KFC Rant, "Lunch Bowls" and Work Snacks

Here's a link to the lovely rant on KFC's new "mashed potato bowls" that I got into on the other blog. Read it, and remember---they are available only for a limited time and only at participating KFC's....

Meanwhile, may I suggest that one *could* create a healthier version of this? Starting with much less than a pound of mashed potatoes of course (might I suggest only half a cup? leaving more room for the veggies and protein, and hopefully these potatoes have been creamed with skim milk and only a pat or two of butter), top with corn if you must, but also include or replace with some green, non-starch vegetables (broccolli florets come to mind), pieces of white-meat chicken NOT FRIED (the grocery stores sell packs of ready-to-eat grilled and seasoned chicken pieces that are great for tossing into quesadillas, salads and the like and would work for this, or just use left-over chicken), and sprinkle on top some low-fat shredded cheese. Depending on the veggies and cheese and meat you used you could go for Italian flavah or Mexican flavah or whatever) Voila! Lunch in a bowl--with nutritional value.

This concept is easy enough to do for work with any leftovers in your kitchen. Just get a microwavable bowl with a lid and toss together leftover chicken, rice, veggies, or throw together a taco salad using leftover chili, lettuce, salad veggies, and cheese. Remember--at lunch it's VERY important to raise your protein levels in relation to your carbs and probably skip on the sugars---if you want to make it through your afternoon without wanting to sleep or being 'hungry' an hour later (a giant muffin for lunch?? Naptime!). Keep healthy snacks at work for addressing any mid to late afternoon energy dips and munchies. Microwave lite popcorn--very filling, high in fiber, low in calories. Whole grain crackers and a jar of peanut butter--and if you have a fridge some low fat cheese. Higher protein cereal bars (like South Beach diet--remember you want to avoid a bunch of extra sugar and balance out carbs with protein, so those candy-like cereal or granola bars--not good unless you are out mountain climbing or cross-country hiking and skiing, ie. in need of lots of quick energy and calories) or protein bars (these are usually based on soy protein). Or some of my faves---Quaker's Soy Crisps (these have much higher protein to carb ratio than their rice crisps); my fave flavah is BBQ but the White Cheddar ain't bad!