Lunch: Wraps & Other Possibilities

      Although  I think that dinner is the meal with the most possibilities, lunch can be interesting too though. Maybe I feel that way because dinner is usually what people spend the most time on and have the most time to devote to. During the day people need meals that are quick to put together and to eat. Wraps are a great option.
       I use restaurant style flour tortillas for my wraps. They came in many varieties such as super soft and medium soft and whole wheat tortillas are also available.

Almost California Chicken Wrap
        The first wrap is loosely based off of what is called the California Chicken Wrap. There are many versions of this already and I changed it even more to make it my own. I encourage you to do the same, with this and anything I put up. The most common versions of the California Chicken Wrap include sliced tortillas, deli chicken, avocado, lettuce, tomato, Monterey Jack cheese, red onion, and ranch dressing.

       The ingredients I used were:

• Tortillas
• Tomato
• Deli Sliced Buffalo Chicken
• Mustard
• Deli American Cheese

      Once I have my tortilla laid out on my plate the first thing I put on it is my condiment. In this case mustard. Then I added the chicken, cheese, and tomato. And that's it. If you like you can then warm it in the microwave in order for the cheese to melt a little.

Tomato, Basil, and Mozzarella

        This is one of my favorite things to have for lunch. It is very simple yet tasty and refreshing. All of the ingredients are very easy to get in the U.S. but the first time I had this was actually in Europe. I liked it some much that I decided to incorporate it into my diet and have it for lunch quite often. I tried this sandwich because I needed a quick lunch while sightseeing in London and did not want anything with mayonnaise on it. I was pleasantly surprised and did not realize how much I would like this until I had it. The first one I had was on a toasted baguette, and it did go nicely, but any type of bread works. 

And here are the ingredients although it is pretty self explanatory.

• Bread (baguette, tortilla, or other)
• Olive Oil
• Fresh Basil Leaves
• Tomato
• Mozzarella 

        First lay out your bread or tortilla on your plate. You can toast the bread a little first if you would like. Cut the tomato and mozzarella into the size slices that you desire. Drizzle some olive oil on your bread or tortilla and spread it out is you need to. Layer the mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil leaves  in the center. Then roll it up is you are making a wrap. The last step is to cut it in half.

BLT

        BLTs are very delicious but I always forget about them and I'm sure other people do as well. Bacon is not one of the most healthy foods but you can use turkey bacon instead or Canadian bacon which has less fat than regular bacon. There are also organic options for bacon. Bacon cooked in the microwave is actually better for you than bacon fried on the stove. Microwave cooked bacon has less calories and less fat. Here is a link to more info if you would like specifics http://www.livestrong.com/article/318946-the-calories-in-microwave-vs-pan-fried-bacon/. The directions for cooking it in the microwave are on the package. Usually what you do is put some of the bacon between layers of paper towels on a plate or a certain type of tray and cook it for whatever time it says to on the package. Once those pieces are done transfer them to another plate and put new paper towels and bacon on the other plate and microwave them. Repeat this process until all the bacon is done.
       What you will need:

• Bacon
• Lettuce
• Tomato
• Bread (tortilla or other)
• Mayonnaise, Mustard, or a different condiment

      Start with you bread or wrap and spread any condiment of your choosing on it. Then add the rinse your lettuce and put it on the sandwich, then add your tomato slices, and finally the cooked bacon.

Caesar Wrap 
       This one is pretty well known but I thought I'd include it anyway. I think this wrap is so delicious and refreshing. Wraps are great for the warmer weather. They are quick to prepare and the ingredients are usually very fresh and just out of the refrigerator. Having one for lunch can be great. Including chicken makes a Caesar wrap even better. It is more filling and the wrap then becomes a better source of protein.
       Ingredients:

• Tortilla
• Lettuce (Romaine, Ice Berg, etc.)
• Parmesan Cheese
• Caesar Dressing
• Chicken
• Croutons (optional)

Start with your tortilla on you plate and add your Caesar Dressing. Then add the lettuce, cheese, and chicken. Tyson Grilled and Ready Chicken is a great option and can be cooked in the microwave.

Tips      
 In order to have a more complete meal serve your wrap or sandwich with a side of fruit. Also try Sun Chips or Popchips instead of other kinds of chips because these two are healthier options.Using wheat bread or wheat tortillas can be another way to make your meal more healthy.

Salads
Many of the above can be turned into salads and some wraps have the exact same ingredients as their salad counterparts. I think the most obvious one is the Caesar. Caesar wrap to a Caesar salad. Many people already put bacon bits in their salad and salads already have tomatoes and lettuce, its the same meal just in a different form. All you have to do is decide on what dressing to use for the salad version. The tomato, basil, and mozzarella is very similar to a Caprese salad. This is a very simple salad although the name might suggest otherwise. It is Italian and actually named after Capri. This salad is commonly used as an appetizer and all it is, is alternating layers of tomato and mozzarella slices. You can put basil leaves in between them or on top of them. Then you can either use olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Some people prefer balsamic dressing, it is up to you.