Tips for Healthy & Tasty Salads

Salads are boring…! They’re not satisfying and I have no idea how to make them healthy AND taste good. Unless you cover it with dressing, cheese and croutons…in that case it’s delicious!
Do you feel this way?!

So many people think of salads as a  “diet food” or something that only “healthy people eat”. Salads don’t have to be boring OR loaded with calories either!

So how do you create a healthy salad?
My Technique & Tips:

Base of fresh organic greens (the darker the color & more variety, the better!)
High quality lean protein
At least 3 different types of veggies (hopefully lot of colors here!)
1-2 healthy fat options

Remember to:

Be conscious of salad dressings. Many are filled with inflammatory vegetable oils & loaded with calories. My favorite “dressing” is some lemon & balsamic or red wine vinegar!

Watch the portions of the healthy fats and stick to 1 or 2 options. Many load up their salad with nuts, seeds, oil as dressing, cheese etc. and what started as a healthy light option turned into a very calorie dense meal! A healthy portion is 1-2 tbsp.

Here are some of my favorite ways to spice up salads 🥗

Produce Options:
Roasted beets
Roasted (and warmed!) veggies like asparagus & brussel sprouts
Radishes for crunch
Broccoli sprouts (SO amazing for you!)
CLE Kraut Beet or Dill Sauerkraut
Roasted bell peppers
Artichoke hearts
Mild banana peppers
Fresh strawberries or blueberries

Healthy Fats/Carbs:
Chickpeas, black or white beans
Olives
Hardboiled egg
Pumpkin or sunflower seeds
Sliced almonds or walnuts
Goat or feta cheese
Avocado

Proteins:
Chicken breast
Shrimp or fish filet
Deli turkey
Organic tofu or tempeh

Greens:
Organic spring mix, 50/50 mix, spinach red leaf lettuce, microgreens, arugula, sweet baby or butter lettuce

The best salads have a mix of different textures, color & combo of veggies : protein and fat

Salad Ideas:

1️⃣Cucumber, tomato, shredded carrots, sauerkraut, radish, black olives or avocado, egg

2️⃣Roasted peppers, tomato, sauerkraut, cucumber, chickpeas, kalamata olives, feta cheese, avocado

3️⃣Fresh berries, Beets, crushed walnuts or sliced almonds, goat cheese

4️⃣Fresh bell peppers, tomato, cucumber, black olives, feta, fresh lime & cilantro, salsa, avocado or guacamole as dressing

Curious about nutrition and how to make healthy eating enjoyable AND a lifestyle? Send me a message below!