salad ideas for a non - salad eater?

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Replies

  • miindyxo
    miindyxo Posts: 4 Member
    You can try Quinoa salads, instead of lettuce mix whole wheat quinoa in with veggies and nuts, you can get some good recipes on eatingwell.com or just google "Quinoa Salad"
  • mgreen10
    mgreen10 Posts: 229 Member
    What is whole wheat quinoa?
    You can try Quinoa salads, instead of lettuce mix whole wheat quinoa in with veggies and nuts, you can get some good recipes on eatingwell.com or just google "Quinoa Salad"
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    There is nothing magical about salad for losing weight. Salads are a great way to get your veg and what not for nutrition..but really, a salad worth eating is still going to be calorie dense because for me it's going to have some good olive oil and balsamic vinegar, a little cheese...some meat, and loads of veggies...my salads usually clock in around 600 calories or so. Also, I don't really do lettuce...only true greens. Lettuce is just a waste of everyone's time.

    Moral of the story, if you don't like salad, don't eat salad...
  • running_free_1984
    running_free_1984 Posts: 115 Member
    Saw a nice looking 'salad' of grilled portobello mushrooms, caramelised onions and goats cheese ( I think there were some other grilled vegetables too).
  • Mischievous_Rascal
    Mischievous_Rascal Posts: 1,791 Member
    Pinterest and Yummly have some really great ideas to get you started. Just google "salad no lettuce".
  • MyChocolateDiet
    MyChocolateDiet Posts: 22,281 Member
    google NON LETTUCE salads and start from there.

    i think that's most people's objection to salads.

    think of all the things you like and combine them together in different combinations.

    think of things like sliced tomatoes with sliced mozarella and balsamic and basil. think outside the box with your salads.
  • SPPutnam
    SPPutnam Posts: 51 Member
    I use 1-2 cups of fresh spinach, 1-2 cups of mixed baby greens, add kidney beans, olives, shredded carrots, 1/8-1/4 cup shredded cheese, 5-6 grape tomatoes, and 2 tablespoons of ranch dressing. Put all that in a large tupperware container and shake it like your mad at it. Turns out PERFECT! I can hardly go a day without this now. It's about 300-500 calories if you do it right.
  • lisamaree78
    lisamaree78 Posts: 12 Member
    Thank you all! I really appreciate all the fab suggestions & will definitely be trying them! As for the lettuce, that was just an example as to why I struggled to eat that salad on that particular day. I have no intentions of forcing myself to eat lettuce if I don't like it & don't believe that a salad must have lettuce in it. I would like to eat healthy food that I enjoy rather than dreading my next meal & was curious as to what others do in regards to salads. I have just bought a pre-packed salad from the supermarket which I'm about to have for lunch. Have added half a hard boiled egg and some fat free ham and it has come to 190 cal. I'm hoping I enjoy it! Thanks again for all your comments :smile:
  • 1two3four
    1two3four Posts: 413 Member
    Try using a vegestable peeler to shave some carrot and zucchini "noodles" as the base of your salad. Very tasty! I like to add some sort of protein and then a stinky-cheese like Feta too. Mmmmm

    THIS!! I love carrot and zucchini "ribbons" in my salad. Other things to try, beets/beetroot, I do pickled or plain canned. Pickled peppers. Canned/cooked beans. Also, try different kinds of greens. You don't have to stick with plain lettuce. I like mixing cold with hot. Nuts or seeds for crunch. Try rinsing onions to get a flavor with less bite. I use non-traditional dressings like avocado puree thinned out. Or raspberry yogurt (I make my own with pureed raspberry).

    I honestly like everything but the kitchen sink in my salads (see photo, lol) And usually lettuce or greens don't make up the bulk of my salad. They're not my favorite texture, either. A tip for trying different things would be to go to a well stocked salad bar and create something new.

    And finally if you just don't like it no matter what you do, don't worry. It's fine. I cringe more when I see grown adults drowning their salad in a high calorie dressing to choke it down to say they ate a salad!! (Not saying you do, it's just a pet peeve of mine!!)
  • septembergrrl
    septembergrrl Posts: 168 Member
    This is a really neat article about what makes a good salad. The specific recipe's not necessarily what you want, but the idea of balancing leafy/crunchy/creamy/salty/etc. really helped make my salads a LOT better. And I was never really a salad fan.

    http://deadspin.com/how-to-make-a-salad-that-doesnt-suck-a-guide-for-the-5943632
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    how do salads help you lose weight?

    Just eat the foods you want/like, and stay in a calorie deficit and you will lose weight...
  • Maureen214
    Maureen214 Posts: 40 Member
    I think my salads have very little lettuce and usually a crunchy romaine that doesn't stick to the roof f my mouth cause things that are thin and wet I have found out through numerous endoscopes and colonoscopies due to reflux and diverticulosis, can also stick just as easily to your intestines and cause bad gas pains and cramps...! So my salads have chicken, turkey, tuna, salmon, fruit, almonds, cranberries, quinoa, beans, olives, cheese, apple crisps, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, celery, and good light dressing, not completely fat free. And they can be as much as 600 calories, but they're good and very filling as my main meal for the day. :happy:
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 10,093 Member
    Greek-style pasta salad: small pasta like mini penne, crumbled feta, grated parmesan, extra virgin olive oil, cracked green olives, almonds, minced garlic, oregano.

    Couscous and garbanzo salad, served on a a bed of romaine or leaf lettuce, with cremini (baby portabella) or white mushrooms, tomatoes if in season; dress with olive oil (you might want to use so-called "light tasting" olive oil, or cut it with vegetable oil), lemon juice, fresh parsely, sugar, salt, pepper (white if you have it).

    If you really want to add lettuce and other greens to your meals, but the texture bothers you, you could try crisper options like romaine, shredded cabbage (including savoy and napa), and bok choy. Or you could cook your lettuce and greens. Endive can be braised in the oven, and escarole, spinach, kale, and turnip and other greens take well to being cooked in soups (clear broth soups, not bisques). Spinach and greens can be sauteed or stir-fried and added to pasta dishes, omelets, served over top of beans, potatoes, or just plain as a side dish.

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