Liven up your Lunch!

If you generally find salads boring and end up with a few leaves and a bit of chicken then you need to try this this rice salad! You might think lettuce and chicken alone is a healthy lunch but you could be guilty of eating too little which results in hunger, snacking and your body holding onto the fat you would so like to lose. This rice salad adds texture, flavour, fresh veggies and some slow release carbs to get the most out of your workout. It tastes great on it’s own as a snack, as a side salad for a BBQ or served with a handful of spinach leaves and your choice of protein for a balanced and satisfying lunch. I have got into the habit of making a batch of this at the start of the week and just adding different toppings each day for a quick and varied meal. Try it today!

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

• 1 cup brown rice

• 2 cups cooked sweetcorn

• 1 red pepper, diced

• 1/2 cucumber, diced

• 1/2 small onion, finely chopped

• 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds

Dressing:

• 1 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil

• 2 tbsp red wine vinegar

• 6 sun dried tomatoes in oil + 1 tbsp of the oil

• 1-2 tsp dried mixed herbs

• Pepper

Suggested toppings:

• Chickpeas & crumbled goats cheese

• Tuna & avocado

• Salmon

• Smoked mackerel fillet

• Chicken

• 1-2 boiled eggs

Method:

• Bring the rice to the boil in a pan and simmer for 20 minutes until cooked. Rinse with boiling water and allow to cool.

• Toast pumpkin seeds in a pan on a medium heat for a few minutes until they start to brown and pop

• Blend dressing ingredients together and combine with the rice, veg & seeds

• Add your topping and enjoy!