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Healthy Creative Salads
Creative salads are a great way to fit all the food groups in one bowl.Use my simple "salad formula" and the chart below to create an endless number of salad recipes. Use my suggestions if you don't want to make up your own! Skip right to the examples of creative salads. Choose from a selection of FREE meal planners to help organize and plan your meals in advance.Salad Formula - 1-2 types of lettuce/salad greens +
- 1-3 additional veggies (to save time, use precut or jarred vegetables, or veggies that don't require chopping...cherry tomatoes, baby corn, artichoke hearts. etc.)+
- 1 fruit* +
- 1-2 protein sources** +
- 1 healthy fat
Creative Salads Notes: - *Fruits: chop, shred, or thinly slice apples and pears
- **Protein Sources:
- Chicken: use (leftover) grilled or prepared rotisserie chicken to speed preparation
- Fish: use (leftover) poached or grilled salmon, canned salmon, grilled or canned tuna, defrosted precooked frozen shrimp
- Cheese: use nonfat or lowfat varieties
Quick Menu Suggestions | Type of Lettuce Pick 1-2 from list | Additional Veggies Pick 1-3 from list | Fruit Suggestions Pick 1-2 from list | Protein Sources Pick 1-2 from list | Healthy Fat Pick 1 from list | | "Mellow Greens:" baby spinach bibb lettuce Boston lettuce red leaf lettuce romaine spring mix "Stronger Greens:" arugula Belgian endive cabbage:green,red radicchio watercress | beets carrots: shredded or sliced cherry tomatoes cucumbers edamame mushrooms: portabello, shiitake, button, etc. peppers: green, red, yellow, orange radishes red onion scallions snow peas Don't Forget About Jarred Veggies: artichoke hearts baby corn roasted red peppers | apple slices blackberries blueberries dried fruit: (cherries, cranberries, dates, figs, raisins, etc.) grapefruit slices grapes: red or green mandarin oranges orange segments peach slices pear slices pineapple pomegranite seeds raspberries strawberries | beans: garbanzo, black beans, white beans, kidney beans,etc. cheddar cheese chicken goat cheese gouda cheese hard boiled eggs mozzarella cheese salmon tuna sardines | almonds olives avocado pecans pine nuts pistachios pumpkin seeds sunflower seeds walnuts | |
Dress Creative Salads With: Zero Fat/Low Calorie - salsa
- lemon juice
- lime juice
- balsamic vinegar
- red wine vinegar
- rice wine vinegar
Healthy Oils:(These have the advantage over bottled dressings in that they have no sugar, no added chemicals, and no added salt. Use sparingly because they are still 100% fat: - extra virgin olive oil
- flaxseed oil
- organic sesame oil
- organic walnut oil
- organic pumpkin oil
Bottled Dressings Choose nonfat or lowfat. Beware these may be filled with added salt and sugar. Creative Saladsmixed salad greens roasted red bell pepper (jarred) orange slices (leftover) poached salmon (or canned salmon) avocado Dressing: balsamic vinegar
baby spinach beets sliced strawberries (leftover) grilled chicken goat cheese walnuts Dressing: balsamic vinegar and sprinkling of olive oil
mixed salad greens snow peas shredded carrots edamame pineapple chunks chickpeas slivered almonds Dressing: sesame oil
spring mix lettuce red onions, sliced red pear, thinly sliced sliced red grapes lowfat Gouda cheese, shredded pumpkin seeds Dressing: lowfat balsamic vinaigrette
watercress red cabbage, shredded scallions currants grilled chicken pine nuts Dressing: lowfat balsamic vinaigrette
romaine lettuce red and green bell pepper slices mango, cubed black beans lowfat cheddar cheese, shredded avocado or guacamole Dressing: salsa (Optional: top with crushed baked corn tortilla chips)
butter lettuce cherry tomatoes cucumber grapefruit segments garbanzo beans pinenuts Dressing: lowfat raspberry vinaigrette
baby spinach mushrooms red onions sliced strawberries hard boiled egg/hard boiled egg whites Dressing: lemon juice, olive oil and crushed garlic
romaine lettuce tomato cucumber figs, fresh or dried (leftover) grilled chicken reduced fat feta cheese olives Dressing: olive oil and lemon juice
red or green cabbage, shredded carrots, shredded pineapple chunks garbanzo beans sesame seeds Dressing: sesame oil Optional: chopped ginger More of my professional advice you may find helpful: Quick Meals Don't feel like cooking? Try diet meal delivery. Free weight loss help Your Personal Nutrition Guide Home Page
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