During the hot summer months, salads are a refreshing alternative to a hot heavy meal cooked on the stove or in the oven. But they don’t have to be just lettuce and tomato.
I like to include as much of the basic food groups into a salad as best I can. In this way, I am making a healthy and complete meal that will taste great and won’t leave me feeling too stuffed to mow the lawn, weed the garden, or go for a walk with the dog.
Here’s an easy, low-fat and delicious recipe that can be doubled to last through the long workweek. As you take a look at the ingredients, you’ll notice that protein, vegetables, carbohydrates and dairy are all included. Feel free to interchange any ingredient you don’t like for one that you prefer. Make the recipe your own and you’ll enjoy it even more!
Southwestern Chicken and Bean salad
4 chicken skinless/boneless chicken breasts, grilled and cut into
bite-size pieces
1 can organic beans, such as pinto, great northern, black, kidney, whatever you like best
3 green onions, thinly sliced
3/4 cup grated organic carrot
1 red bell pepper, organic if possible, chopped small
1 chopped tomato
1 cup frozen corn, thawed
1 medium zucchini chopped small
1/2 cup crumbled queso fresco* or grated Monterrey jack cheese
* can be found in Latino grocery stores or wherever Mexican foods are sold
Dressing
1/4 cup lime juice
4 tbsp olive or canola oil
1 garlic clove minced
2 tsp cumin
Salt and pepper to taste
1. In a large bowl, combine first nine ingredients; chicken through cheese.
2. In a small bowl combine last ingredients and blend well with fork.
3. Add vinaigrette to chicken mixture and toss well.
4. Enjoy at room temperature or chill in refrigerator for at least 45 minutes.
Makes 4 -5 servings.
About Lola:
Lola Kern has dedicated her life to helping others re-empower and heal their relationship with food as she did for herself in the last several years. She developed her own weight loss plan that included nutritious recipes and a fitness program. She lost 85 lbs. during the course of two years and has successfully maintained a healthy weight since.
Lola is a certified Internal Energy Plus™ consultant and has also earned her first level black belt in the Chinese martial art system of Kang-Nei-Chin Gung-Fu. As a certified IEP™ Consultant, Lola focuses on helping others overcome their food and body image challenges and subsequently re-empower and heal their relationship with food. To contact Lola directly call 1-866-758-7496, ext. 707 or log onto www.internalenergyplus.com
