Every athlete has a favorite meal, and dressage gold medallist Yvonne Losos de Muniz, of Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic, is no exception. Her favorite meal before competing? Chick Pea Salad.

“I used to eat a big meal the night before competing, then I’d be so tired the next day,” she says. “So I started eating chick pea salad every night before competitions. It healthy and filling, but it doesn’t make you too lethargic.”

Champion Chick-Pea Salad
• Canned chick peas (garbanzo beans)
• Diced cucumbers
• Diced onions
• Diced green peppers
• Lemon dressing
Mix well, refrigerate if desired, and serve!
Garbanzo beans are a good source of iron, are low in sodium and fat, naturally cholesterol-free and high in fiber.

Editor’s note: if you develop a taste for chick pea salad, email editor@ecmagazine.net, and we’ll send you the recipe for the little-known garbanzo bean burgers!