body needs to refuel. If you eat too much at lunchtime, you will be tired and lethargic. If you skip it, you will be so hungry when you get home that you`ll eat everything in sight and then stay up all night with indigestion!

You know, by now, my love for salads, and that`s why I have one every day! Everyone complains about not getting in all their veggies in a day. Well, salads are just the perfect place to get them all in! Eat a salad at home or take one with you to work. Start with a bed of greens like spinach, Romaine, or Boston lettuce. Add your favorite veggies like carrots, bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, celery, and cucumbers. Mix with some olive oil and your favorite vinegar like balsamic, red wine, or rice vinegar, and you`re ready to go! For protein, you can add chunks of chicken; tuna; low fat cheese; or beans like garbanzos, lentils, or kidneys.

It will take all of 15 minutes for you to put a colorful and nutritious salad together! Add some whole wheat crackers, a piece of bread, and Bon Appetit!

Love,