Is it a Meal?

Without rice it's not a meal.

This popular saying in Colombia may explain why in some families two or three meals a day include rice!

We just sat down to eat our lunch.  While enjoying our vegetarian lasagna and salad the front door was jarred by someone knocking.
Nelson left his food, went to the window and began talking to the two men.
It was evident that they are part of a foundation that helps men with a new beginning while leaving their life-style of drug addiction.
After working all morning they were now hungry and wanted to know if we could provide a meal for them.
Would our rice-less lunch be considered a "meal"? 
Nelson placed two large portions of the vegetarian lasagna on plastic plates and presented it to them.
They sat down on a step outside our window and began eating lunch.  We smiled at their comments.

• " It's lasagna" 
• "It has vegetables and everything.
•  "It's made good!" 

Hmmm maybe it can be a meal without rice?