Lunchbox Challenge: Week 2, Grain 2

Today is going to be a long one.

I have research from 9-1. Class from 1-2:15. A study session + lunch from 2:30-4:00. Class + a quiz from 4:00-5:15. Psychology Club spring meeting from 5:30-6:30. Dinner, workout, family time, and all that jazz.

Of course a super long day calls for proper fuel [and double the caffeine].

So let’s get popping—what’s on the menu for week 2, day 2 of the lunchbox challenge?

The grains:

And the rice cooker succeeds again! I’m beginning to think this thing can cook just about anything. And well, I’m pretty much in love.

So what did I do with this lovely mix?

Mexican-inspired dishes are always my favorite. So what would a grain week be without one? Boring, that’s what.

• 3/4 C. fire-roasted tomatoes (no salt-added)
• 1 C. grain blend + some extra red quinoa
• 1/2 C. roasted corn (frozen TJ’s brand)
• 1/2 C. black beans (drained & rinsed)

Toss all of your ingredients into a mixing bowl and then make your sauce.

For the avocado yogurt sauce:

• 1/3 C. avocado
• 1/4 C. plain Greek yogurt
• 1 t. cumin
• 1/2 t. cilantro

Blend it up until it’s nice and smooth.

Add your avocado yogurt sauce + salt n’ pepper + crushed red pepper (if you like it spicy) to your mixing bowl. Stir it all up and your Mexi-salad is ready to eat!

Before getting my lunch all ready, I had half of this for dinner! So I suppose I’d say this recipe makes two Stefanie-size portions.

Dinner-style: served atop a bed of warm spinach. Topped with black bean and corn salsa + sriracha chili sauce. And eaten with multigrain tortilla chips. Spicy!

Now for the lunch version.

• sliced peppers (red, orange, & yellow)
• cara cara orange <—so good!
• my personal favorite: a blueberry muffin larabar!

When the lovely Erica from larabar contacted me to see if I wanted to try the newest flavor, my answer was an enthusiastic YES! If you’re a frequent reader, you know that I eat a larabar as a snack nearly every single day. So of course hunting down the newest flavor was high on my list of priorities.

I CANNOT wait to try this out today—I’ll be sure to let you guys know what I think!

Have a fab Wednesday—only 2 more days until the weekend!!

<3 Stefanie

What grain should I feature for the last day of the lunchbox challenge week 2?

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