I just got home from work. It is late and I am tired. I thought about heading through the driver thru at McD's...but instead I went to the grocery store and bought the ingredients for a very tasty salad. I spent about 5X what I would have spent at McD's but cans use the ingredients in healthy dinners and lunches for the week.

My salad:
2 cups spinach leaves
2 cups salad mix
1 cup sliced strawberries
10 pecan halves
1 poached chicken breast sliced very thin.

I sprinkled the chicken with pepper and garlic (no salt) then quick cooked the chicken in the microwave. While that cooled, I tore up the spinach and mixed it with the salad, sliced the berries, broke the pecans into bits and drizzled just a tiny bit of balsalmic viniagrette over it all, then lightly tossed it. I sliced the chicken and put it on top. It made a colorful plateful of food. All told it took about 10 minutes to make. It comes out to ridiculous 362 calories.

I devoured it like I was starving (I kinda was!) and am super satisified with the huge portion. I avoided the drive through and treated myself to something good.

You did so good, girl! Congratulations! Sometimes avoiding the cheap/easy food is the hardest part! But, look at you! You turned up your nose at McD's, strutted yourself into the grocery store, and made yourself a healthy meal! You rock!

Sooooo yummy! I've had basically the same salad many times and it never amazes me HOW MUCH FOOD it is for HOW LITTLE CALORIES! Great job my friend!!!

Way too go. When you're tired and want a quick meal, it's easy to go for McD's but soooo not worth it in the long run.

Every time you resist something - it makes it a bit easier the next time. Good for you!!!!! Awesome.

Great job!

And there's no deprivation going on there. You ate fabulous food that just happened to be incredibly healthy.

I eat ginormous salads every day.

I make a similar one to yours and depending on what veggies I'm in the mood for it varies. Some of my add ins: romaine hearts, thinly sliced red onions, chick peas, craisins, diced mango, diced yellow or orange peppers, grape tomatoes, sliced mushrooms, hearts of palm, avocado, roasted asparagus, sliced green beans, sugar snap peas, clemintines, blueberries, peaches (seasonal fruits), shredded carrots, chopped walnuts, slivered almonds, tuna, turkey breast.

The list and possibilities and delicious-ness are never ending...

That sounds so yummmy! Congrats on making a healthy decision and a less expensive one. McD's may have been cheaper for that one meal, but with the food you bought you can probably make several meals, so really making your own is less expensive and much healthier!

that sounds great...but 'quick cooked' chicken in the microwave. I never heard of such a thing!! How long does this take? Is it rubbery at all?

I've never cooked chicken in the microwave. But I do cook it rather quickly - either using a grill pan or sauteeing it a non-stick pan or baking it in the oven - 15 minutes tops. You can also do a bunch at a time and have them good to go for a few days...

Quick cook is what I call cooking a chicken breast in the microwave instead of baking, broiling or panfrying. I put the chicken breast on a plate that is lightly sprayed with Non stick pan coat (Pam) and then sprinkle with pepper and fresh minced garlic. I cover it with another plate upside down because I try not to cook things in plastic in the microwave. Cook it for 3-4 minutes. It comes out looking poached.

You just want to cook it until the pink is gone. If you cook it too long then it gets rubbery. It also helps to keep in moist if you cover it.