Whether you eat take out or make your own lunches everyday, it is often difficult to eat nutritious meals away from home.  A simple solution is to have one dish, packed with nutrients, that can be eaten at room temperature, to accompany the rest of the lunch you bring, or to supplement take out/deli food.  Vegetable or grain salads work great for this, and you can make a dish that will last 2-3 days.  Make this dish packed with nutritious foods.  Here are some of my favorites:
Marinated Beet Salad
1 lb fresh beets
¼ c. cup walnut or other nut oil, or extra virgin olive oil and sesame
1/3 c. vinegar (sherry, umeboshi, or balsamic)1 clove garlic, finely chopped
goat cheese (optional)
fresh mint or other fresh herb (optional)

Steam beets until soft, about 30-35 minutes.  Meanwhile, combine the oil, vinegar, and garlic.  When beets are easily pierced with a fork, remove to a plate and let them cool.  When they are cool to the touch, cut off the ends and rub the skins to remove them.  Chop into bite size pieces and mix with the marinade.  Put in fridge to absorb flavors for atleast 2 hours.  Garnish with goat cheese and mint before serving.

Quinoa Tabbouleh
2 cups water
1 cup quinoa
1 pinch salt
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 cup lemon juice
3 tomatoes, diced
1 cucumber, diced
2 bunches green onions, diced
2 carrots, grated
1 cup fresh parsley, chopped

Rinse quinoa well.  Cook covered in water with salt for 15 min.  Meanwhile chop the vegetables and put in a large bowl.  Mix olive oil, salt, lemon juice and add to vegetables.  When quinoa is cooled, add to the mixture.

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