Well, howdy there, Vicki,

Lunch is right there in the middle o' the day when yer body is jes itchin' fer a pick-me-up. Now dependin' on yer activity 'er yer metabolism, you'll be the best judge o' quantity. Here's some o' what I like ta fix:

1. Slice up some extra firm tofu and marinate the slices in a tamari and lemon juice marinade fer anywhere between an hour 'er overnight. Then fix yerself a sandwich with as many slices of the marinated tofu as you want, and add tomatoes, lettuce, sprouts, sliced cucumbers, whole basil leaves, 'er mint leaves. A little Dijon mustard or veggie mayo on yer whole grain bread adds a bit o' punch too. Now, that's a tasty sandwich.

   

2. Fix yerself a salad at night fer lunch next day. Start with some extra firm tofu, 'bout a pound, and cut it up inta little chunks. Toss the chunks inta the big fryin' pan, a 12-incher, along with a couple tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, a tablespoon tamari, and a couple tablespoons lemon juice 'er apple cider vinegar. Turn the heat up high, an' stir them tofu chunks with a wooden spoon til they're nice 'n golden. This takes 'bout 5 ta 7 minutes. Use some o' the tofu chunks fer yer salad that ya mix up with chopped veggies and dress it up with a little olive oil, lemon juice, 'n minced garlic. Add a touch o' salt 'n pepper an' yer all set up fer yer next day's lunch fixin's. Set the rest of' the tofu chunks in the fridge fer a different salad a day 'er two down the line.

3. A nice salad startin' with a can o' cooked beans is a real easy fix fer lunch. Jes add some chopped veggies, throw in some chopped nuts, sunflower seeds, 'er pumpkin seeds (make sure they're raw), an' dress it up with yer favorite dressin'. Pack some nice whole-grain crackers er bread an' yer all set.

4. Pack some veggies fer crunchin' like carrots (that's everbody's favorite) an' celery (that's some folks' favorite.) Then try some o' the stuff most folks never pay attention to like turnips, kohlrabi, an' fennel bulb. They're great crunchies with plenty o' vitamins 'n minerals ta give ya energy.

5. Don't ferget some fruit fer yer lunchsack. This season, ya kin hardly beat a nice, crunchy apple er one o' them bosc er anjou pears. A juicy navel orange is mighty good, too. Now the fruit's where ya pick up plenty o' energy an' that important new-fangled word "phytochemicals." It jes means stuff ya can't see but it's in there ta keep ya healthy.

Nowadays, Aunt Nettie just shakes her head and complains, "Nobody cooks anymore. They have no idea about puttin' a meal together." She's on a mission. She wants to help those younguns eat better so they can grow up healthy like her own eight kids.