Catalina Chicken Salad

This is so simple and especially great on a hot summer day. It's a favorite of mine for days when I have to be running around all afternoon and can have this all ready to just toss on the dinner table. It has such simple ingredients, as well, that I almost always have what I need to throw it together.

1 lb. whole wheat pasta, cooked
1-2 chicken breasts, cubed and cooked (or 1-2 cans chunked chicken)
shredded Parmesan cheese
dark leafy greens, like mixed greens, red or green leaf lettuce, or raw spinach
fat-free Catalina dressing

The whole wheat pasta, full of whole grains and fiber, and lean chicken can be quickly cooked up earlier in the day. A bit of Italian seasoning can be mixed in with the chicken while cooking to add flavor, but the dish stands just fine on its own without. Using canned chicken makes it even easier, as you get to skip the cooking process altogether, but you do get a few additives for the convenience. Toss the pasta and chicken together and put in a covered bowl in the fridge for at least a couple hours. At dinner time, just lay down the pasta mixture on an ample bed of vitamin-rich greens, sprinkle with cheese and drizzle with Catalina. It just doesn't get any easier than that, and you get to feel good that you're offering a balanced meal that even kids will eat! It's great as leftovers or for work lunches, too.