One of my all time absolutely favorite salads is this Black Bean and Corn Salad. It is colorful and full of flavor while also being good for you. Why is this such a healthy salad?

1. Vegetables! There are multiple kinds (and colors) of vegetables in this salad. You may know that you need about 3 servings of vegetables a day. This salad is sure to meet that requirement.
2. Beans! You need to get your protein. And all the better if that protein comes in a animal-free, cholesterol-free form.
3. Olive Oil! Healthy fats are also an important part of your diet. Olive Oil is one of the best fats you can have in your diet.

These are just some of the reasons you should be eating this salad. And if I need to remind you again… it is delicious!

I have also decided to submit this recipes to Waiter, there’s something in my… PULSES. This addition of WTSIM is hosted by Cook Sister. Black beans are legumes (which are pulses). Black beans just so happen to be some of my favorite legumes. If you don’t like them, I still recommend trying this salad. My mom asks me to make this every time I go home for a visit.

So without further ado…

Black Bean and Corn Salad

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup fresh lime juice
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
• 2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 1/2 cups frozen corn kernels
• 1 avocado - peeled, pitted and diced
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 2 tomatoes, chopped, or 1(15 ounce) can of diced tomatoes, drained
• 6 green onions, thinly sliced

Directions

1. Place lime juice, olive oil, garlic, salt, and cayenne pepper in a small jar. Cover with lid, and shake until ingredients are well mixed.
2. In a salad bowl, combine beans, corn, avocado, bell pepper, tomatoes, green onions, and cilantro. Shake lime dressing, and pour it over the salad. Stir salad to coat vegetables and beans with dressing, and serve.

Don’t forget that all recipes on this blog and more can also be found in the Recipe Archive!

This has been a very busy month.  I went apartment hunting in Tennessee, competed in a Mediation competition in Chicago, had two sets of out-of-town guests and the Husband left for the Netherlands.  Now that I have set up the background I can tell you that I fell off the wagon.  I started off staying on track with my eating and exercising.  However, the last week and a half sent me into a downhill spiral of not working out and eat foods that are not the best for me.

April is a new month, which means I can start fresh!  I do want to let you know how I did with my March goals:

1. Read a Motivational Book: Consider that done!  I finished A Complaint Free World which is a great book (and corresponding wrist band) that helps you live a complaint-free life.  Love the idea, got the band, and we will see how long I can go without complaining.
2. Reach March Goal Weight:  I know I have not done this one.  I was down to 155 by the end of Spring Break.  But then Chicago came (with Garret’s Popcorn) and the house guests (lot’s of eating out) so I am sure I did not drop the last 2.  I probably actually gained a bit.  I won’t know until tomorrow when I weigh in again.
3. Exercise Outside:  This was definitly accomplished.  I have been out hiking twice this past month and took one of my workouts outside.
4. Move Faster:  I have previously posted that I can now jog 3.5 miles non-stop.  My best time right now is 44 minutes.

So 3 out of 4 is not bad.  I am proud that I was able to accomplish so much.  By the end of the week, I will be posting my April goals, so stay tuned!