The Resurgence of the Diet Plate 2.0

I can clearly and very happily recall my visits Hollywood, Florida and dining with my Grandparents at such restaurant icons as the Rascal House and Pumpernink's. I can see the menus, the waitresses, (they were called waitresses back then-not servers as they are today) the pickle buckets on the tables and the deli meats in the case. (it's there that I first saw tongue--complete with taste buds and little hairs coming out of them-I shudder as I write this). I can also see the rolls and sweet n lows that somehow made it into my Nana's purse each time.

One item that I also recall clearly was the "diet plate". Usually, it consisted of a pale, limp piece of lettuce topped with a huge tomato and a scoop of cottage cheese or tuna salad in the center. Sometimes, it came with a plain hamburger patty. (pre Atkins-no bun days) While I never ordered the diet plate, I assume that many did because it stayed on the menu year after year after year. It certainly was a diet plate-could have also been called a restriction plate or unappealing plate.

I just finished my own version of the diet plate, however, I like to refer to it as a little taste of summer. I started out with a huge East Texas tomato and topped it with about 3/4 of a cup of lowfat Lactaid cottage cheese. Add lettuce or basil if you'd like. Top with a tablespoon or two of sunflower seeds and that was lunch.

Why do I love this? Easy:
1. Protein, carbs, dairy, seeds, vegetable and healthy fat..all out of 3 simple ingredients.
2. Pennies per serving
3. Cool and refreshing--it's about 100 here and about 4000 % humidity
4. Great way to use up surplus tomatoes
5. Easy way to get seeds into the diet-provides a great crunch to this dish
6. It looks beautiful-remember we eat with our eyes first
7. Portable for the office-bring each separately and assemble when ready
8. Versatile-eat as is or top on a piece of whole wheat toast, English muffin or a whole wheat cracker

A Little Taste of Summer
1 large tomato (homegrown, if possible)
1/2-3/4 cup low fat cottage cheese
1-2 T sunflower seeds
lettuce or basil, chopped, if desired

Assemble and serve!

Photo: www.eattoenjoy.com