Quinoa Chicken Salad (Salad In A Jar Option)

This is a quick, easy lunch recipe that you can make ahead or throw together with leftovers from last night's dinner. If you prep a week's worth of lunches ahead of time, leave the dressing on the side to keep your salad from getting soggy. If you make this with leftovers, throw whatever you have on the salad. It will taste great! This recipe is for one salad but it's easy to double, triple... 

Ingredients

• 2-3 handfuls mixed greens
• 1 cup dry quinoa
• 2 cups chicken broth (or water)
• 4-6 oz. grilled or roasted chicken breast (you can also substitute steak)
• 4-8 cherry tomatoes
• 1/2 a large carrot, chopped
• Cilantro Lime vinaigrette OR Balsamic Vinaigrette
• Fun twist/Optional great additions:
• add fresh peach slices to give it some extra flavor. 
• Add pumpkin seeds or pine nuts for some extra protein and flavor
• Add slices from 1/2 an avocado to get some healthy fat and help keep you full until dinner

Directions

• Soak quinoa overnight (8 hours) with water and apple cider vinegar. This breaks down the proteins that help quinoa stay fresh on your shelf forever but prevent your body from absorbing the nutrients. When you soak grains, legumes and nuts overnight you get access to all their amazing nutrients and reduce indigestion.
• When you are ready to make your salad, drain and rinse the quinoa and put it in a pot with 1.5 cups chicken broth (or you can use water). Bring quinoa to a boil, scoop off any foam that rises to the top, reduce to a simmer and cover until all the water is gone (usually 10-20 minutes) --if you didn't soak your quinoa overnight, rinse it with cold water, use 2 cups chicken broth to cook and put 1 tbs of apple cider vinegar in the pot while you cook.
• Grill or roast your chicken however you like it (olive oil, salt, pepper and some Italian herbs make a really tasty chicken). I like to make a bunch at one time so I can pre-lunches ahead for a week. I also make this salad with leftover chicken from other recipes.
• See Playful Fitness salad dressing recipes to whip up a quick salad dressing. 
• Put your lettuce on a plate or in a bowl
• Put a hearty scoop of quinoa on top of your lettuce
• Chop carrots, cut cherry tomatoes in half and add to the top of your salad.
• Add any other things you want. I highly recommend avocado and pumpkin seeds. 
• Slice chicken into strips and add it to the top. 
• Pour your dressing over the top and enjoy! (If you are prepping your meals ahead, put your dressing in a separate container and add it when you are ready to eat.)

Goodies In this Recipe

Quinoa- First off, quinoa is a seed, not a grain so for people with grain intolerances, quinoa is a great option. Unlike rice, quinoa is considered a complete protein meaning it contains all nine essential amino acids your body needs.