I’m always on the go, but I still try to keep fresh fruits, veggies, and lean meats at home so that I can make really quick meals when needed. I tend to buy the same items all the time, not because I don’t venture out with new foods (I have a broad palette and will try just about anything), but because I know that they all taste good together and/or can make for a variety of dishes as well. I have found that the more complex a meal is, the less likely I will make it (though sometimes I will turn cooking into a “thing” and turn on the music, pour some wine and pretend I’m a chef), so meals that only require a handful of ingredients and take less than 10 minutes to prepare are my jam. With that being said, what’s easier than a salad? Growing up, I didn’t eat a ton of salads because I didn’t really care for the greens being use. Like most families, we used iceberg (which has NO taste but is watery and crunchy and really only good for burgers IMO), but once I started making salads using arugula, spinach, and other spring mixes, I loved the flavor and was finally able to see the nutritional value in them as well. The ingredients used in this Green Goddess Grilled Chicken Salad Recipe are really simple, but how they’re prepared is what makes the salad next level and much more appealing. You can swap out the veggies that I’m using for others that you might prefer more, but I’ve found that these flavors work really well together and you will want to go back for seconds when you’re done! Ingredients Herb Salad Mix Grape Tomatoes White Mushrooms Trader Joes Just Chicken Charbroiled Chicken Strips Lemon Juice EVOO Lemon Pepper Seasoning Sea Salt First up: plate your greens. I like this mix because it’s a wide variety of greens mixed into one, and it’s pretty, lol. Chop up your tomatoes and mushrooms (as many as you like I did a small handful of both). Heat a little bit of EVOO on medium heat, and saute them together until both are tender. Add a little bit of lemon juice and season salt while you do this to help bring out the flavor. Layer on top of your greens. Sautee your chicken strips in EVOO with lemon pepper seasoning and lemon juice (keeps them from drying out) for about 3 minutes. Layer on top of your veggies. Drizzle with your favorite green goddess salad dressing (I like Trader Joe’s). Voila! For a little extra razzle dazzle, sprinkle on some freshly shaved parmesan, romano & asiago cheese, but you can skip it if you want to avoid dairy. This salad is low in calories and carbs, tastes delicious, comforting because it’s warm, and takes maybe 5 minutes to make. The chicken gives you a good dose of protein, but if you want to make it even more filling, add in some quinoa. If you’re on a budget, all ingredients excluding the seasoning (which you probably already have at home) was under $17 and if you made it all at once, you’re looking at 3-4 servings. I shop at Trader Joe’s a lot, but you should be able to find similar ingredients in any grocery store for around the same cost. If you buy items that can be used multiple ways (for ex, all ingredients minus the greens + salad dressing can be used in an omelet for breakfast or in pasta for another meal) you can maximize your budget while still making some yummy meals. Happy cooking! Tips For Working From Home Immune Boosting Foods To Include On Your Grocery List