Fit Fridays: Wheat Berry Salad

I wish I could tell you I’ve been super healthy this week, but that would be a lie. In trying to keep our family warm during the blizzard and power outages we survived on comfort food. The chili I made went a long way, but I indulged in other comfort foods and LOTS of coffee & tea. Today I’m determined to get back on the fitness horse. I’m going to balance barre at Balance Studio this morning and we had this yummy Wheat Berry Salad for lunch yesterday.

I first had this salad at my friend’s house. Megan made if for all the moms during a playdate for our little ones. The best part is it is delicious and a quick meal to make.

I had never heard of wheat berries before that lunch. Wheat berries are short, plump whole wheat kernels packed with nutrients. They are loaded with fiber, protein and low in fat. They are pleasantly chewy and add a more filling consistency to a salad than greens. My husband even found this salad filling!

Wheat Berry Salad

– One Cup Uncooked Wheat Berries
– 2 1/2 Cups Water
– Red and Yellow Sweet Peppers, chopped
– European Cucumber, chopped
– Grape tomatoes
– Fontina Cheese, cubed
– Pesto (store bought or home-made)

Wheat Berries

Prepare the wheat berries according to package instructions. Mine said to cook 1 cup of wheat berries in 2 1/2 cups of boiling water for about 15 minutes. The wheat berries should be tender, but chewy. Chop the remaining ingredients and place in a large bowl. Add pesto. I used store bought as I was in a rush and didn’t have all the ingredients to make homemade pesto. If you have time, I love Giada’s Pesto. Toss to combine and serve!