Brown-bagging your lunch is a great way to save money and improve your diet.

Look out for recipes that make use of fresh, whole ingredients as well as healthy carbohydrates. For example, the following recipe for Rio Star Grapefruit & Quinoa Salad combines vegetables and citrus fruit with quinoa, a whole grain that supplies a complete protein.

Quinoa is a texture similar to couscous. Fresh grapefruit has vitamins A and C. You can find Texas Rio Star Grapefruit in a red variety. Pick a grapefruit that feels large for its size. That means it’s more juicy.

Rio Star Grapefruit & Quinoa Salad

Four servings

Ingredients:

1 Texas Rio Star Grapefruit. Sectioned and peeled. (Reserve the peel).

1 Texas Orange, sectioned

8 slices of fresh ginger

1/4 cup extra-virgin Olive Oil

3/4 cup quinoa

1/2 teaspoon kosher sea salt plus an additional pinch for seasoning

1 tablespoon white vinegar

2 teaspoons honey

1 small serrano or jalapeno chile, minced

2 scallions, minced

2 carrots, peeled & diced

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves

Freshly ground black pepper

Directions

1. In a small saucepan, heat the olive oil, ginger, and grapefruit peel over medium heat. Once the oil begins to bubble, turn off heat. Let the oil cool down for 30 minutes. Strain the oil and keep it in a container.

2. Rinse and drain the quinoa and then follow the instructions on the pack to cook it. Place the quinoa in a bowl. Use a fork to fluff it. Let cool.

3. 3.Separate the grapefruit in a bowl. In a medium bowl, whisk 3 tablespoons grapefruit juice together with the honey, vinegar and salt to your taste. To make a thin dressing, gradually whisk in 3 tablespoons of the grapefruit oil. You can start with a few drops. Then add the rest slowly in a stream. Season the dish with salt and pepper.

4. Mix the dressing, chiles and scallions with the quinoa. Add the carrots, cilantro, scallions, carrots, and cilantro. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

5. Mix the grapefruit segments into the salad and divide it among four plates. Serve at room temperature or warm.

6. Serving suggestion This salad can be served with salmon grilled on the grill.