Today’s brown bag topic – SANDWICHES. Here are some suggestions for healthy, THM®-friendly lunches that appeal to all ages.

Sandwiches * the “bread”

• Whole grain bread – or whole grain flourless bread (Food for Life Ezekial 4:9 and Alvarado Street are both good, and there are others, too).
• Whole wheat pita and lavash both make great sandwiches. You may want to pack the filling separately, and assemble just before eating.
• Whole wheat or corn tortillas are great for wraps. Roll with filling, wrap tightly in wax paper; then twist ends.
• A big leaf of romaine or leaf lettuce is also really good for wraps. If you’re a little more daring, try nori, which is a sea veggie. Nori is sold in sheets that are perfect for wraps (we like to line it with a bit of lettuce and fill it just before eating).
• Crepes – don’t make them just for lunch, but if you have them leftover from dinner, they make good wraps, too.

Sandwiches * the filling

• Many schools no longer allow peanut products, so try almond butter or another nut butter. One favorite – Trader Joe’s Cashew Macadamia Butter. Top with finely shredded veggies (carrot, zucchini, cucumber, red pepper) instead of jelly. Or apple slices. Or banana slices.
• Tuna salad, egg salad, chicken salad – for a kick, add diced green chiles instead of relish (thanks MplsMom for that idea!).
• Smashed garbanzo salad (mock tuna?) – add a little red onion for extra flavor. This is a good vegan filling.
• Hummus and veggies (spinach, cucumber, tomato, sprouts, red pepper).
• Avocado and tomato. Add cucumber for more crunch.
• Grilled veggies.
• Meat and cheese analogs (fake lunchmeat and fake cheese) are okay for a change, but real food is preferable.
• Include a leaf of lettuce and a slice of tomato, or even avocado, in a separate container to add just before eating.

Hey guys!

I’m on the radio in the following cities tomorrow!!! I hope you can listen in!

WROZ * Harrisburg PA * Dennis and Michelle
WMGF * Orlando FL * Dave and Leslye
WBSX * Wilkes Barre PA * Jim and Michelle
WMC * Memphis TN * Ron and Dana
WQDR-FM * Raleigh NC * Mike
KATT * Oklahoma City OK * Rick and Brad
WAQY * Springfield MA * Bax and O’Brien
KXPT * Las Vegas NV * Steph
KINK * Portland OR * Dave and Sheila
WMIL-FM * Milwaukee WI * Tony
KAWO * Boise ID * Outlaw
KRSQ * Billings MT * Big J

Frequently throughout the day, especially while you’re supposedly “working,” ask yourself the following questions.

• Is my current activity one that is productive or counterproductive?
• Am I really taking action, moving forward, and getting the job done, or am I just killing time or goofing off?

Most people are surprised by how much time they waste when they keep track. After you have identified your productivity weaknesses, decide what you can do to avoid them from now on.

We all know it’s cheaper to pack your own lunch, and it’s healthier (in almost every school district) to pack your kids’ lunches, too. This week, we’ll help you with some brown bag solutions.

Today’s topic is leftovers. What you have for dinner tonight will make a great lunch tomorrow.

Budget bonus * Reduce your waste (it doesn’t wait around in the back of the fridge until you throw it away)

Organization bonus * Reduce your prep time (it’s already made).

Equipment * You may want a wide mouth thermos, or a small ice pack, to keep the food appropriately warm or cool, if you don’t have access to a fridge or microwave.

TIP * Before filling a thermos with hot food, fill it with hot water, and let it warm up while you warm up the food. Then dump out the water, and fill with the hot food. It stays warmer longer. You will need to heat the food in the morning.

What To Pack? Some possibilities…

• Roast or grilled turkey or chicken with sides or on a salad
• Turkey or vegan meatloaf with sides or in a sandwich
• Shepherd’s pie or pot pie
• Lasagne or any pasta in sauce
• Stir-fry and brown rice (jazz it up with some sliced almonds on top)
• Leftover veggies in a wrap with a little hummus or almond butter
• Soup or veggie stew or chili with slice of whole grain bread, corn muffin, etc.
• Grilled veggies – as is or on a salad
• Baked sweet potatoes

Use leftovers on a salad. Start with 2 cups of your favorite salad greens, and then…

• Go Greek with olives, walnuts, red pepper, cucumber, tomato, and oregano vinaigrette
• Go Italian with olives, roasted red pepper, sundried tomato, artichoke hearts, cannellini beans and Italian or balsamic vinagrette
• Go French with tuna, hard cooked egg or mashed tofu, leftover green beans, tomato, and Dijon vinaigrette
• Go Spanish with shrimp, chickpeas, broccoli, carrots, artichoke hearts, and a tomato vinaigrette
• Go Mexican with black beans, corn, avocado, diced tomato, and your favorite salsa
• Go Japanese with tofu, shredded veggies, and a rice-wine/ginger vinaigrette
• Go Caribbean with red beans, grilled chicken or tofu seasoned with jerk seasoning, and lime vinaigrette

It’s a BIG week for Marilu on television!

Be sure to watch the ER finale on Thursday on NBC.

See Marilu as one of the patients that night. Y’all know the ER story, right? Many doctors, many seasons, one emergency room. And this is the last show ever. Don’t miss it (big question – how will they tie in Dr. Mark Green?).

On Friday night, check out the new Starz network program Party Down at 10:30 pm eastern/10:30 pm pacific.

The new half-hour from the creator of Veronica Mars, Rob Thomas, follows a Los Angeles catering team – a sextet of Hollywood wannabes stuck working for tips while hoping for their “big break.” Each episode of the 10-part original series finds the hapless catering team working a new event – from sweet sixteen affairs to gay weddings to mobster acquittal parties to porn awards – where they inevitably get tangled up with colorful guests and the absurd drama of their own personal lives.

“Pepper McMasters Singles Seminar” – April 3 at 10:30pm ET/PT
At a sex and romance seminar for seniors led by the endlessly energetic Pepper McMasters, Constance is confronted by a lothario from her debauched past. Casey, inspired by Pepper’s message of “Living Life to the Fullest,” decides to divorce her husband, and then throws herself at Henry. Kyle, meanwhile, struggles to get revenge on Roman for tricking him into shaving his eyebrow – with rousing results. Directed by: Bryan Gordon; Guest stars include: Marilu Henner, Ed Begley, Jr.

(Note – the critics have been giving this episode a big thumbs up!)

Is Monday still wash day?

Whatever day(s) you do your laundry, try doing it “greener.”

• Wash and rinse in cold water. If you think your stains need hot water, pour some of your measured detergent directly on the stains and scrub (with a little water, if you use powdered detergent). Then wash in cold.
 
• If you have HE machines, be sure to use HE detergent.
 
• Add 1/4 cup of distilled white vinegar to the rinse cycle to help break down the soap and make your clothes softer.
 
• Keep your washer clean. If you have a lint filter in the washer, clean it with every load. Scrub the fabric softener well with an old toothbrush and some distilled white vinegar.

Photo by Sanja Gjenero

Read a section of the newspaper you don’t usually read. If you never look at the sports or financial section, give it a try. Who knows when it may come in handy during the next few days?

The first quarter of the year is drawing to a close. Remember your New Year’s Resolutions (or goals, or whatever you may have called them)? Time for a status check.

Complete the following sentences.

1. So far in 2009, I’m proud of … (celebrate your achievements!)

 

2. I can do better with … by … (be specific – and don’t beat yourself up; look forward)

 

3. I can’t wait to … (list big and small pleasures)

It’s college basketball season, and that means YOU can get in on the action. No, not gambling. Hoooooooops!

If your weather is good (or at least not awful), get to the closest outdoor court. If your weather is bad, find a gym.

Play a game!

• Join a pickup game.
• If there’s a league game in progress, ask if you can sub in.
• Play HORSE. (Two or more players take turns shooting from the same spot. The first time you miss, you get an H, the second time, you get an O, etc. Last person to spell “horse” is the winner.)

Do practice drills (remember the ones you did in junior high phys ed class?). Dribble, pass, shoot.

• Dribble down the driveway, or on the sidewalk to the corner. If you want obstacles, set up soccer cones, or bases, or whatever you have.
• Pass the ball from your chest. Don’t have anyone to pass to? Pick a wall (without windows) and imagine a target.
• Stand at the free throw line and speed-shoot for one minute. Take turns shooting and “fetching” for each other.

Photo by Timo Vaisanen

Is your collection taking over your home and your life? Is it just becoming clutter in your life? Maybe it’s time to scale back.

Analyze why you collect in the first place.

• Are you sentimental?
• Do you like showing off your possessions?
• Is your collection making a statement about you?

Analyze how you feel about it now.

• Maybe you’ve outgrown your collection of beanie babies, and you can sell it to other collectors.
• Maybe you really only like a dozen of the 150 elephants people have given you over the years.
• Maybe you’re tired of the statement your Three Stooges collector plates makes about you.
• Maybe you’re just tired of dusting the whole mess.

Look at your collection and think hard about whether you like what it says about you. You may be able to cut back, condense, or totally eliminate your collection clutter.