Wow, how times have changed in just a few short weeks.
You know this already though...
You are the front line out there working your butts off to help keep the rest of us safe and healthy.
I can't thank all of those in the healthcare field enough for the work you do!
However, with all of this taking place, I urge you to continue to keep take care of yourself the best you can!
While we might not always be able to prevent everything if we can continue to focus on what we can.
One of those being good nutrition and choosing options that can support your immune system (compared to options that can suppress your immune system). Now more than ever, this is SOOO important for every single healthcare worker out there!
With many stores and restaurants closing (or providing limited options at this time), with stores running low on many food items, and the crazy busy schedules you are likely facing right now, I wanted to share a super simple, nutrient-packed recipe with you!
This recipe is one I created before all of the COVID-19 chaos started but it is a great option to use up some of those canned beans you might have on hand and prep a quick and nourishing lunch for those long days.
I was honored to take part in a recipe challenge with Enjoy Life Foods.
For this challenge, Enjoy Life Foods shared with me some free samples of their Enjoy Life Lentil Chips! Oh my... if you have not tasted their lentil chips before, you need to soon! Even my husband and kids are obsessed with these.
My motto is "Keep it Simple & Keep it Real".
Which is exactly why I LOVE Enjoy Life products. Everything they offer is made from real simple ingredients. The Sea Salt Lentil Chips I received only have the following ingredients:
Lentil Chip (lentil flour, potato starch, salt, turmeric, canola oil, paprika), Safflower and/or Sunflower Oil, Sea Salt, Rosemary Extract.
That is it.
And as a bonus, Enjoy Life Foods are all Soy Free, Nut Free, Gluten Free, Dairy Free... in fact, it's free from 14 allergens! They also are made with 100% all-natural, Non-GMO ingredients.
They are also pretty easy to in stores. I see them all the time as locations such as Vons, Albertsons, Ralphs, Sprout, CVS, and more! You can find them near you by searching here.
Alright, now that you know how much I love Enjoy Life Foods (and no, I did not get paid to say that), let's get to that recipe I promised...
Lemon Garlic Chickpea Salad with Lentil Chips
This recipe is super easy to make and is packed with nutrient dense foods to help you enjoy a quick balanced meal.
Chickpeas are a versatile ingredient to keep as a staple in your pantry. Perfect for added protein and fiber!
Micro-greens are not only a fun flavorful addition to a meal, but research has found that they can have 4-6 times more nutrition than the mature plants. You can find these in stores or grow them in your own Tower Garden to enjoy at any time.
The addition of cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, garlic, lemon juice, and apple cider vinegar are great sources of vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants, they can help add to hydration, and are just simply delicious!
Avocado oil has a mellow flavor and is full of heart-healthy oleic acid, which is a monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid.
All of these foods are brought together with a homemade dressing! I always prefer homemade when it comes to dressings as it allows you to control what ingredients are used. Many store-bought dressings are made with highly refined oils, have added sugar, thickeners, preservatives, and other ingredients that we just don't need. Not to mention they seldom taste as good as a homemade dressing.
Here is the recipe to enjoy!
INGREDIENTS:
Lemon Garlic Dressing
3 tbsp avocado oil
Juice from 1/2 lemon
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
2 garlic cloves minced
Pinch of Salt
Pinch of Pepper
Chickpea Salad
1 can chickpeas (rinsed and drained)
1 cup arugula micro-greens (you could use regular arugula if you prefer)
1 small tomato chopped
1/2 cup chopped cucumbers
1/4 cup chopped red onions
Enjoy Life Lentil Chips - Sea Salt
DIRECTIONS:
Toss the ingredients for the lemon garlic dressing into a jar and shake/mix well. Set aside.
Mix all of the ingredients of the salad into a large bowl (except the Lentil Chips). Pour dressing over the salad and mix well.
Divide the salad evenly into the 3 mason jars or containers.
Grab a jar along with 1 serving of Enjoy Life Lentil Chips to take to work or enjoy at home for a quick and easy meal. I like to scoop up the salad with the lentil chips, but you could also crunch them up and eat them on top.
***BONUS*** You have 2 more meals ready to enjoy later in the week!
That is it.
Simple. Real. Delicious.
I hope you enjoy.
Stay safe out there! And thank you again for all the work you are doing!