Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Breakfast and Lunch Ideas for Busy People


These tips come from Judy Fehlenberg, the nutritional expert member of our team.  Try them when you are pressed for time and still want a tasty and nutritious meal.

Too busy to think about what to make for breakfast or lunch? Try these easy-to-make ideas.

Breakfast
You do not need to eat the same breakfast day after day. Try one of these easy suggestions:
Spread cottage cheese on a piece of raisin bread, top with a dollop of crushed pineapple, and broil for a few minutes
Cook soy sausage patty according to package directions; mix Egg Beaters®, diced red pepper, precooked soy sausage patty (crumbled), low-fat cheese, and salsa together; cook over low-medium heat in a skillet; then wrap egg combination into a tortilla 
Mix low-fat pancake mix, according to package directions, but add a few handfuls of bran cereal and fruit before cooking
Make Cream of Wheat® according to package directions, and then stir in reduced-calorie jam and slivered almonds
Make a bowl of old-fashioned oats, according to package directions, but halfway through the cooking time add ¼ cup (C) chunky applesauce, 1 diced banana, ¼ C raisins, and a dash of cinnamon; stir in ¼ C vanilla-flavored soy milk 
Mix ground turkey, one or two slices of torn wheat bread, sage, a diced apple, and a dash of black pepper together; form mixture into patties; broil until cooked through
Mix Egg Beaters and milk together; add some vanilla extract and cinnamon; dip thick slices of whole-grain bread into mixture, coating both sides; place into a baking dish and add peach slices to dish; bake for 15 minutes at 450° F, flipping halfway through baking time
Mix 1 C Egg Beaters and ½ C lite whipping cream together; add diced bell pepper, fresh broccoli, reduced-fat Swiss cheese, and/or low-sodium ham to egg mixture; pour into a 9″ frozen pie shell, which has set out for several minutes to soften; spread with 1 tablespoon (Tbsp) yellow mustard; bake for 30 minutes at 350° F or until egg is set 
Spread a whole-wheat English muffin with peanut butter; top with a sliced banana; drizzle with honey
Top frozen whole-grain waffles with blackberries and lite maple syrup; add a dollop of reduced-fat whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon

Lunch
You can prepare all of these meals the night before. All you need is a refrigerator for storage or an insulated lunch box to keep the food cool.
Mix cooked cheese tortellini with peas; stir in a dressing made from fat-free mayonnaise, mustard, and skim milk; chill well; serve chilled
Marinate sliced cucumber, broccoli pieces, sliced onion, diced tomato, and sliced red or green peppers in honey mustard; serve vegetable/mustard mixture in a whole-grain pita pocket
Mix a can of chicken with low-fat mayonnaise, a diced Granny Smith apple, a small handful of raisins, and a dash of black pepper; serve on a ciabatta roll
Cook 1 C bulgur in 1 C boiling water for 5-10 minutes; mix in cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, diced onion, a splash of lemon juice, and fresh mint
Mash a can of drained, rinsed chickpeas with a jar of sun-dried tomatoes (drained and chopped) and ½ C low-fat mayonnaise; spread on a whole-wheat tortilla, lined with fresh lettuce leaves; sprinkle part-skim mozzarella cheese on top
Mix cooked long-grain rice, drained and rinsed canned black beans, and salsa together; serve chilled
Combine cooked rotini pasta with cooked chicken breast, an assortment of your favorite vegetables, reduced-fat cheese cubes, and Italian dressing; chill well; serve chilled
Mix your favorite variety of lettuce with chopped red onion, black or green olives, and feta cheese; drizzle with olive oil and red wine vinegar; serve in a whole-wheat pita
Mix cooked pasta with canned salmon and baby tomatoes; drizzle with a basic vinaigrette or low-fat Italian dressing
Mix Neuchâtel cheese and drained roasted red peppers together; spread on whole-wheat crackers; top with smoked turkey breast 



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