Mediterranean-Style CousCous & Fruity Tuna Salad - 222 calorie Bento

I visited a new higher-end delicatessen that opened a couple of weeks ago in my neighbourhood. The food look absolutely amazing - the prices were not! I took notice of what they had in the display counter and replicated some of them at home. Way less expensive, and more control on the added salt. Every little bit helps!

Bento Content:

• Mediterranean-Style CousCous (98)
• Fruity Tuna Salad (90)
• Pommegranate Arils (17)
• Campari Tomatoes (17)

Total Bento : 222 calories

Salad Trio - 260 calorie Bento

This bento is a combination of three totally different types of salad : Taboule, Corn Salad and a twist on a Waldorf Salad. The last one was a salad a fellow MFD'er - Crystal - created and I replicated with my favorite dressing.

Bento Content:

• Caribbean-style Corn Salad (53)
• Taboule (60)
• Salt & Pepper Rice Crisps from Trader Joe's (51)
• Seasoned croutons (27)
• Laughing Cow Light Wedge (35)
• Crystal's Waldorf Salad (34)

Total Bento : 260 calories

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The Waldorf salad: Granny Smith apples, celery, pomegranate arils and Bolthouse farms Parmesan Caeser dressing.

The Caribbean-Sytle Corn Salad : Corn Kernels, red onion, cilantro stems, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, Sour orange juice (or lime juice with a little bit of orange juice), salt & pepper.

Mediterranean Mix - 297 calorie Bento

Every once in a while I indulge in Gyros - yes, I know, but I can't help giving in sometimes. But, I've discovered that from one order I can eat a few times! Have you seen the amount of meat those platters have? And to think I would eat the whole thing without a whimper - now, enough for a few times. Ah...things change!

My Mom would make Taboule from scratch when I was little. A lot of work, let me tell you! All the bulgur soaking, and then the squeezing until not a drop of water was visible. Then the chopping - wowie. Well, she still does it but not very often...I wonder why? I don't mind the chopping - I find it to be very soothing - but I do mind the soaking and squeezing of the bulgur. Reminds me of Potato Latkes - the squeezing of the grated potatoes. Yikes!

Well, I found the Near East Taboule mix in the supermarket and it turned out to be a very close match to the regular bulgur - except for the squeezing part! Eureka! Don't tell my Mom......I still use the rest of the veggies and I still do chop them, so I don't feel so much of a traitor. Somewhat.

In this bento, I added some pomegranate arils that weren't very red, but hey - pomegranate is pomegranate - I love it anyway I can have it!

Bento Content:

• Taboule (63)
• Pomegranate arils (13)
• Grape Tomatoes (21)
• Mini-Pitas with Gyro meat & spinach (200)

Total Bento = 297 calories