Showing posts tagged whole wheat

Lunch On the Go: Whole Wheat Penne with Kale and Bean Salad

I often have to leave my house and go to school for 12 hours at a time. I imagine I am not the only one who isn’t able to have a leisurely freshly-made lunch every day. However, I refuse to sacrifice eating healthy, tasty food. Food is often the highlight of my day, and let’s be honest, a stressful day gets a whole lot better when you whip out a zesty, satisfying meal, even if it’s amidst piles of books or computers or wherever your workweek takes you. 

Anyhow, this is a great meal to make while you’re running around getting ready for the day. Pasta is simple, steaming the kale is quick, and opening cans and stirring some beans together is easy. I used Trader Joe’s Whole Wheat Penne (whole wheat is much more nutritious than white, and it also tastes just as good), organic kale, canned corn and black beans, and frozen peas. Both of these dishes save well, just throw them in a container and you are ready to go!

Ingredients:

  • Whole wheat pasta
  • Kale
  • Canned corn (or fresh if you are awesome)
  • Frozen peas
  • Canned black beans 
  • Olive oil & balsamic vinegar
  • Nutritional Yeast, salt, pepper 
  • Lemon

Directions:

  1. Boil a pot of water and cook the pasta
  2. Put chopped kale in a pan with a little water and olive oil, cover 
  3. Steam kale until cooked, remove lid and add lemon juice, salt and pepper
  4. Mix black beans, peas and corn together in a container and squeeze on lemon juice
  5. Toss your cooked pasta with olive oil, vinegar and nutritional yeast in a container
  6. Add your kale to the pasta or put in a separate container
  7. Put a lemon slice in with your food for a little extra flavor if needed
  8. Leave for the day happy and excited for lunch :)

-N

Snacktime: Whole Wheat English Muffin with Hummus & Avocado This is one of my favorite snacks. Not only is it tasty, but you get some good carbs, some protein, some good fats and a vegetable/fruit (avocado is technically a fruit, feels like a veggie, or feels like a delicious creature of heaven for that matter). I used Sabra Hummus, you can find it at Safeway or other grocery stores, an avocado from the Berkeley Farmers Market (another shout out to Will’s Avocados), and Orrowheat 100% Whole Wheat English Muffins. If you are feeling less than inspired to eat whole wheat, maybe the 6 grams of protein 1 muffin has will be an inspiration. Also, they are delicious and taste, in my opinion, better than white muffins, and are way healthier for you. Quick lesson on why whole wheat is better: White products are stripped of the more nutrient dense parts of the wheat, whereas whole wheat uses all parts of the wheat, hence, ‘whole wheat’. For more info check this out  http://www.vegetariantimes.com/features/editors_picks/389 Contrary to many people’s belief, fat is not a dirty word. Avocados have monounsaturated fats (good for you fats) which provides important minerals and vitamins. They also have lots of potassium and fiber, among other things.  http://www.avocado.org/nutrition I don’t think anyone needs convincing that hummus is delicious and wonderful.  In conclusion, this is a speedy, yummy, healthy snack/meal, and I highly recommend it.  -N View high resolution

Snacktime: Whole Wheat English Muffin with Hummus & Avocado

This is one of my favorite snacks. Not only is it tasty, but you get some good carbs, some protein, some good fats and a vegetable/fruit (avocado is technically a fruit, feels like a veggie, or feels like a delicious creature of heaven for that matter).

I used Sabra Hummus, you can find it at Safeway or other grocery stores, an avocado from the Berkeley Farmers Market (another shout out to Will’s Avocados), and Orrowheat 100% Whole Wheat English Muffins.

If you are feeling less than inspired to eat whole wheat, maybe the 6 grams of protein 1 muffin has will be an inspiration. Also, they are delicious and taste, in my opinion, better than white muffins, and are way healthier for you.

Quick lesson on why whole wheat is better: White products are stripped of the more nutrient dense parts of the wheat, whereas whole wheat uses all parts of the wheat, hence, ‘whole wheat’. For more info check this out 

http://www.vegetariantimes.com/features/editors_picks/389

Contrary to many people’s belief, fat is not a dirty word. Avocados have monounsaturated fats (good for you fats) which provides important minerals and vitamins. They also have lots of potassium and fiber, among other things.

 http://www.avocado.org/nutrition

I don’t think anyone needs convincing that hummus is delicious and wonderful. 

In conclusion, this is a speedy, yummy, healthy snack/meal, and I highly recommend it. 

-N