Meals To Go

You get up late, grab some cereal, dash to work and by 11 o’clock realize you’re starving! Sound familiar? If so, you need to rediscover the importance of the pack up, and how to pack meals that will save you from the downfall of quick fix chocolate, crisps, high calorie pre-packed sandwiches and fast food outlets…

I’m the type of person that needs to sit down to eat. So this morning I woke up a bit late, had to run an errand for my folks and didn’t get into work until 9:45 AM. Was time my enemy once again? YES because I didn’t get to have breakfast at my regular time but NO because I had packed ALL my meals the night before which helped me not to have to resort to a quick fix breakfast, in my case, coffee with milk and a bacon and egg sandwich on whole wheat toast (not very good when I’m trying to eat more fruits and vegetables, and benefit from other types of whole grain cereals).

Like I said before packing my meals the night before helped me tremendously today, why not give it a try!

Morning meal – Check
An organic apple (55 cal/0/2.6G)
2 Tbsp of Peanut Butter (188 cal/145F
Trader Joe's Crunchy Oats and Honey Granola Bars (190/70/3gF/4gP)
Coffee with 4oz of 2% milk (60/20) (still need to go to the store to buy 1%)
Total Calories: 493

Morning Snack
Blueberries – 1 cup (83 cal)
An Antioxidant Powerhouse, Brain food, Promotes, Gastrointestinal Health
Packed with antioxidant phytonutrients called anthocyanidins, blueberries neutralize free radical damage to the collagen matrix of cells and tissues that can lead to cataracts, glaucoma, varicose veins, hemorrhoids, peptic ulcers, heart disease and cancer.

Multivitamin

Tazo Refresh Tea


Lunch

Large Green Salad (like 2 cups) (Lettuce, Red Cabbage, Radishes, Cucumber, Carrots) (about 30ish calories)
Forgot my tomato and avocado at home :( Enjoy it if you can!!!

Chickpea Quinoa Salad - 1 Serving
½ cup Chickpeas- canned (Drained and rinsed) (120/9F)
1oz Feta Cheese (75/54F)
2tbsp Red Onions – Chopped
2tbsp Cilantro – Chopped
Salt and Pepper (optional)
1tsp of Olive oil (40/40)
Lemon – to squeeze on Salad
1/2cup of Cooked Organic Quinoa (127/18F)

Mix together

Total Calories for lunch: 392

Afternoon Snack

Trader Joes DELICIOUS!! 0% Fat Organic Greek Yogurt with Honey: (120/0/13g sugar)
2 tsp of Flax seed (26/9)
1tbsp of wheat germ (25/6)

Tip: Storing Wheat Germ
Because of its high oil content, improperly stored wheat germ can become rancid. So store it in sealed glass jars and keep it refrigerated. Find other, prepackaged wheat products in most natural foods and grocery stores; buy in bulk for maximum savings.

Total Calories: 171

Dinner – It’s Elba’s turn to cook! YEY!

Planned on the menu

Asian Salmon - Dr. Oz

1 tablespoon Minced fresh ginger
1 1/2 teaspoons Curry powder
1 teaspoon Coarse ground pepper
4 (3-ounce) salmon fillets with skin
1 tablespoon Olive oil
1 clove Garlic, minced
3 Green onions, chopped

Preparation
1. Combine the ginger, curry powder, and pepper and rub the mixture onto the flesh sides of the salmon.
2. Heat the olive oil in a skillet until the pan is moderately hot.
3. Add the garlic and cook until it's golden brown.
4. Place the salmon skin side down in the pan and cook, covered, for 5 minutes.
5. Turn the fish and cook, covered, for another 2 minutes.
6. Add the green onions and cook for about half a minute.

Serves 2-4 people

Side Dishes
Steamed Crunchy Broccoli with dry-pan fried Garlic
Green Salad with Avocado and lime and salt (optional)

My preference: Bring some heat and color to my plate by sprinkling some Cayenne Pepper on everything. Very caliente! Yum!

Tazo Calm Tea

Note: If I'm still hungry after dinner (2 1/2 or 3hrs before bedtime) or dinner runs late: I will probably have an apple, a piece of low-fat cheese, 1/2 cup of soup or crudités**.

**Random Fact: Crudités are traditional French appetizers comprising sliced or whole raw vegetables which are dipped in a vinaigrette or another dipping sauce. Crudités often include celery sticks, carrot sticks, bell pepper strips, broccoli, cauliflower, and asparagus spears.
The French word "crudité" originates in much the same way as the English word "crude," from Latin. The Latin word "crūdus" simply means raw. Later, it was refined to "crūditās", which means "undigested food" and then on to "crudité" in French.