How to make a healthy salad?

Ilovepeppers

I know that dressing isn't the healthiest thing in the world (mine has only 30 cals but 330 sodium!) but I like salads. Fir now I've just been mixing iceburg with spinach leaves and some cilantro.. I think I'd like to add veggies and stuff now but I have no idea what goes well together... My dressing of choice is ranch if that helps any!

Dtrmnd86

I love cubed avocado,but it can be very high in calories. I use raw mushrooms, diced red/green peppers, red onions, and sometimes kale mixed with the lettuce.

MissMegan3119

Try variations to see what you like best! I love just about any in a salad, especially with summer and all the great farmers markets. Good luck and good ratings!

MisdemeanorM

I like lettuce with lots of tomatoes, onion, some crutons and shredded cheese and lemon juice as the dressing. I also really like chicken on it - unfortunately I prefer battered chicken, but overall it's still healthy. Ooh, sunflower seeds are great on this combo too!

lilwashee

you know what i found is really good is mothers maid low sodium vegetarian beans of course u wash them first b4 putting them on salad..im a major cheese lover and when i put those on there i dont seem to miss the cheese ..yum

arewethereyet

when I was deep into losing I had a salad system. it gets boring fast, so I mixed it up.

on Sunday I cooked up some grilled chicken breasts, chopped some-left some whole.
chopped:
green peppers
red peppers
carrots
onions
radishes
tomatoes (actually bought the grape ones.......yum)
squash yellow
zucchini
cukes
broccoli
cauliflower

They were in little containers. They disposable glad containers-I used the lunch one with 3 compartments for onions, radishes and the sliced cukes it was perfect!

They I had bagged lettuces or I rinsed and dried the stuff I wanted for the week.

I also would cook up boiled eggs and shrimp to pop in for protien

Each day I had my bowl with my lettuce/spinach............then applied what ever I wanted for the day.

During the summer you can add rasberries, strawberries, blueberries.............

OH and I bought feta cheese, blue cheese

I made my own italian vinagarette dressing.

It was so good. OK thanks, now I will do it this weekend. Thanks for reminding me how much fun it is to make up my salads!!

:flowerforyou:

sjkcarter

I actually just made a strawberry vingrette dressing, and it was pretty good. Today I only had spinach leaves, sunflower seeds and shredded parmesan, but I do like olive, onions, tomatoes. Pretty much veggies you can think of putting in a salad I like.

tbrown1025

I'm digging on this salad these days: fresh spinach leaves, quartered strawberries, crumbled feta, sliced almonds, yellow pepper, and plain & simple balsamic vinegar. Adding chicken would be yummy, too!

I also like a Mediterranean style: spinach leaves, chickpeas, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, kalamata olives, red pepper. With this, I'm happy without dressing, balsamic vinegar, or Trader Joe's Pear Campagne Vinaigrette.

And this: quinoa (instead of lettuce), edamame, protein choice (ie: chicken, tofy, tempeh), zucchini, orange pepper. Drizzle with homemade peanut sauce OR Trader Joe's Spicy Peanut Sauce.

baisleac

http://healthydoesntmeanboring.blogspot.com/2011/06/chicken-tacoburrito-filling.html - Chicken Taco/Burrito filling. One of the pics is the taco "filling" on a bed of lettuce with cheese, tomatoes, and baked low-cal tortillas.

http://healthydoesntmeanboring.blogspot.com/2011/06/greek-salad-dressingvinaigrette.html - Healthy salad dressing

http://healthydoesntmeanboring.blogspot.com/2011/05/mandarin-orange-peanut-sauce.html - Mandarin Peanut Sauce. Shown used over hot beef strips on a bed of lettuce with bell peppers and unsalted peanuts.

Why yes, I do have a recipe blog. [insert cheeky grin]

Another one I haven't posted yet... chicken tenders sauteed with mixed peppers, mushrooms, and goat cheese over a bed of lettuce with tomatoes... no salad dressing needed due to the melty goat cheese.

DonM46

I start with a lot of torn (not cut) iceberg lettuce. Add thinly sliced baby carrots, a little finely chopped onion, thin slices of green bell pepper, diced radishes, thin sliced celery (throw in the leaves on top, too), chunks of tomato (a lot for me, please).
Using thin or small pieces of everything gives you the opportunity to have a little of everything in each bite.
Sprinkle black pepper on the top.
Dressing of choice, but I prefer either Ranch or 1000 Island.
Stir up so the dressing gets evenly distributed on everything.
Garnish with parsley flakes.
If you can handle the extra calories, sprinkle with bacon bits and add a few croutons.

ProudMomoftwo

I love to play with salads. I add hard boiled eggs, tomatoes, cucumbers, celery, shredded cheese, peppers, sunflower seeds, and radishes to them all. I love to put cottage cheese on as dressing most of the time. I do keep dressing ( Italian, and Ranch ) made up and in the fridge b/c I like it once in awhile and b/c my Dh & kids like them. If I do use dressing, then I go lightly on it.

Mix it up and make a taco salad one night and load it up with veggies & put in a dollop of ranch or sour cream. I like mild salsa for dressing on the taco salads.
We love this about once a week.

Fajita strips of chicken or beef in your salads adds a whole lot of good protein & variety. Make something like this once a week or so. I love mild salsa on this as well.

If you have leftovers, they make some fabulous Wraps for the next day.
YUM!
:flowerforyou:

nkswans

My dressing of choice is olive oil and vinegar. But there are so many different types of vinegar and even oils now (garlic infused etc) so you can change it up. Apple cider, balsamic and red wine vinegar are my three usual favorites (and of course just regular vinegar! lol I always have that). Or you can make a dressing with lemon juice instead of vinegar which is good too!

arewethereyet

Oh I love lemon or lime squeezed on spinach/cukes/strawberries with feta cheese......my mouth is watering