Don’t sit and Chickpea Mix Salad with Yogurt Ranch Style Dressing

I’m a huge fan of Huffington Post.  The other day on Huffington Post Healthy Living, an article offered six reasons not to sit all day.  See if you agree.

1. Diabetes:  Can be increased by prolonged sitting which amounts to inactivity, hence weight gain, result diabetes. *My interpretation.

2. Increased overall death risk:  Sitting more than 6 hours per day decreases your life span.

3.  Life expectancy decreases with increased television viewing.  For every hour in front of the TV, life expectancy is reduced by 22 minutes.  Do the math, it’s scary!

4.  Cancer:  Activity to elevate the heart rate, such as a brisk walk, can reduce cancer risk.  Breast and colon cancer have been linked to inactivity.

5.  “BBS”:  BIG  BOTTOM  SYNDROME.  Up to 50% more fat diverted to your bottom to accommodate the weight bearing part of the body.

6.   Raises Heart Attack Risk:  54% more likely to suffer cardiac problems.

Another Chick pea salad

A healthy option for a quick meal.

Serves 4

• 16 oz Chick peas, drained and rinsed
• 6 oz crab meat  (use chicken if you don’t eat shell fish)
• 5 oz tuna, drained (don’t eat tuna? omit and just use chicken)
• 1 large celery stalk, washed and chopped small
• 1/4 cup Vidalia onion, chopped small
• 12 – 14 chopped, black olives
• 2 TBS chopped carrot
• 2 TBS chopped red bell pepper
• 3/4 cup Prepared Yogurt Ranch Style Dressing*
  • 3/4 cup plain, Greek style yogurt
  • 1 TBS whole grain prepared mustard
  • 1 TBS chopped parsley
  • 1 tsp dill
  • 1/2 tsp garlic salt
  • 1/4 tsp paprika
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • pinch of salt (you can add more after you mix with the other ingredients, if needed)
  • 2 tsp fresh lime juice
  • 3/4 tsp cumin
  • 2 tsp Old Bay Seasoning
• 4 cups fresh torn lettuce and/or baby spinach leave or mix them up.
• OPTIONAL:  I added 1 TBS of oil from a jar of sun dried tomatoes.

Combine crab, tuna, chick peas, celery, onion, olives, carrot, pepper.

In a separate bowl, mix the all the ingredients for the Yogurt Ranch Style Dressing.

Mix the dressing gently into the chickpea mixture.  If you want to add the oil from sun dried tomatoes, stir it in now.

Place 1 cup of lettuce mix on each plate.  Top with even portions of chick pea mix salad.

I’m not sure how to photograph a salad like this and make it look really good.  Believe, it WAS good!

It’s the start of a new week.  Let it be good