Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Breakfast provides you with the energy and nutrients that lead to increased concentration in the classroom. Studies show that breakfast can be important in maintaining a healthy body weight. People who skip breakfast are unlikely to make up their daily requirement for some vitamins and minerals that a simple breakfast would have provided. Breakfast provides energy for the activities during the morning and helps to prevent that mid-morning slump. -John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Tuscan Vegetable Soup
Ingredients
1 (15-ounce) can low-sodium canellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 large onion, diced (about 1 cup)
2 carrots, diced (about 1/2 cup)
2 stalks celery, diced, (about 1/2 cup)
1 small zucchini, diced (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves (or 1 teaspoon dried)
2 teaspoons chopped fresh sage leaves (or 1/2 teaspoon dried)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
32 ounces low-sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth
1 (14.5-ounce) can no salt added diced tomatoes
2 cups chopped baby spinach leaves
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan, optional
Directions
In a small bowl mash half of the beans with a masher or the back of a spoon, and set aside.
Heat the oil in a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion, carrots, celery, zucchini, garlic, thyme, sage, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper, and cook stirring occasionally until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes.
Add the broth and tomatoes with the juice and bring to a boil. Add the mashed and whole beans and the spinach leaves and cook until the spinach is wilted, about 3 minutes more.
Serve topped with Parmesan, if desired.
Ingredients
1 (15-ounce) can low-sodium canellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 large onion, diced (about 1 cup)
2 carrots, diced (about 1/2 cup)
2 stalks celery, diced, (about 1/2 cup)
1 small zucchini, diced (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves (or 1 teaspoon dried)
2 teaspoons chopped fresh sage leaves (or 1/2 teaspoon dried)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
32 ounces low-sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth
1 (14.5-ounce) can no salt added diced tomatoes
2 cups chopped baby spinach leaves
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan, optional
Directions
In a small bowl mash half of the beans with a masher or the back of a spoon, and set aside.
Heat the oil in a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion, carrots, celery, zucchini, garlic, thyme, sage, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper, and cook stirring occasionally until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes.
Add the broth and tomatoes with the juice and bring to a boil. Add the mashed and whole beans and the spinach leaves and cook until the spinach is wilted, about 3 minutes more.
Serve topped with Parmesan, if desired.
Spicy Beef Stir-Fry
Ingredients
1 tablespoon cornstarch
3 tablespoons Chinese Shaoxing rice wine, dry sherry or white vermouth
1 pound beef sirloin, thinly sliced against the grain into strips
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons oyster sauce
2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
3 to 4 tablespoons peanut oil
1 1 -inch piece fresh ginger, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, smashed
5 to 7 dried red chiles, halved
1 small onion, thinly sliced
8 heads baby bok choy, halved
Pinch of sugar
Cooked rice, for serving
Directions
Whisk the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons rice wine in a medium bowl; add the beef, season with salt and pepper and toss to coat. Set aside for 15 minutes.
Mix the remaining 1 tablespoon rice wine, the oyster sauce and sesame oil in a large bowl; set the bowl near the stove.
Heat a wok or large nonstick skillet over high heat until very hot, about 1 minute. Add 3 tablespoons peanut oil, then the ginger, garlic and chiles; stir-fry until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the beef and cook, stirring or shaking the skillet occasionally, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer the beef with a slotted spoon to the sauce mixture and toss.
If the pan is dry, add 1 tablespoon peanut oil, then add the onion and stir-fry until just soft, about 2 minutes. Add the bok choy and sugar; stir-fry until just wilted, 1 to 2 minutes. Return the beef and any juices to the pan and stir to combine. Serve over the rice.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon cornstarch
3 tablespoons Chinese Shaoxing rice wine, dry sherry or white vermouth
1 pound beef sirloin, thinly sliced against the grain into strips
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons oyster sauce
2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
3 to 4 tablespoons peanut oil
1 1 -inch piece fresh ginger, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, smashed
5 to 7 dried red chiles, halved
1 small onion, thinly sliced
8 heads baby bok choy, halved
Pinch of sugar
Cooked rice, for serving
Directions
Whisk the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons rice wine in a medium bowl; add the beef, season with salt and pepper and toss to coat. Set aside for 15 minutes.
Mix the remaining 1 tablespoon rice wine, the oyster sauce and sesame oil in a large bowl; set the bowl near the stove.
Heat a wok or large nonstick skillet over high heat until very hot, about 1 minute. Add 3 tablespoons peanut oil, then the ginger, garlic and chiles; stir-fry until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the beef and cook, stirring or shaking the skillet occasionally, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer the beef with a slotted spoon to the sauce mixture and toss.
If the pan is dry, add 1 tablespoon peanut oil, then add the onion and stir-fry until just soft, about 2 minutes. Add the bok choy and sugar; stir-fry until just wilted, 1 to 2 minutes. Return the beef and any juices to the pan and stir to combine. Serve over the rice.
Crab and Avocado Salad
Ingredients
Kosher salt
1/2 pound haricots verts or green beans, halved
2/3 cup low-fat plain yogurt
3 tablespoons low-fat mayonnaise
1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup chopped fresh chives
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
3 anchovy fillets, chopped
Freshly ground pepper
1/2 pound lump or claw crabmeat
1 Hass avocado, halved, pitted and diced
3 romaine hearts, chopped
1 1/2 cups whole-wheat croutons
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
Directions
Bring a saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add the haricots verts and cook until crisp-tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Drain and run under cold water to stop the cooking.
Puree the yogurt, mayonnaise, lemon juice, chives, basil and anchovies in a blender until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
Toss the crabmeat, half of the avocado and about 1 tablespoon of the yogurt dressing in a small bowl. Toss the romaine, croutons, haricots verts and the remaining avocado with the remaining dressing in a large bowl.
Ingredients
Kosher salt
1/2 pound haricots verts or green beans, halved
2/3 cup low-fat plain yogurt
3 tablespoons low-fat mayonnaise
1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup chopped fresh chives
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
3 anchovy fillets, chopped
Freshly ground pepper
1/2 pound lump or claw crabmeat
1 Hass avocado, halved, pitted and diced
3 romaine hearts, chopped
1 1/2 cups whole-wheat croutons
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
Directions
Bring a saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add the haricots verts and cook until crisp-tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Drain and run under cold water to stop the cooking.
Puree the yogurt, mayonnaise, lemon juice, chives, basil and anchovies in a blender until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
Toss the crabmeat, half of the avocado and about 1 tablespoon of the yogurt dressing in a small bowl. Toss the romaine, croutons, haricots verts and the remaining avocado with the remaining dressing in a large bowl.