When prepared the right way, salads as a main meal or side dish can help you lose weight and keep you satiated. But let’s face it, salads can get boring. Make a salad come to life by adding color. You can do this by mixing a variety of fresh colorful fruits and vegetables. As your base, pick a mix of nutrient dense green leafy vegetables such as kale, spinach, arugula, watercress or romaine lettuce. Purchase fresh vegetables such as red/yellow peppers, grape tomatoes, shredded carrots, red onions, scallions, mushroom or olives, to name a few. In addition, fresh fruits add a spark of flavor. Pick fruits that are in season. Strawberries, blueberries and apple slices are great add-ons. Dried fruits can be substituted for fresh fruits as well. Also, shredded/shaved nuts such as walnuts boost a salad’s protein content. Lastly, adding sprinkles of cheese can elevate the flavor of a salad even more. Feta cheese is a great example.
Be mindful not to sabotage your salad with store brought salad dressings which can add unnecessary calories, salt and additives. Make your own salad dressing.
Get creative the next time you prep your salad. To save time, prep your salad the night before. Grab it to go for your lunch the next day.
