Beans are a staple in my house and they really should be a staple in every house. Canned or dried beans are inexpensive and offer so much nutritional goodness. Beans are an excellent source of protein, but they also contain protective fiber. One cup of chickpeas provides 11 grams of fiber and fiber helps eliminate toxins and slows the release of complex carbohydrates, resulting in balanced blood sugar over several hours.
This recipe could easily be called a three-bean salad or four-bean salad, depending on what you have in your pantry. It combines the heartiness of beans plus the freshness of whatever vegetables and herbs you have on hand to make a salad that is perfect for lunch or dinner! Continue reading “Lunch Today: Two-Bean Salad”
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I just bought a new blender and I love it. It blends frozen fruits and veggies with no problem and makes them so creamy that I can hide almost anything it. I suggest that you invest in a very good blender, especially if have children who are picky eaters because you can hide so many things in a smoothie! This everything but the kitchen sink smoothie is called this because depending on what I have in the fridge, that’s what is for breakfast. This is perfect for those raspberries and bananas that are too soft to pack for lunches, but you don’t want to waste them. 
“Taste the rainbow” should be a slogan for fruits and vegetables and not for candy! The more color on your plate, the more nutrients you are getting, like the following. This colorful, nutrient-rich rainbow salad is chock full of flavonoids – phytochemicals that give many plants their vibrant color. It is also loaded with vitamin C, beta-carotene, and other antioxidants that will provide you with extra nutrition. These foods also provide iron, calcium, fiber, and a modest 2 grams of protein per serving. 
It’s finally spring… at least on the calendar! And even though there may be snow falling in much of the United States right now, I can’t help but feel that I need lighter, fresher meals. This artichoke salad is a fresh take on potato salad. This recipe is particularly good in the spring, when new potatoes, artichokes and leeks are in season and at their most tender, but if you are gung-ho on saying goodbye to winter, this salad can be a good option any time of year by trading out the artichokes for jarred artichokes or swapping them for whatever is seasonal in your area… think broccoli, green beans, or even radicchio. 
