Makes 4 Servings

Ingredients

• 1 cup pesto-filled dried tortellini*
• 3/4 cup frozen shelled edamame, thawed
• 3/4 cup canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup lightly toasted sliced almonds
• 3 tablespoons Italian salad dressing

*I used small, dried, pesto-filled tortellini for this recipe. If you use fresh or frozen tortellini, use enough so your cooked yield is 2 cups. From there, mix in the remaining ingredients.

Directions

1. Cook the pasta according to package directions. Five minutes before it’s done, stir in the edamame. Drain in a colander, place in a bowl, and cool (on the counter or in the fridge).
2. When the pasta comes to room temperature or cooler, add the chickpeas, cranberries, almonds, and salad dressing. Stir to combine. Season with kosher salt and pepper to taste.
3. Before packing into a lunchbox, you may want to add an additional teaspoon of the dressing.

Nutrition Information per Serving (1 cup): 330 calories, 13g fat (2g saturated, 0.2g omega-3), 530mg sodium, 42g carbohydrate, 3g fiber, 12g protein, 15% vitamin C, 10% calcium, 10% iron

This recipe is versatile. You can use any bean or nut that your kids like, add just about any vegetable, add cubes of Cheddar cheese or crumbled feta, or toss in some cooked chicken, shrimp, or beef.

Credits

Recipe Created by Liz Weiss, MS, RD, co-author, No Whine with Dinner: 150 Healthy, Kid-Tested Recipes from The Meal Makeover Moms