PONDI FRIED RICE

My family genrally leaves home by 8 a.m. and returns by 5 p.m., whether it is to go to work or go to school. Which is a good thing................lunch is prepared in the morning and packed into bite-sized portions. A few snacks and munchies are also added.

Breakfast and lunch are the main meals of the day; foods that we need to keep ourselves going and performing well at work and studies. It's got to be nutritious, fresh and appetizing! The trick to doing this, according to me, is keeping it short and simple...........

Most of the food options in the lunch box have their origins in memories of my own lunch box during my school years- fond reminiscences of Mum's cooking. An abiding interest in food developed; hectic years of preparing for a professional career heightened, instead of hampering, the intensity with which I view eating- and eating healthy. Yes, Mum did remark "What is the use of earning money if you can't sit down and enjoy your food?"

Pondi fried rice is terrific when eating piping hot, and good even when eaten cold out of the box.

1 cup Ponni boiled rice- cooked al dente, tossed with salt, turmeric and red chilli powder
3 eggs-scrambled
Prawns- lightly fried in a little oil with mustard seeds, curry leaves, salt, ginger-garlic paste and sambar masala
A salad of tomatoes, cucumber and onion