Plese help! How to make salad more interesting??

GuineaMother

Don't get me wrong, I'm enjoying my daily salad at lunchtime, but after two weeks it's getting a little repetitive. Currently I'm having iceberg lettuce, cucumber, carrot, celery, cherry tomatoes, pepper and sweetcorn with either some houmous or tuna, a dash of balsamic vinegar and ground black pepper.

Any ideas to liven it up a bit?

Off10h8ed

almond slivers
raisins
green grapes (halved)
boiled egg whites
beans (any kind)
black olives
chicken chunks
onions and celery
mushrooms

I keep trying to switch it up quite often so I don't get burned out.

jr1985

Changing up the dressings helps me the most.
Try adding either raisins or dried cranberries to your salad, it gives it a nice little kick, Also try adding Black Pepper or Mrs Dash,
Avocados, etc.

linds2324

I like wasabi peas & pumpkin seeds (in moderation), chickpeas, lentils, strawberries, bean sprouts in addition to everything else that was mentioned!

fitnotfluffy

mix and match some of these:
apples
dried cranberries
feta cheese
grilled chicken
sliced turkey/ham
blueberries
strawberries
sliced almonds
walnuts
sprouts
spinach
boiled egg slices
tuna
raspberries
mandarin oranges
etc.

Those are just some of my favorites

cbaac03

Try mixing up the greens in your salad by mixing in spinach, arugula or romaine. Then experiment with a few of these at a time:

dried fruit like raisins, cranberries or apricots
nuts
egg
grilled chicken or steak
raspberry vinegar
diced apple or pear
feta or sharp cheddar
cottage cheese

GuineaMother

You guys are legends.

I'm looking forward to getting stuck into an exciting new salad tomorrow!

Lydia

dlwyatt82

I put a big steak in it. :happy:

Brandip714

My favorite is spinach, strawberries, blueberries, pecans or walnuts, feta cheese, dried cranberries, and fat free raspberry vinaigrette! You could also add salmon or tuna for protein :-)

glitterysam

chillis/chilli flakes

Miss_dannii

Squeeze half a lime onto it. Mmm. Also, take a couple of mini babybel light cheeses and chop them up and throw them in there

Mad4282

Try a new lettuce? Kale, spinach, romaine? That will change the flavor some. Also, vary your dressings, if you want something creamy but low cal Bolthouse Creamy Parmigiano yogurt dressing tastes soooo good (like its terrible for you) but is only 45 cals for two tablespoons. Also, try adding in different textures, try a savory salad with nuts one day and try a salad with dried fruit or apples the next. Happy eating!

zmoreno10

My girlfriend recently introduced me to this dressing that her mom makes and I am addicted to it like no other....

1 tbsp - Rice Wine Vinegar
2 tbsp - Soy Sauce*
1 tsp - Sesame Seed Oil
squirt of lemon juice

*You can use an extra tbsp of Soy Sauce to cut the bite of the vinegar if you wish.

cramernh

Broccoli salad w/roasted red peppers, red onion, artichoke hearts, fresh chopped hickory bacon, chopped walnuts, yellow pepper strips and a homemade buttermilk Ranch-style dressing.


Baby spinach, strawberries, chopped almonds, yellow and orange pepper strips, thinly sliced bermuda onion (very spicy), white mushrooms, fresh made vinaigrette

Add shrimp, chicken, steak tips..
what ever floats your boat!

shelbyfrootcake

Beetroot
Beansprouts
Reggiano
Different vinegarettes
Olives
Spicy chicken
Flaked haddock
Boiled eggs
Cottage cheese

Jipples

Put gobs of ranch dressing, loads of cheese, tons bacon, and heaps of croutons. Then when you notice your pants tightening up, you can thank your interesting salad.

cjc166

Try using different greens and top it with a bean salad.

Also, Romaine with an avacado smashed into it for dressing, with fresh squeezed lemon, salt, and pepper to taste. It's my wife's favority. About 1/2 avacado per head of Romaine.

kms1981

I make a southwest one with spinach, red pepper, black beans, onion, tomato, salsa and a spoon of fat free sour cream.

SoDamnHungry

I like to add sunflower seeds, chopped celery, and cheese to it.

jlsAhava

If I'm having a salad as my meal, I love to add nuts (cashews are my favorite) and feta cheese! YUM! Be careful though, these are great sources of protein, but also add quite a bit of calories and fat. Also, try switching up your lettuce - the darker green, the better (more nutritious) - Iceberg has almost zero nutritional value.

Enjoy!!

EbonyHKQ

Iceberg, spinach, rocket, tomatoes, sweetcorn, sweet peppers, grilled chicken pieces, crunchy red apple pieces and either french venigerette or sweet onion dressing.

The above is my all-time favourite but you can mix it up with other meats/seafood

Also why not have a small omelette with your salad, that's what I have today (mushroom and ham omelette with lettuce, cucumber and tomatoe on the side mmmmm yummmy and I am full)

LittleMissDover

Pickled garlic, capers, olives, roasted red peppers and jalapenos are my favourite additions at the moment.

bberg0521

Changing up the dressings helps me the most.
Try adding either raisins or dried cranberries to your salad, it gives it a nice little kick, Also try adding Black Pepper or Mrs Dash,
Avocados, etc.

I never thought of Mrs. Dash. Great idea.

Erica0718

Todays Lunch:

Salsa Chicken (chicken with salsa cooked in crock pot and shredded)
salad mix with a little fresh spinach added
some avocado
greek yogurt instead of sour cream

No dressing needed and tons of protein, yum!

GuineaMother

Changing up the dressings helps me the most.
Try adding either raisins or dried cranberries to your salad, it gives it a nice little kick, Also try adding Black Pepper or Mrs Dash,
Avocados, etc.

I never thought of Mrs. Dash. Great idea.

What's Mrs Dash???

Laura_beau

1. Buy a bag of cheap stir fry veg (cabbage, carrott, peppers, beansprouts) or coleslaw mix and make a dressing out of soy sauce, lime juice, chilli, rice vinegar and a pinch of sugar/splenda. Add chopped mint & coriander and add prawns/ chicken/ beef or pork.

2. Peel 1 courgette (zuchinni) into ribbons with a veg peeler and dress with olive oil, lemon juice, 1/2 a chopped chilli, black pepper and parmesan shavings and rocket (arugula). Add some torn fresh basil leaves and prawns or chicken. Add some peas or broad beans for extra green yumminess.

Laura_beau

Changing up the dressings helps me the most.
Try adding either raisins or dried cranberries to your salad, it gives it a nice little kick, Also try adding Black Pepper or Mrs Dash,
Avocados, etc.

I never thought of Mrs. Dash. Great idea.

What's Mrs Dash???

I think it is a US spice brand?

HazelCaz

I made 30 different salads and took a picture of them each day and posted them on facebook. There is an amazing amount of variety you can try.
Greek Salad with olives, tomato, feta, red onion
Spinach Salad with turkey bacon, hard-boiled egg, tomato, fresh mushrooms
Waldorf Salad on a bed of greens with Apples, celery and walnuts, tossed in vanilla yogurt
Chicken Chopped Salad with all the leftover bits of veggies in your fridge
Italian Seasoned Tofu, pepperoni, and artichoke hearts over spinach. (bread tofu in italian seasoned breadcrumbs and saute)
Chicken Salad with Red grapes over greens tossed with fresh raspberries and raspberry poppyseed dressing
Broccoli Slaw with leftover chicken, dried cranberries and slivered almonds with poppyseed dressing
Fresh Mozzarella and sliced tomatoes, fresh basil drizzled in Balsamic Vinegar

Mixed Greens topped with Grilled Honey/Garlic Shrimp, grilled yellow squash, carrot, cucumber, baby corn, sugar snap peas, bean sprouts, and water chestnuts. Drizzled with Peanut Dressing and sprinkled with a few peanuts

Mixed greens, seasoned chicken, red grapes, cubed pear, dried blue berries, and pecans and gorgonzola cheese. Dressing is the Gorgonzola Pear Vinegrette.

Taco Salad with ground turkey, avocado, etc.

Coleslaw is seasoned with fresh lime juice, apple cider vinegar, and red pepper (marinated overnight). Thin-sliced a leftover grilled porkchop and toss it lightly in some barbecue sauce. Garnished with some red onion.

Mixed baby greens topped with cubed mango, cucumber, grapes, red onion, and sliced strawberries. Homemade dressing is made in the blender with strawberries, oil, vinegar and a bit of honey. Garnished with sweetened pecans.

Orzo Pasta tossed with fresh lemon juice and olive oil. Oven roasted veggies: eggplant, yellow and red peppers, red onion and garlic. Cubed feta cheese, scallions, pinenuts, and fresh basil.

Crab Salad made with chopped crab, cucumber, black olives, tomatoes, mayo and sour cream, sprinkled with a little dill. Served on a bed of baby greens tossed in fat free Sweet Vidalia Onion dressing.

Romaine and Spinach base, topped with chicken tossed in low fat mayo and curry, cubed avocado, dried cranberries, red onion and sprinkled with pecans. Lite Raspberry Walnut vinegrette for the dressing.

Shrimp Caesar Salad

I think you MORE than get the picture. The combinations are endless. Hope you try a few.

budru21

Texture...add something crunchy. I prefer to eat raw cabbage and spinach mixed with various veggies. For extra flavor? Dump the dressing and add salsa instead. YUM!!!!