Nacho Average Lunch

Pictured: Wednesday Lunch: Nachos and Cheese, French Fries and Ketchup, Chocolate Milk

Ketchup and French Fries are technically considered vegetables according to the President (Reagan). But does processed, sugary paste have anything in common with the tomato? Not much other than its color! And definitely not in nutritional value. And because french fries are fried, they are doing more harm than good to your body. Also, the more colors are on the plate, the more nutrition you are getting, and all I see here is yellow, yellow, yellow. There are also chips (fried) and cheese (processed) which means that these don't really qualify in the food groups for anything other than fat. 

See how much yummier that looks??

My healthier take on this unhealthy lunch was inspired by my Mom. We made a tortilla chip salad that was made out of homemade baked tortilla chips, and included plenty of different colored vegetables and proteins. The recipe is here:

Tortilla Chip Remix (makes 4 servings)

Ingredients: 

Corn tortillas (4)

Scissors

Lettuce (1/2 a head)

Black Beans (1 can)

Salt (sprinkling)

Salsa:

Tomatoes (1)

Avacados (1)

Cilantro (small bunch)

Onions (1/2)

Salt

Lime (1)

Instructions:

Take the corn tortillas and wet them slightly with water.

Then cut them up like pizza slices, and place them on a metal cooking sheet (make sure they aren't overlapping!

Put some salt on them (and drizzle with lime juice if you like)

Put it in the microwave oven (or regular oven) for 7 minutes at 450 degrees until crispy and golden.

Use an oven mitt to take out the tray and wait for them to cool. 

Voila! Baked healthy chips!!

Then assemble your salad by adding the lettuce, black beans, salsa and chips, and enjoy!!