My first thought this morning was man, I’m providing another boring lunch for the blog.

But you know what?

It’s tasty. Filling. Healthy. Super simple and takes minutes to put together.

Maybe you want all of those things in a lunch.

Because when you’ve had a week like I’ve had, with many assignments and rapidly approaching deadlines, it’s a relief to take the few groceries left in your fridge and on your shelves and pronounce, “Lunch!”

Bring it: Veggie-packed salad with pumped up balsamic vinaigrette

Salad:

1/2 bag Fresh Express Sweet Butter lettuce (I’m currently obsessed with butter lettuce, but any kind will work)

1/2 cup chickpeas, drained and rinsed

1 tomato chopped

1 serving (85 g) chopped baby carrots

Dressing

2 tbsp Trader Joe’s Fat Free Balsamic Vinaigrette

1/2 tbsp Whole Foods Unfiltered Flax Oil

salt + pepper to taste

Whisk the dressing ingredients together just before pouring on the salad. Give the whole container a good shake to make sure everything is coated before digging in!

Sweet ending:

1 Chobani Nonfat Lemon Greek yogurt

1 Apple

All together the meal comes to about 500 calories.