crunchiness for salad????

sassygamma
sassygamma Posts: 84 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Okay so i love salads, always have, but after looking up all the things i can put in them i was in aww on how many calories certain things have in them... What do you all use in your salads for something crunchy????? I would love to get ideas!!

Replies

  • krommama
    krommama Posts: 32 Member
    pistachios!
  • Silver_Star
    Silver_Star Posts: 1,351 Member
    crushed nuts.
    ground flaxseed
    bean sprouts have a bit of crunch too.
  • abnerner
    abnerner Posts: 452 Member
    Chow Mein Noodles. Sunflower Seeds. Wonton Strips
  • BigBrunette
    BigBrunette Posts: 1,543 Member
    Chopped apples
  • jessileak
    jessileak Posts: 28 Member
    i chop up a stick of celery...
  • jangier
    jangier Posts: 109 Member
    carrots, chick peas, nuts, apples, celery
  • meeper123
    meeper123 Posts: 3,347 Member
    roasted chick peas :D
  • pastryari
    pastryari Posts: 8,646 Member
    Nuts, croutons, seeds, sliced bell pepper, tortilla strips.
  • sleepingtodream
    sleepingtodream Posts: 304 Member
    My favorites are celery, walnuts, almonds, Garlic and Herb Pita Chips crunched up instead of croutons.
  • candacefausset
    candacefausset Posts: 297 Member
    Chow mein noodles (I think that's what they are called), sunflower seeds, croutons are popular but I personally don't like them, pecans or other nuts. Some people like fruit in their salads so you could do apples that have some crunch to them or even add dehydrated apple chips maybe!
  • Ogirl07
    Ogirl07 Posts: 23 Member
    Sounds weird, but once when I was desperate for a bit of crunch I threw in Cheddar Goldfish Crackers....there's 55 in one serving and the slight cheesiness/crunch hit the spot!
  • nekoxvampyx
    nekoxvampyx Posts: 163
    bacon bits
  • ebr250
    ebr250 Posts: 199 Member
    Napa cabbage
  • Amylinton
    Amylinton Posts: 7 Member
    jicima, shredded beets, sunflower seeds, slivered almonds... you really only need a tiny bit of sunflower seeds and almonds and they are full of good fat.

    :)
  • drojen
    drojen Posts: 203 Member
    Sunflower seeds - roasted & unsalted. I'm also going to roast some chickpeas with spices etc to give more crunch and protein to my salads.
  • iysys
    iysys Posts: 524
    i can't think of anything i put in a salad that isn't crunchy...maybe tomatoes but i rarely add those as it is so hard to find decent ones.
  • lil_pulp
    lil_pulp Posts: 701 Member
    I know someone who adds broken-up pretzels to her salad for some crunch.
  • 3foldchord
    3foldchord Posts: 2,918 Member
    Pecans, apples, celery, bell peppers, sunflower seeds.....
  • mats613
    mats613 Posts: 47 Member
    roasted pumpkin seeds
    pickles
    those yellow soup nuts
  • iWillGetCrowSomeday
    iWillGetCrowSomeday Posts: 311 Member
    Dry roasted unsalted almonds - 2 Tbsp. But I like the idea of roasted chickpeas! That sounds amazing. I've made them, but never thought to put them in salad. The recipe I use can be found here: http://thesaltykitchen.blogspot.com/2012/11/roasted-chickpeas.html

    Just be sure to *really* dry them out before baking, or else they get mushy/chewy.
  • kdaughertyfp
    kdaughertyfp Posts: 49 Member
    Water chestnuts
  • mikeyrs
    mikeyrs Posts: 176 Member
    Walnuts, Almonds, and Pistachio nuts as well as ground flaxseed go into my salads, not just for crunchiness, but to manage total cholesterol too. Add fresh Dandelion leaves to your salads if you want to ensure sodium balance and manage water retention; it's tasty too.
  • shanniepk
    shanniepk Posts: 98 Member
    Toasted whole grain pita bread or tortillas, with a little salt. Low cal and a good substitute for croutons or anything processed or fried. Also, chopped carrot chips, almonds, celery, cauliflower. But what I really love is to put a hearty garden salad inside a Joseph's Flax, Oat Bran and Whole Wheat pita with a small amount of dressing. It's so satisfying and one pita is only 60 calories, loaded with protien and fiber.
  • GrendlStig
    GrendlStig Posts: 55 Member
    Crispy nori (seaweed) strips - available at any asian market. I buy them spaghetti-thin and they are crunchy like chow mein noodles. If you like sushi, then you'll like the taste. Great with a sesame ginger dressing. Nori by itself is an awesome (nearly zero) calorie snack, too.
  • Wilmingtonbelle
    Wilmingtonbelle Posts: 255 Member
    I love salad crunchies, here are a few of my favorites:

    Sliced roast almonds are 40-50 cals/T
    Crumble 1/2 Aldi 90 calorie granola bar 45 cal
    Broccoli slaw 1/4 c 6 calories!
    Fiber One Bran Flakes 1/2 c 30 cals (great on yogurt too!)
    Pita chips (2 trader joes whole wheat mini pitas split, baked, quartered) 60 cals
    Trader Joes Fire Roasted Corn 1/3 c 55 calories
    Diced water chestnuts 1/4c 30 calories
    Diced granny smith apple and diced pear 1/2 c total 65 calories
    Yam Noodles, pan fried with light soy 1 package 50 calories

    Slainte!:drinker:
  • meeper123
    meeper123 Posts: 3,347 Member
    Crispy nori (seaweed) strips - available at any asian market. I buy them spaghetti-thin and they are crunchy like chow mein noodles. If you like sushi, then you'll like the taste. Great with a sesame ginger dressing. Nori by itself is an awesome (nearly zero) calorie snack, too.

    I like it :)
  • Armyantzzz
    Armyantzzz Posts: 214 Member
    sunflower seeds...pumpkin seeds....pear, celery, walnuts, pecans... to name a few..:tongue:

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