Eat more raw veggies!  We all know we need to, but sometimes it's hard to figure out how to do that.  The easiest way is by eating a salad, but salads can quickly get boring if you use just lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers.  I'm gonna show you how to add some pizazz your salads so you can eat them every day without getting tired of them. 

Here are five tips for making an exceptional salad:

1. Start with a variety of very fresh produce! 

The best tasting vegetables are the ones that are fresh and in season.  Use a wide variety of vegetables to give the salad more depth of flavor, such as kale, spinach, cucumbers, peas, bell peppers, tomatoes, avocados, onions, jicama, sun-dried tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, celery, olives, sprouts, etc…

2. Add something with crunch!

I love walnuts or slivered almonds in a salad, but you could also put sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, cashews, or gluten free croutons.  Just a handful is all you need. 

3. Add something sweet!

Adding just a small handful of something sweet adds another dimension of flavor, such as dried fruit (craisins, raisins, cherries, etc….) sliced strawberries, grapes, apple chunks, blueberries, pineapple chunks, or even citrus sections. 

4. Add some healthy protein

Whether your protein comes from vegetable sources or clean meats, adding a small amount of protein will make the salad more filling and satisfying.  You can use leftover grilled meat, seafood, crumbled cheese, hard boiled eggs, garbanzo beans, lentils, sprouted beans, or nuts. 

5. Dress it with a healthy salad dressing!

It's so easy to ruin the health benefits of a healthy salad with a commercial salad dressing that contains soybean oil and MSG!  Instead of reaching for that bottle of dressing, make your own!  It only takes a few minutes to put the ingredients together in a jar.

Salad Recipe Ideas

So let's get creative with this!  Here are some tasty combinations that you will love!

Mexican-inspired salad:

Use either spring mix lettuce or romaine and add chopped red bell pepper, tomatoes, avocados, green onions, jicama, cilantro, black beans or pinto beans, salsa, and pumpkin seeds or grilled chicken strips.  Dress with a light lime viniagrette or just use salsa and guacamole for the dressing.

 

My Favorite Salad: On a bed of spring mix, add shredded carrots, chopped avocado, thinly sliced red onion, some sprouts, a handful of walnuts or pecans, a small handful of raisins, and the Creamy Basil Viniagrette below.

 

 

Italian chopped salad: sometimes I get tired of salad greens and I will just chop up various veggies and let them marinate in an Italian dressing for a few hours.  You could use chopped zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, carrots, and some red onion. 

Asian-inspired salad: I love this salad!  Instead of lettuce, use napa cabbage cut into thin ribbons and then add chopped green onion, grated diakon radish, snow or sugar snap peas, grated carrot, mushrooms, mung bean sprouts, and top with some wild-caught broiled salmon and a ginger viniagrette.  Yum! 

Here are some tasty healthy salad dressings to get you started!  My mom made this first recipe and it's so easy and everyone loves it.

Creamy Basil Balsamic Vinaigrette

• 1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
• 2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 tsp. dried basil
• 1/2 tsp. onion powder
• 1/8 tsp. sea salt
• 1 tsp. honey or 4 drops liquid stevia extract
• 2 Tbsp. coconut milk

Combine all ingredients in a glass jar with a tight fitting lid and shake to combine or use a whisk to mix together.  Store in the refrigerator and shake well before using.  Makes 1/2 cup.  Recipe from Vibrant Health by Becky Mauldin.

Ranch Dressing

Do you miss that rich creamy ranch dressing that you used to eat?  Marie sure did, so she created a healthier version of it.  Click here for the recipe.  You can use it as a dip for raw veggies too!

What are your favorite ways to make tasty salads?