When people hear that we follow a plant-based diet or we're vegan, they assume we rely on rabbit food. Of course I'm like "bruh, Oreos and french fries are vegan-friendly." However, I don't indulge in those very often. And, if you follow me on Instagram, you know that most of my dinner plates are at least one-third greens. But hey, rabbits are cool.
Rabbits are cool and salads can be awesome! Especially, when you find a combination of ingredients that will taste great and nourish you. While working from home I enjoy taking walks on my lunch break (gotta get those steps in!), so I don't always have that much time to eat. So, one of the meals I rely on is a simple salad with a good level of protein and healthy fat that will fuel a short walk and an afternoon of hard work.
At about 400 calories and 17.5 grams of protein, this salad can easily stand on its own at lunchtime. However, if you need an extra something to help fill you up, consider adding a slice of whole grain toast, falafel topped with hummus, or a veggie burger patty (check out my black bean burger recipe). I'm also a chronic snacker, so I normally have one or two light snacks (usually fruit) throughout the afternoon.
Here's whatcha need:
2 cups of spring mix or your greens of choice
1/8 of a long english cucumber
1/4 of a yellow pepper
1/4 cup of dried cranberries
1/3 cup of canned chickpeas
1 tbs of nutritional yeast (you could use a cheese instead)
1 tbs of pumpkin seeds
2 tbs of your favourite salad dressing (I like lite Zesty Italian)
Okay. So, this is a salad and it's pretty hard to mess it up. But here's how I make it:
Dice your cucumber and pepper and strain your chickpeas. Pro tip: hang on to your chickpea juice if you want to make some vegan meringue.
In a large mixing bowl add your greens along with everything else except your pumpkin seeds. Use tongs to coat all the ingredients in your salad dressing.
Plate your salad and top with pumpkin seeds.
This salad is my go-to lunch meal at least twice every week. Plus, it makes a great side salad for BBQs. And, the best part about a simple salad is you can add as much as you want to get what you need! Need some extra protein? Add some more chickpeas and maybe some lentils. Want to feel fuller? Add some extra fats, maybe a handful of almonds or some avocado. Need to make it a meal? Try some tempeh bacon, falafel, or marinated tofu.
Rabbits are cool. Salads are awesome. Give this one a go the next time you need something quick and healthy at work.
Eat well. Live well.