What do you throw in your salad?

Brenda_1965

I've been having a lot of fun with my salads since starting MFP. I will tell you first what I toss in, and it would be great if you could add other creative ingredients to spice it up!

I use regular heads of lettuce and cut them with a knife for small pieces. (I'm done with the bag salads because I eat lettuce so much that it makes more sense to buy the more natural form.)

I throw in lots of stuff in very small quantities, and use NO salad dressing. Here are some things that I add to my lettuce. Not all in one salad, but at various times, depending on my craving that day.

1/2 head lettuce
cottage cheese 1/6 cup
shredded cheese 1/6 cup
tomatoes 1/2 small
cucumbers
cucumbers and celery soaked in the pickle jar
celery
carrots
spinach
green peppers
sweet onion
pickles
pickle juice
mild banana peppers (what a treat to bite into one of these!)
banana pepper juice
salsa
Stove top stuffing crumbs (instead of croutons because they are MUCH lower calorie!)

What spices do you throw in? Itallian, anyone? Pepper?

I figure three things when I eat a salad...
1. I'd better be FULL when I'm done.
2. I'd better enjoy it.
3. It better be low calorie, or I could've had a steak!

leo02098

I use lots of things in my salads!
I ALWAYS use baby spinach. If there's no baby spinach in my fridge, it's a sad day!
But other things I've used are:

toasted nuts (almonds, pecans, walnuts)
raw hemp nut
strawberries
raspberries
blackberries
red onion
green onion
cheese (the kind depends on what I have in the fridge!)
dried currents
flax seed
lemon juice (as a "dressing")
tomato (all different types)
cucumber
avacado (chopped in small cubes)
carrots
peppers

hmmmmm....I'm sure that there are TONS more that I've used..but really my list could go on for a long time if I kept at it!

WendyTerry420

baby spinach leaves (lettuce is banned at our house)
mushrooms
bell peppers
shredded cheese
chicken breast
diced tomatoes
seasoned croutons


Sometimes I will have a little more, if I'm at a salad bar or someplace where I don't have to cut it all up.

ETA: When our finances get more settled, I will be back to buying hemp seeds and tossing them in. Raw or toasted either one.

love4fitnesslove4food_wechange

romaine/spinach/arugula or some combination

tomatoes

beans

edamame

peppers

sprouts

WendyTerry420

I use lots of things in my salads!
I ALWAYS use baby spinach. If there's no baby spinach in my fridge, it's a sad day!
But other things I've used are:

toasted nuts (almonds, pecans, walnuts)
raw hemp nut
strawberries
raspberries
blackberries
red onion
green onion
cheese (the kind depends on what I have in the fridge!)
dried currents
flax seed
lemon juice (as a "dressing")
tomato (all different types)
cucumber
avacado (chopped in small cubes)
carrots
peppers

hmmmmm....I'm sure that there are TONS more that I've used..but really my list could go on for a long time if I kept at it!

How do you "cube" avocados without making a mushy mess?

vipena786

My favorite salad is baby spinach with green apples, almonds, and a raspberry vinaigrette. It is soo sooo yumm!

voncilec

I ate a really great salad today
- baby spinach
-tomato
-mini english cucumber
-green olives
-soft boiled egg
-roasted red peper hummos
-chunk light tuna in water
Came in at less than 200 calories! I didnt finish it and I was stuffed

SusieSonshine

Chia seeds
Brown rice couscous

manueljw

I've been having a lot of fun with my salads since starting MFP. I will tell you first what I toss in, and it would be great if you could add other creative ingredients to spice it up!

I use regular heads of lettuce and cut them with a knife for small pieces. (I'm done with the bag salads because I eat lettuce so much that it makes more sense to buy the more natural form.)

I throw in lots of stuff in very small quantities, and use NO salad dressing. Here are some things that I add to my lettuce. Not all in one salad, but at various times, depending on my craving that day.

1/2 head lettuce
cottage cheese 1/6 cup
shredded cheese 1/6 cup
tomatoes 1/2 small
cucumbers
cucumbers and celery soaked in the pickle jar
celery
carrots
spinach
green peppers
sweet onion
pickles
pickle juice
mild banana peppers (what a treat to bite into one of these!)
banana pepper juice
salsa
Stove top stuffing crumbs (instead of croutons because they are MUCH lower calorie!)

What spices do you throw in? Itallian, anyone? Pepper?

I figure three things when I eat a salad...
1. I'd better be FULL when I'm done.
2. I'd better enjoy it.
3. It better be low calorie, or I could've had a steak!

If it's a veggie available at Subway, it is in my salads(bought or made).

leo02098

I use lots of things in my salads!
I ALWAYS use baby spinach. If there's no baby spinach in my fridge, it's a sad day!
But other things I've used are:

toasted nuts (almonds, pecans, walnuts)
raw hemp nut
strawberries
raspberries
blackberries
red onion
green onion
cheese (the kind depends on what I have in the fridge!)
dried currents
flax seed
lemon juice (as a "dressing")
tomato (all different types)
cucumber
avacado (chopped in small cubes)
carrots
peppers

hmmmmm....I'm sure that there are TONS more that I've used..but really my list could go on for a long time if I kept at it!

How do you "cube" avocados without making a mushy mess?

I guess I use my avacados before they get to mushy?? I just slice the avacado in half, pop the pit out, "cube" while the meat is still attached to the skin...turn it outwards and slice off.....guess that's not so much chopping..but still manage the cube effect.

leo02098

I ate a really great salad today
- baby spinach
-tomato
-mini english cucumber
-green olives
-soft boiled egg
-roasted red peper hummos
-chunk light tuna in water
Came in at less than 200 calories! I didnt finish it and I was stuffed

ooo that sound yummy!

deb3129

Romaine lettuce
Spinach
Baby Carrots
Red onion
Kidney beans or black beans or butter beans
nutritional yeast
tomatoes
bell pepper, assorted colors
sometimes 1/2 an avocado
lemon juice in place of dressing

CottonCandyKisses

Hard boiled egg whites
Chicken breast
Green olive slices
Crasins
Chopped carrots/broccoli
The "greens"

love4fitnesslove4food_wechange

oh yes forgot...

eggs
tuna
cheese
salsa

ValerieMartini2Olives

I've been having salads of romaine, cherry tomatoes, chicken, croutons, and fake bacon bits with some light ranch dressing.

Restybaby2012

Romaine Lettuce
Tomatoes
Cucumbers
Mushrooms
Onions
Shredded Cabbage
Shredded Carrot
Shredded cheese
Croutons
.......bacon tomato dressing
.......sprinkled with belly button cheese (LMAO)

I would virtually live on salads. I can think of only one thing that takes precedence over a salad and that's a nice juicy grilled Porterhouse Steak

debbiestine

Today I had:
spinach, half an avacado, sunflower seeds, kerrygold cheese and a can of salmon with a homemade balsamic viniagrette
high calorie,fat,protein + low carb =

elyelyse

i love salad so much, but before i changed the way I was eating, I was too lazy to prepare them. Now that I take the time to prepare my meals, salads with tons of different things in them are truly one of my favorite meals.

I do love the standard lettuce/tomatoes/cucumbers/etc, but also...
for crunchy roughage variety I like to add shredded broccoli or cabbage cut for slaw (great for people who don't love lettuce)
left-over cooked veggies that have chilled in the fridge overnight are a great addition too
cubed firm tofu is a great protein to add because it really absorbs the flavor of whatever dressing you use
chick peas!
edamame
cashew pieces
goat cheese yum!
(usually just 1-2 protein choices, not all at once!)

my standard dressing: a little balsamic vinegar mixed into a couple of tablespoons of fat free thick plain greek yogurt. It makes a GREAT low fat but super creamy dressing, and you only need a little balsamic to give it the tangy-iness, so it's less sugar than using the balsamic alone (bc you'd usually need more to coat the salad well)

Wabbit05

Celery, spinach, feta cheese, apples, strawberries, mango, walnuts, sliced almonds, chicken, carrots, cucumbers.

Obsessed with raspberry walnut vinegarette at the moment!

*had to add my dressing

love4fitnesslove4food_wechange

Today I had:
spinach, half an avacado, sunflower seeds, kerrygold cheese and a can of salmon with a homemade balsamic viniagrette
high calorie,fat,protein + low carb =

I love the way you think. I HATE avocados so i'd prefer an egg but it's all good sounds scrumptious.

AddieOverhaul

I love spinach salads, or mixed greens and they can have any of the following (not all of these at once generally): feta, strawberry slices, craisins, raisins, apple, cucumber, red pepper, shredded carrots, shredded beets, nut and seed salad mix, chia seeds, candied walnuts...

Brenda_1965

My salad today was only 169 calories, and I am stuffed! Ice cream could NOT tempt me! I have to go shopping now! I LOVE beans! Do you grind your flax?

opuntia

Anything and everything - whatever I have. This could include:

spinach
lettuce
kale
rocket
cabbage
carrot
cucumber
tomato
pepper
onion
avocado
radish
beetroot
broccoli
celery
peas
fresh herbs
pomegranate
grapes
apple
nuts
seeds
cheese
egg
lentils/pulses
meat
fish
pasta
quinoa
rice
potato

I love making salads. I make huge salads that last several days.

And for a dressing, I use olive oil, wine vinegar, lemon, orange, honey, mustard seeds, garlic, tabasco sauce, peanut butter, tahini. Not necessarily all these at once - but if I had them all at one time, I might! :-)

leo02098

Do you grind your flax?

I just use whole flax, never thought to grind it, but I don't see the harm in it at all!!

Missklara

My favorite is:
-pasta(integral)
-tuna
-cucumber
-light mayo and/or jogurt

i like to add some pasta to my salad because i could never be full from vegetables

DesireeLovesOrganic

My fave salad is baby spinach leaves or spring mix topped with fresh raspberries, walnuts, and Bragg organic Braggberry dressing (20 cal for 2 tablespoons and it's got no added sugar, just fruit and apple cider vinegar and goji, and acai.) Yum!

voncilec

Has anyone ever tried collard greens, kale, or mustard greens in a raw salad? I have eaten a DELICIOUS collard wrap marinated in an oil & vinegar mix (guessing from taste) then, it was stuffed with red pepper, orange pepper, red onion, and avocado.... Im' thinking it could be recreated in a salad...just not sure if I should marinate the greens before hand? The wrap was not soggy at all, I liked that part!

Damiilla

Has anyone ever tried collard greens, kale, or mustard greens in a raw salad? I have eaten a DELICIOUS collard wrap marinated in an oil & vinegar mix (guessing from taste) then, it was stuffed with red pepper, orange pepper, red onion, and avocado.... Im' thinking it could be recreated in a salad...just not sure if I should marinate the greens before hand? The wrap was not soggy at all, I liked that part!

This sounds so yummy! I am forever jealous of people who can get their hands on collard greens...they don't sell them in England.

mss_anthropy

does no one use raw broccoli anymore? lol they also sell a pre-shredded broccoli slaw mix at the grocery store that's pretty good in salad. and ofcourse olives.... lots of them. morning star veggie hotwings are pretty good in salad too.

voncilec

This sounds so yummy! I am forever jealous of people who can get their hands on collard greens...they don't sell them in England.

It was very yummy! Do you have access to kale? I like kale too. It tastes like a spinach/mustard green combo to me.

lovinmomnwife

I like to put defferent kinds of lettice, walnuts, grapes, half a can of tuna, carrotsand a little cheese. Its very good and i find it satisfing.