Low Calorie Lunch #3

Today's low calorie lunch is one of my absolute favorites --Homemade Hummus and Tabbouleh Salad! I love that they are both so fresh, flavorful, and filling! Raw veggies and olives with this meal make it so yummy and healthy! Hummus is made from chick peas, also called garbanzo beans, and they are low calorie and full of fiber and protein. Also, offering the benefit of high fiber, low calorie, and high protein is bulgar wheat, which is the main ingredient of tabbouleh salad. The other ingredients for this meal are all vegetables, spices, herbs, and lemon juice. 

Low Calorie Lunch #3

Homemade Hummus

2 15.5 oz. cans garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed

1/2 cup tahini

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 TB fresh parsely

1 lemon, juiced

10 medium black olives

1/2 t. salt

1/2 t. cumin

1/2 t. coriander, optional

1/2 t. seasoned salt

1 cup water

Blend all ingredients in a blender. Chill for at least one hour, serve with your favorite pita bread and raw vegetables. 

Tabbouleh Salad

2 cups bulgar wheat, cooked and cooled to room temperature (follow package directions) 

1 t. salt

2 lemons, juiced

1 pt. cherry tomatoes, finely chopped

1/2 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped

1/2 cup green pepper, finely chopped

1 green onion, finely chopped

1 TB olive oil

Mix all ingredients well. Add more salt or lemon juice to reach desired flavor. 

This meal does take a lot more time to prepare than some of the other low calorie lunches I have posted, but it is the type of meal that tastes great a couple of days after it is made. I would recommend making several options for healthy lunches on a Sunday afternoon to be prepared for the week. After all, If you open the refrigerator in the middle of the day, you're busy and  already hungry, and find nothing =not good!  It is more likely you will go for something fast and maybe less healthy like chips, cookies, candy, cheese burger, or mac and cheese. But if you have fresh, whole-food, healthy options just waiting for you, then it is easier to make a good choice when you are busy and hunger strikes!

I'll be posting another Low Calorie Lunch next week, so check back in a few days!