Thinking Out of the Box

There was a time not so long ago when the lunch box was the ultimate in personal expression. More than a mere carrying case for peanut butter and bologna sandwiches, your lunchbox showed who you were and who you aspired to be.

We have seen the pretty-in-pink girls carrying Barbie or teen-dream Bobby Sherman; tomboys carried Charlie's Angels, Wonder Woman while boys had Buck Rogers or GI Joe. Little kids carried Disney. Now, let me show you a spin on this with my muscle-building Alejandro’s Box Meal.

This is perfect for a muscle-building diet. It’s also really easy – steamed vegetables and chicken. Each box meal has the right amount of protein, carbohydrates and fiber for you.
For this, I usually pull out my steamer pot and add water and salt. It is important for the water to taste as salty as the ocean. Once that is ready, I’d place the chicken for 25 min while I get the vegetables ready. Then on the second rack, I place the vegetables which only need no more than 12 min. As soon as they are both cooked, I remove the racks and cook the noodles in the same broth that now has the flavors of the chicken and vegetables.

Here's a tip: Don't throw out the water when you're done. That is a healthy chicken and vegetable stock. You can store that in a container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Now, you have ready-to-use broth for your next dish.

Enjoy!