{Trader Joe’s Broccoli Slaw and Kale Salad with Grilled Chicken}

I’d like to introduce you to my latest lunch addiction. Meet Trader Joe’s $3.99 Broccoli Slaw and Kale Salad with Grilled Chicken. It is a bright and colorful salad that covers a lot of important food groups – and it is dee-lish-ous! Usually, I don’t purchase prepared meals to bring home. I grew up in a home where we shopped daily for food and made everything from scratch. And for the most part, I still cook that way. I do have a few exceptions. The first exception occurred years ago and it was in the way of Mrs. Smith’s Apple Pie. I was pressed for time one Saturday when I was preparing to host dinner for friends and didn’t have a dessert. My sister had recently regaled Mrs. Smith’s Apple pie and I decided to give it a try. Let me tell you that I have never made apple pie again. That pie is ridiculously good. The key is to serve it warm with vanilla ice cream. You end up with a spoonful of warm, soft, sweet apples and a buttery, crispy and slightly salty crust, wrapped up with semi-soft vanilla cream. It’s heaven on earth. I immediately changed my thinking about prepared foods and my motto became “If someone else can make it better than I can, I’m buying it.”

Back to this salad that contains broccoli slaw blend (broccoli, carrot, red cabbage), grilled chicken breast, kale, dried cranberries and roasted sunflower seeds and has joined the exception list. Why? Because it is delicious, healthy, inexpensive and the amount of time that I save because someone else has made it – makes it a no brainer. Just think of how long it would take to shop for all the ingredients, cook the chicken and shred the veggies. It is one of those “prepared food” lunches that I feel really good about because it’s smart and so convenient to grab and go.

When I realized that this lunch was going to become a regular part of my weekly meal plan, I scrutinized the nutrition label. I did have a “whoa!” moment when I read that the salad dressing (packed in its own container) made up half the total calories. Never one for smothering my food with condiments, I simply use half the amount of salad dressing and it’s perfect. It’s enough to elevate the flavors but not mask it. All in, it comes to about 390 calories. I don’t count calories per se, but I know I need to stick to 1,800 – 2,000 a day and I aim for 500 per meal and a glass of wine or Blue Moon beer with dinner.