What's For Lunch? -- Couscous Salad

Got the lunchbox blues? Sometimes I feel like I do. I'm the kind of person who always packs a lunch. Firstly, it much healthier and you actually know what you'll be ingesting, and secondly, it's a much cheaper option and when you're still a student like myself, you try to save every penny that you can. That being said, sometimes I get into a rut when coming up with fresh and exciting lunch ideas. Half the time I'm too busy to prep a fantastic lunch, and other times I'm just too plain lazy. But with my post-holiday diet going on, in which I've sworn off cheese (amongst many other things...like sugar...and coffee!!), that means I also have to give up my usual of cheese and crackers.



I used to always love bringing salads for lunch as well, but I always found it a bit time consuming with the chopping, and the fact that it took up more room in my bag. However, after a little hiatus, it was about time to get back into salads. I luckily dug up some couscous in the back of my cupboards yesterday, perfect for a couscous salad! I simply tossed the couscous with some soaked dried cherries, diced carrots and cucumbers, some finely chopped Italian parsley and green onions, and a balsamic vinaigrette. It was fast, easy, healthy and delicious! The best thing about couscous is that it can take about any kind of ingredients: add marinated and/or roasted vegetables and some feta for a Mediterranean couscous salad, or soak the couscous in orange juice and throw in other dried fruits like apricots and raisins for a sweet variety. The combinations are endless, and it’ll make lunch less bland when you have the opportunity to mix things up.