Salad Ideas?

cmccoy0901
cmccoy0901 Posts: 156 Member
in Recipes
I love having salads, but I'm wanting some new ideas to change my salads up and have a variety of salads.
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Replies

  • Gidzmo
    Gidzmo Posts: 905 Member
    I don't know what you are putting in your salads now. What I like in mine:
    --beans (garbanzo, kidney, green, or black)--good for protein
    --different lettuce (romaine, red or green-leaf, or even spinach)
    --tomatoes (and they don't only come in red)
    --onions (brown, white, red, or green)

    Some ideas to add crunch: canned chow-mein noodles or water chestnuts
    Try some artichoke hearts or olives.
  • ritasice21
    ritasice21 Posts: 200 Member
    I like to add craisins, chicken, apples, and nuts. Even a spoonful makes a huge difference in taste and does not inflate calories much.
  • kannemollen
    kannemollen Posts: 40 Member
    looooove me some salads!
    beans beans beans! i put kidney and black in most of my salads :) i also try to switch up what kind of veggies i'm using and what type of other protein - sometimes i use raw canned tuna or salmon, different seasoned chicken breasts, eggs, etc.

    AND what i use for dressing changes on a daily basis as well. i love using salsa or low calorie (and short ingredient list) marinades. they might be a little higher in sodium but i use way less and they're super flavorful! stubbs has a few that are decent and lawry's has a white wine and herb or something like that that's REALLY zesty! :)

    enjoy!!
  • chrisdavey
    chrisdavey Posts: 9,834 Member
    I go minimal.

    $hitload of lettuce + some sort of marinated chicken. Sometimes bacon salt & lemon juice.
  • windycitycupcake
    windycitycupcake Posts: 516 Member
    you can shred cabbage, beets and carrots for a nice crunch...i also replace salad dressing with fat free cottage cheese and lemon juice, a can of tuna and lemon juice, pureed silken tofu with lemon juice and spices...you can take a chicken boullion cube and dissolve it (5 calories) and add it to cottage cheese or silken tofu and its yummy and creamy.
  • CkepiJinx
    CkepiJinx Posts: 613 Member
    Grilled meats for protein. Also grill some of the veggies ESP cauliflower,peppers, green beans. Try a variety of different greens. Add some fruits like berries or mandarins oranges, apples. Walnuts, feta cheese or blue cheese.i like a variety of veggies in my salads peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, olives. As for dressings I personally have found that I don't notice a taste difference in light dressings, but don't really like the fat free ones so I recommend trying light versions of dressings you like.
  • stagegoddess
    stagegoddess Posts: 101 Member
    i like romaine lettuce and spinach.

    add corn, shredded carrots, peas, garbanzo beans, kidney beans, canned tuna or chicken, raisins/crasins, hard boiled egg bits, edamame, and something crunchy like croutons or crispy noodles. yummy yum yum
  • CynthiasChoice
    CynthiasChoice Posts: 1,047 Member
    This might sound weird, but I like a healthy version of refried beans over romaine.
    Or a healthy version of chili on top of raw spinach.
    Add a little salsa and black olives. Yum!
  • Gidzmo
    Gidzmo Posts: 905 Member
    "you can take a chicken boullion cube and dissolve it"

    Sounds good, Windy--but don't the boullion cubes have a ton of sodium?
  • Gidzmo
    Gidzmo Posts: 905 Member
    This might sound weird, but I like a healthy version of refried beans over romaine.
    Or a healthy version of chili on top of raw spinach.
    Add a little salsa and black olives. Yum!

    Sounds like a taco salad! Ole!
  • duckieee
    duckieee Posts: 7 Member
    My absolute favorite salad: Poppyseed dressing - like half a serving, some grilled chicken bits, lettuce, strawberry slices, and blueberries! Hits the spot on warm summer days!
  • SeekSunshine
    SeekSunshine Posts: 3
    I just joined here, but I have a couple of tricks to keep salads interesting.

    First, I will grill chicken breasts after marinating in different flavors. I grill them at the beginning of week and they are good all week. You get the great flavor added to any salad and it's much more economical than prepackaged and processed meet. Great for salads, snacks, etc.

    FRUITS. I tend to use fruits in every third salad. It keeps them "fresh" in my mind and I balance the sugars with proteins.

    Greens: I mix them up from baby wild greens to romaine to spinach.

    Favorites:



    strawberry/goat cheese/ poppy seed dressing & almonds
    chicken/mandarin orange/cashew/
    Chicken or Shrimp/carrots/ginger dressing
    chicken/shaved parmesan/black olive/tomato
    Pears/gorgonzola *(a bit, just for flavor heightening)/walnut- balsamic type dressings
    mexican flair (avocado/kidney bean) - low cal homemade ranch variation dressings
    Roasted Red Pepper/Artichoke/garbonzo beans (parmesan, if feeling the need for cheese)

    Go to Epicurious or Yummly or some other site and find ten salad dressings that may be tasty to you. Instead of buying them in the store, make a fresh version at home that is health conscious and tasty to you. I know, I am a salad dressing snob...the only dressing I buy is Brianna's Poppyseed dressing. You can work miracles for creamy dressings with plain yogurt and be surprised at how little oil you must use to make a tasty Italian or vinagrette at home.

    If I must have cheese (and I often must) I stick to white cheeses, in general. A tablespoon of GoatCheese is more flavorful to me than half a cup of cheddar...and MUCH better for me. But, you have to find what works for you.
  • RubyRubixcube
    RubyRubixcube Posts: 258 Member
    saving this thread for later ^_^

    I've found myself hooked on beetroot lately, so I'm going to try a beetroot, four bean mix, corn salad with tuna or fetta cheese to bulk it up. Might throw some capsicum and roasted pumpkin in there too
  • midcenturymodern69
    midcenturymodern69 Posts: 38
    I've been loving spring greens with beets, red onion and feta cheese. Yum!
  • dbrakora
    dbrakora Posts: 8 Member
    I used to only eat Brianna's poppyseed too, it is still a favorite, but have also discovered Litehouse Honey Dijon light in the produce cooler. I like it as much as the poppy seed but it is way less fat etc... Consider trying it!
  • ravikrishna
    ravikrishna Posts: 51 Member
    l love Greek Salad very much and is quite easy to prepare. On top of that, its very healthy with Olives/Olive oil and Feta Cheese.
  • andreamaurine
    andreamaurine Posts: 3
    My fave salad combo right now is shredded romaine, halved cherry tomatoes, a few chunks of avocado (adds creaminess so you don't need as much dressing), orange bell pepper and a half serving of brianna's poppyseed. SO GOOD.

    I also really like Bolthouse yogurt dressings. At my store they are in the produce section by the lettuce (refrigerated). A 2 tbs serving is around 45 calories. You can't beat that.

    When you eat salad it is good to remember you do need a bit of healthy fats to help your body absorb the nutrients from the greens. Don't be afraid of a tiny bit of olive oil, avocado, or nuts!
  • RainHoward
    RainHoward Posts: 1,599 Member
    You can find some fantastic ideas on allrecipes.com
    I like grilled chicken or beef in my salad, different fruits, grapes, strawberries, mango, what ever.
    Taco salad is yummy if you pay attention to what you put in it.
    Sun dried tomatoes and artichoke hearts, some feta and a nice vinaigrette
    costco had a fabulous mango salsa that goes good over mixed greens
  • ggof
    ggof Posts: 41
    i love salads too and have them most lunchtimes .. i don't use leaf salads at all .. i use easy to transport and stock products like .. cucumber, beetroot (vacuum packed already cooked), onions, carrots, tomatoes, raw mushrooms, endives, red bell peppers and as protein cottage cheese or tinned tuna .. all easy to prepare at the office (i don't have time to pre-prepare in the morning, so i cut everything up at the office at lunchtime) add a little weight watcher light salad sauce (if u have the cottage cheese, u don't need much sauce) .. that works well for me .. it's crunchy and fills me more than any leaf salads do .. bon appétit ! :) ............ oh and looking at my tracker - it works too LOLOL ;-)
  • SeekSunshine
    SeekSunshine Posts: 3
    That made me smile. I thought I was in my "too excited" place and talking too much :):bigsmile:
  • hailzp
    hailzp Posts: 903 Member
    005.jpg


    Spinach, chick peas, tomatos, cucumber, balsamic, pumpkin seeds, flax and chia seeds, sunflower seeds, apple and awesomeness. :)
  • redfroggie
    redfroggie Posts: 591 Member
    I make a base salad: Mixed greens, tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, red onion and salad crisp corn.
    I then mix in stuff during the week to keep it interesting, like grilled chicken, mandarin orange segments,
    seed mix (sesame, pumkin) tuna and reduced fat grilled halloumi and grilled salmon. Simples!
  • floridaboater
    floridaboater Posts: 20 Member
    I love big salads as I don't like sandwiches. Sometimes I go to restaurant websites and get ideas from their salads but some of my favorites are:
    -romaine, cherry tomatoes, cukes, onion, steak and blue cheese with ranch or vinegrette
    -romaine, chicken, onions, tomatoes, cukes, feta cheese and Greek dressing
    -romaine, avocado, onion, tomatoes, lean ground beef, cheddar cheese and ranch
    -romaine, avocado, onion, tomatoes, cukes, turkey bacon, grilled shrimp, feta and fav dressing

    I always add protein...keeps me fuller.

    Thanks for posting this!
  • lisamerrison
    lisamerrison Posts: 90 Member
    keeping this post for laterz xx
  • Gidzmo
    Gidzmo Posts: 905 Member
    I make a base salad: Mixed greens, tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, red onion and salad crisp corn.
    I then mix in stuff during the week to keep it interesting, like grilled chicken, mandarin orange segments,
    seed mix (sesame, pumkin) tuna and reduced fat grilled halloumi and grilled salmon. Simples!

    There is also the canned baby corn (usually used in oriental food).
  • Ange03063
    Ange03063 Posts: 55 Member
    I just found this link from prevention.com today. It has recipes for 12 different salads that all look yummy!

    http://www.prevention.com/food/healthy-eating-tips/12-hunger-fighting-power-salads/southwestern-grilled-chicken-salad
  • astrylian
    astrylian Posts: 194 Member
    I usually ALWAYS have cucumber/tomato in my salad. Usually a light salad dressing - Italian or Sesame Ginger.

    I also like adding about 6 baby carrots for crunch, slivered almonds, tuna/salmon for protein value, sometimes soy chorizo, and something sweet like dried cranberries or mandarin oranges.
  • saraann4
    saraann4 Posts: 1,296 Member
    I really love a classic chef salad
  • Lauran845
    Lauran845 Posts: 71 Member
    I love buffalo chicken salads. I use the canned chicken (in the grocery store next to the tuna) and mix in a couple teaspoons of buffalo wing sauce (the one I use is about 5 calories a serving) and come lunch time I warm the chicken, throw it over some lettuce (any kind will work) and if I am feeling generous with my calories I will add a serving or two of ranch dressing. I LOVE IT!!

    Another non-salad Salad that I like is a whole bag of broccoli slaw (in the produce section) sauteed with a TON of black pepper and about two tbsp. of butter until soft. OMG!! It is very similar to the inside of an egg roll, minus the greasy, deep fried shell and it actually makes a very large serving for only 200 calories. You can probably substitute the butter for olive oil or a small amount of stock, but I eat pretty low fat in general so I consider that negligible. If you really want to splurge, throw some shredded cheddar on top and it is AMAZING!!! Like a super gourment cheese and broccoli.
  • sharleengc
    sharleengc Posts: 792 Member
    I mix bbq sauce and light ranch to make dressing for grilled chicken salad. I just put on the chicken and the dressing (measured out of course) then depending on my calorie goal for the day, sometimes add cheese or other yummies!

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