How to Build a Better Salad
Updated: Jun 15, 2020
Here’s why your salad is boring:
You didn’t want to eat it, so when you made it, you were feeling bored and uninspired.
You didn’t add any fun or unusual ingredients.
You didn’t make it the way your favorite lunch spot makes it and...wait.
Why is that?
You SHOULD be making awesome salads just the way you like them!
Here are a few of my favorite ways to make a delicious salad (hold the boring)!
Greens
Chop your greens!
Bunch them up and chop on a cutting board or just rip it up in your hands a bit for the quick fix.
Doing this ensures equal portions of greens and toppings in each bite.
Who wants to try to fold a giant piece of spinach into their mouth? Not you, and not me. Eating healthy should be easy...so chop it up!
Sweet
Fruit or dried fruit adds something sweet and brings a variety of flavors into your salad.
Try: dried cranberries, blueberries, chopped apples, mandarin oranges, pineapple, or grapes.
Crunchy
Crunchy toppings contrast the soft greens and are so delicious!
Try: chopped nuts or almond slices, tortilla chip pieces, edamame, corn, roasted chickpeas, or seeds.
Starch/Grain
Adding a starchy item or a grain will increase satiety and make your salad feel more like a full meal and less like a snack.
Try: roasted butternut squash, quinoa, whole wheat rotini, or roasted sweet potatoes.
Dressing
Pick a dressing you actually love and will be excited to eat!
If you love ranch and that’s the only way you’ll enjoy a salad my goodness just use the ranch! Beware of portion size though. That will be a calorie bomb to your day if you use too much.
A lighter option: olive oil + lemon juice.
Toss
Spread your dressing and toppings all around, baby!
To-go containers make tossing super simple - add dressing, put the lid on, and shake it like crazy!
Boring: Romaine, chicken, red onion, cherry tomatoes, Italian dressing.
Better: Romaine, chicken, red onion, edamame, mandarin oranges, sesame dressing.
Let me know which toppings and tips you enjoy!
YDF,
Lindsey