On most workdays, lunch to This Blonde is like what “getting caught in a rainstorm without an umbrella when you are running late to an important meeting” is to everyone else: an annoying and unexpected interruption, but part of life. While I am a Blonde, I am not one of those Blonde “Ladies Who Lunch.” My working schedule is too busy for that! I’m a breakfast and dinner girl, not a luncher. Well, not usually. That said, we do need our midday fuel. And sometimes, business lunches are unavoidable. And occasionally, when working from home, I do prepare something a little more substantial than my usual in-office fix. And very occasionally, I choose to indulge in a special dejeuner with special people.
This Blonde Doesn’t Always Have Time for Lunch
I often prefer to work through lunch, rather than take the time for a formal meal. Every midday tends to bring a surprise to This Blonde’s professional life so lunch tends to be either a luxury or an inconvenience. I keep my office cabinets well stocked with raw almonds, raw cashews, fresh raisins, sesame bars, natural dark chocolate and protein bars. My office fridge usually contains at least two vanilla designer protein shakes, several pints of Greek non-fat yogurt and four cartons of coconut water. The contents of my purse often include a small plastic bag of raw almonds or cashews, which are occasionally mixed with chopped prunes or raisins (when needed!). In a pinch, there’s a GNC or chain pharmacy in most business districts if you can’t get to a great gourmet or natural market. I find that This Blonde’s protein packed breakfast menus fuel me for a good 5 – 7 hours of work with my fortifying snack tricks.
So for This Blonde, lunch can be a very basic experience, and it usually is. Just a refueling. As I said, I find it often to be an interruption that is physically necessary to good health, but also a disruption of my creative juices if I truly partake. Sometimes, when it is time for lunch and I am in the midst of a major deal, I feel like a ballerina forced to stop mid-pirouette.
Although when I don’t have pressing business matters, if there’s time for a leisurely lunch, I can enjoy a midday meal as much as the next Blonde!
This Blonde’s Business Lunch
From time to time, a business luncheon can be informative and very nourishing intellectually, but This Blonde rarely mixes business with pleasure.. rarely….but there are always exceptions. There are definitely times when real communication and future business opportunities can more readily ensue in a relaxed environment with great food than in an office or boardroom. A business meal in an office during productive work time still requires a pause if it’s more than green juices, protein shakes or nuts. It must be eaten while sitting down in a clean area, separate from where you are working – even if it means just clearing a space at the opposite side of your desk. Preferably it should not be at a desk in the presence of, or over, working papers, but at some less frenzied location. And it should be light eating in order to allow the “train” to get right back on track and quickly able to pick up momentum. This is also a time to hydrate hydrate hydrate -ginger tea, green tea, fresh lemon or even crisp watermelon in cool water served in a simple glass pitcher is easy to prepare but moreover beautiful, delicious and healthy. I like to take every opportunity to transform ordinary to extraordinary.
Sometimes breaking bread with team members on a project in the office helps create a special bonding, a think tank atmosphere and that new distanced eye on a particular aspect of the work that can only happen in an environment of open hearts, clear minds and healthy refueling. And even a mini break should be free of the interruption of phone calls. Sadly, This Blonde knows that telecommunications-free lunches are almost nonexistent.
When dining in a restaurant with a business associate or other contacts, all aspects of a non-business lunch (indicated in the following section) apply, with one major exception. This Blonde may have a glass of wine during lunch with a friend or lover, but I never indulge when conducting business at a meal. It’s no longer the days of Mad Men in the corporate world of 2014.
The Leisurely Blonde Lunch
This is rare. This is special. This is for the days when This Blonde has no immediate project, deadline or stressful meeting afterwards. This is an enviable leisurely midday meal, preferably taken after 1 PM. This is a glamorous treat, an indulgence.
For This Blonde, it’s an opportunity to play dress-up (which can mean wearing jeans, high boots and a groovy vest, as well as being attired in a sexy and flirtatious daytime dress or that handsome business suit that was on-call all morning) and it’s always set somewhere spectacular. I take my locations as seriously as I take my nourishment- physically, emotionally, and psychologically. Spending time with friends or loved ones (or even rendezvousing with a lover) is best done in a pretty place, with excellent cuisine.
Whether personal or professional, lengthy lunches have strict rules. Restaurant dining, once you get the hang of it, can be like having your own private chef. I’ve yet to experience a situation where This Blonde can’t charm, cajole or worry even the most uptight staff into doing things the inner Blonde way. In fact, even the most celebrated chef is aware of food allergies, healthy living choices and diet regimes and most restaurants include enough choices to make it effortless. This Blonde always opts for the same simple and “Nude” (sauceless) experience which I partake in during my everyday life. I do use restaurants to indulge in favorite foods I don’t make at home often, like my beloved French fries (always requested with no salt), some great wine and the basic white dessert (all whipped or simple cream). The most amazing part is over the last 25 years, This Blonde’s style of eating and living hasn’t changed one bit, but back in the day, people would often question, “Are you a rabbit? What’s with all those greens? ” Even a protein-based entrée, such as a simple grilled rare salmon with sautéed greens, was considered an unusual main course choice as opposed to the greasy hamburgers, thick breaded sandwiches and empty calorie pastas my peers usually indulged in.
One of the many great things about getting older (I promise there are some!) is if you trust yourself, beat to your own drum and constantly study and strive to be and know more, you won’t go wrong. You feel better, you get better. I have often found, when the very things I’ve been doing forever become “en vogue”, it’s just the universe saying “You go girl!”
For an intimate meal, perhaps in response to some invitation, lunches with people you care about are a gift and an indulgence in our busy lives. I try to make every moment magical. Whether it’s the location, the timing or a simple gesture like bringing a small but thoughtful gift such as a great book I’ve recently read, an old photograph I think my dining partner would love, or even a home cooked treat beautifully wrapped, it should always have an element of surprise. No matter what, don’t be predictable. Blondes are never predictable! Gifts of time that leave memories far outweigh any physical object, so intimate lunches should be cell, text and email free whenever possible. This is easier said than done but the gift of non-electronic peace is really a great benefit for all of us.
Having shared This Blonde’s state of mind, I invite you to rethink lunch forever. The “midi” or lunchtime meal, as the French call it, for This Blonde, is either a break to refuel and charge the battery before rebooting or another moment to be stolen from our busy lives. We can train ourselves to honor our need to stop and lock into our passion for family, friendships, a lover or an esteemed associate in a setting or surrounding that cooperates.
Outdoor Lunches: This Blonde’s Life Can Be a Picnic!
This Blonde enjoys any excuse to be outdoors in the warm weather! I do love picnics on summer weekends. Sunscreen and hats are strongly advised and Blondes (both fair or dark) should keep in mind that there’s always a leafy tree or some shaded area that can serve to protect our complexions when the weather is lovely and we yearn to dine al fresco. Whether I am lunching upon an elegant wrought iron and glass table in some paradisical setting, seated at a rough-hewn bench in the park, or just inhaling the balmy air from a blanket spread on the ground, This Blonde’s sense of extravagance and attention to detail always prevails. In an outdoor setting especially, we wish to be ever conscious of beautifully prepared yet simple food: a pretty wicker “basket” filled with healthy delights is always a joy-and a mystery- to everyone at a picnic. Some nice summer meals might include: Simple greens with a small portion of tuna, grilled salmon or chicken. Nothing beats that summer classic: slices of mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, and fresh basil, to be drizzled with olive oil on site. A cool bottle of prosecco (or even better yet-a split of champagne) definitely has its charms. As does a generous fresh fruit salad. And a slice of pie, which need not be denied at a summer picnic. Plenty of water should be readily available, of course, as we don’t want to be dehydrated from the heat. Disposable cutlery and bamboo plates are useful. I always favor glass, china and proper silverware, but to accommodate our life outdoors, we make adjustments to allow the romantic to be nurtured. Even a solo picnic with great music, that novel you were meaning to read, or just indulging your secret desire to be a voyeur of beautiful sunbathers, can be recommended. Life is meant to be magical and creating magic just requires the slightest adjustment. Magic is everywhere but until we look for it, we do not see it. As you now know, This Blonde wants every week to have as much magic as a New Year’s Eve, an opening ceremony, or that big Saturday night date.
For the Luxurious Days
This Blonde’s Guide to 365 Days of lunches for home, office, restaurant or outdoors!
Each afternoon, at the start of a meal, sip some hot water and lemon juice. On especially hot days, homemade or all-natural lemonade may be preferable. And always: water, water, water! This Blonde believes water is God’s gift and His tears of joy as he looks down upon our heavenly and divine authenticity. And it’s nice to know that wine is His Creation too….but to be avoided midday while working! Here are some simple recipes for those days when a handy backpack of organic goodies just won’t suffice.
Day 1
- 1/2 wedge iceberg lettuce, chopped fine
- Tomatoes, cucumber, onions optional
- Topped with plain grilled salmon (this blonde likes it grilled or sautéed in olive oil only -no salt (NS). Be specific if you are in a restaurant: claim food allergies if necessary in order to get exactly what you want! I like my salmon black and blue (very rare) but it should be cooked to your own preference.
- Ask for olive oil and fresh lemons on the side, pour and squeeze to taste.
- Steamed or sautéed spinach (in olive oil with garlic)
Day 2
- Chopped kale and romaine mixture (if available )
- Fresh grilled tuna – grilled, with olive oil only (NS)
- Fresh cracked or ground black pepper
- A side of olive oil and lemons to pour and squeeze
- Steamed greens or greens sautéed with garlic and oil
Day 3
- Chopped arugula and parmigiana reggiano (nude – request no dressing- olive oil and balsamic in the side)
- Grilled halibut (NS)
- Greens, steamed or sautéed with garlic and olive oil
Day 4
- Spinach salad nude, covered with a heaping portion of fresh mushrooms – olive oil lemon balsamic on the side
- Grilled asparagus
- 1 hard boiled egg ( try to avoid this meal choice on day when dining on eggs at breakfast)
Day 5
- Large salad of chopped Iceberg lettuce nude
- Chopped onions or shallots to taste
- Green beans
- Chick peas
- Canned tuna in water Olive oil, balsamic, and lemon on the side
Day 6
- 2 slices of seven grain toast
- 1 sliced avocado
- 1 sliced tomato
- Sprinkle with ground or whole sunflower seeds
Day 8
- Chopped Israeli salad (grilled eggplant, humus, chopped cabbage)
- Dressing of tahini, olive oil and lemon
- 1 whole wheat pita
Day 9
- Use this recipe on any day you feel the need to cleanse:
- Any vegan based green soup or fresh homemade mostly green gazpacho soup (NS)
- Green juice (kale, ginger, celery, cucumber and green apples)
- Fresh cold sliced celery, green peppers, and green beans for munching
Day 10
- Large bowl of fresh ribboned or chopped baby kale salad
- Fava beans, black beans, chick peas Olive oil and lemon (NS)
Day 11
- Tossed mixed salad nude (olive oil, lemon, herbs and pepper on the side,NS)
- Grilled skinless chicken breast (with a sprinkling of olive oil only) or filet of sole – (This Blonde rarely eats meat or poultry – unless she has purchased and prepared it herself.)
- Sautéed or steamed greens
Day 12
- A Large Pinkberry or other frozen yogurt with any topping. You know you need it!
Day 13
- Vegetarian Nude and Easy Soup, with chick peas (recipe to follow)
- Large shredded and chopped cabbage slaw salad with whole garlic infused olive oil and fresh squeezed lemon (to taste)
Day 14
- Large spinach salad chopped (NS)
- Fresh mushrooms chopped
- Flaked canned tuna (in water)
- 1 slice of toasted whole wheat bread
Day 15
- Grilled chicken breast or salmon filet over chopped romaine lettuce (NS)
- Garlic infused EVO and fresh squeezed lemon juice
- Sautéed spinach or grilled brussel sprouts
Day 16
- Chopped chicken, salmon or halibut filet, simply grilled or oven roasted Sauté or wok with olive oil, cashews ( of course only for people with no nut allergies)
- Snap peas, mushrooms, onions ( to taste ), and sliced chopped zucchini (NS)
Day 17
- Turkey, tuna or salmon burger
- On one scooped whole wheat bun or toast Veganaise or light mayonnaise with chipotle (jalapeno) or wasabi to taste, and a dollop of ketchup (NS)
- Fresh coleslaw
Day 18
- Green vegetable based vegetarian soup
- Fresh green salad
- Fresh lemonade with maple syrup, cayenne and natural non sugar substitute
Day 19
- Egg white omelet with spinach, mushroom, tomatoes, onion and peppers (only on days without breakfast eggs)
- Whole wheat crackers
- 2 tsp humus
Day 20
- Zucchini pasta (boiled thinly sliced zucchini or spaghetti squash to replicate pasta)
- A side of fresh tomato sauce made with rough cut tomatoes or garlic and Mushrooms, sautéed in EVO oil
- 1 tsp. fresh grated parmigiana reggiano cheese
Day 21
- Crudités of fresh cut carrots, celery, and cucumbers
- ¼ cup fresh Guacamole or 1/2 of a sliced or mashed avocado
- 2 tbsp humus
Day 22
- ½ fresh medium eggplant, with a small portion melted parmigiana cheese on top, grilled Sautéed spinach
Day 23
- 2 poached eggs
- Whole wheat toast well done
- Sliced tomato and cucumber
Day 24
- This Blonde’s Original Salad Nicoise: Generous serving of butter or romaine lettuce Grilled or canned tuna Sliced onions Olive oil and lemon on the side (NS)
Day 25
- ½ cup of black beans with diced onions
- ½ sliced or mashed avocado
- Grilled salmon nude filet with only a drop of olive oil, squeezed with lemon
- A small salad of romaine and butter lettuce (mixed greens), a handful of walnuts and….
- This Blonde’s Favorite Dressing: 1 or 2 finely chopped cloves of garlic, fresh squeezed lemon and ½ – 1 cup olive ( put in freezer for 5 minutes )
Day 26
- Grilled vegetables nude with just a brushing of oil Sliced and Chopped red cabbage – with This Blonde’s favorite dressing (garlic, lemon, olive oil)
- Lentil Soup:
- This Blonde’s Lentil Soup Recipe: 1 cup of lentils 2 medium onions 1 celery heart diced 1 and 1/2 quarts of water Salt and pepper 1/4 cup tomato salsa 2 tsp.white wine vinegar or hot sauce Olive oil for sautéing onions Black pepper Wash lentils with cold water, place in clean cold water, cover, soak for 1-3 hours, and drain Sauté the onions and celery in olive oil in the soup pot Add the lentils, water, tomatoes, and salsa. Bring to a boil and simmer for 1-2 hrs. Prior to serving, add the vinegar or hot sauce for a bit of a kick
Day 27
- Grilled chicken breast Broccoli sautéed with olive oil, minced garlic and pine nuts. (If you prefer your broccoli more tender, submerge the broccoli in boiling water for up to four minutes prior to sautéing)
Day 28
- Homemade chunky vegetable soup with chickpeas
- Chopped iceberg salad with chopped tomatoes and crumbled blue cheese – olive oil and lemon
Day 29
- Spicy vegan black bean soup with cilantro and green Tabasco sauce
- Baby arugula salad with lemon and oil (balsamic optional)
Day 30
- Baby kale salad with canned tuna (in water ) and white beans, lemon and olive oil on the side
Day 31
- 2 egg omelet with spinach, tomatoes, broccoli, mushrooms and goat cheese
- 2 Whole wheat cracker thins
Day 32
- This Blonde’s version of a BLT is a TLA: tomato, lettuce, avocado, with chipotle mayonnaise or Vegenaise, sprouts and toasted sunflower seeds on whole grain toast. A fried egg may be added for more protein
Day 33
- Spicy red cabbage and quinoa
- With This Blonde’s Soy Salad Sauce:
- 2 tsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp no salt soy sauce
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp safflower, grape seed or canola oil
- Dash of chili pepper
