A little tip on making a salad and yummy too!

Losewtforlife4him
Losewtforlife4him Posts: 423 Member
edited December 1 in Food and Nutrition
I wanted to share something that has helped me to lose 21lbs in 3 mths. I have been eating lots of salads and I use plastic containers and fill them up with either bagged lettuce for convenience or the salad greens. I use jalapeño jarred peppers, boiled or smoked chicken breast or thighs (weighed about 2-3oz) and other veggies or toppings of choice.
The main thing here is that I use my kitchen shears to chop this all up to my liking and then use 1 Tablespoon of my favorite salad dressings-full fat depending on my calories for the day. I love ranch. Anyway, then I shake it all up when ready to eat. So good this way!! It makes it taste better in my opinion to make salads this way and it makes the 1 tablespoon of salad dressing stretch further than just pouring it over the salad or dipping a fork in the dressing. It's all measured out and easy to eat!
Just had to share to maybe help someone else who may struggle to eat salads.

Replies

  • chellekoren
    chellekoren Posts: 273 Member
    Thanks. I always tend to put too much dressing when either dipping or drizzling.
  • Losewtforlife4him
    Losewtforlife4him Posts: 423 Member
    chellekoren wrote: »
    Thanks. I always tend to put too much dressing when either dipping or drizzling.

    You're welcome! And I always did too and I can't take the credit for this actually. My hubby came up with the idea and I just love it! It's the perfect amount of dressing :smile:
  • ridge4mfp
    ridge4mfp Posts: 301 Member
    I love chopped salads too.
  • JenRainbow1
    JenRainbow1 Posts: 74 Member
    I hate salad dressings that's why I struggle to eat salad, I love chilli sauce but hate mayonnaise and that stuff
  • Losewtforlife4him
    Losewtforlife4him Posts: 423 Member
    JenRainbow1 wrote: »
    I hate salad dressings that's why I struggle to eat salad, I love chilli sauce but hate mayonnaise and that stuff

    What about sautéing veggies in olive oil or roasting them and using those on a chopped salad and that will give enough flavor so you don't need dressing?

  • helenrosec1
    helenrosec1 Posts: 82 Member
    I still love adding mayonnaise to my salads, but opt for a low fat one instead and make sure to count it in my calorie intake. Nothing wrong with lots of salad dressing a long as you account for it.
  • Lennonluv2
    Lennonluv2 Posts: 956 Member
    JenRainbow1 wrote: »
    I hate salad dressings that's why I struggle to eat salad, I love chilli sauce but hate mayonnaise and that stuff
    JenRainbow1 wrote: »
    I hate salad dressings that's why I struggle to eat salad, I love chilli sauce but hate mayonnaise and that stuff

    Try salsa on yer salad maybe?
  • fishshark
    fishshark Posts: 1,886 Member
    I make a ton of grilled skirt steak, beans, corn, and pico salads... I use salsa and sour cream for the salsa.
  • Hope228
    Hope228 Posts: 341 Member
    Thanks for the tip. I have sodium concerns so I use 1 Tbsp of a ranch dressing & I add 1 Tbsp of plain yogurt. It helps make it go further. :-)
  • Losewtforlife4him
    Losewtforlife4him Posts: 423 Member
    Hope228 wrote: »
    Thanks for the tip. I have sodium concerns so I use 1 Tbsp of a ranch dressing & I add 1 Tbsp of plain yogurt. It helps make it go further. :-)

    Great idea, thanks. It would add more protein too!

  • elaineamj
    elaineamj Posts: 347 Member
    Hmm...I've tried and I can't seem to use less than 3 tbsp of salad dressing, even when I make Cobb salads (which are chopped up small). Maybe my salads are too gigantic? My cobb salads tend to clock in at 400-450 cals each. Admittedly, they are big portions. Definitely a large entree salad type size.
  • Losewtforlife4him
    Losewtforlife4him Posts: 423 Member
    elaineamj wrote: »
    Hmm...I've tried and I can't seem to use less than 3 tbsp of salad dressing, even when I make Cobb salads (which are chopped up small). Maybe my salads are too gigantic? My cobb salads tend to clock in at 400-450 cals each. Admittedly, they are big portions. Definitely a large entree salad type size.

    I use mostly lettuce (from a bag and also the greens from the box) and chop it up in a container that I eat out of. I use some veggies too and chop those up and sunflower seeds, sometimes feta and @2-3 oz chicken breast. My salad is pretty big but not many calories since I don't use too many toppings that have high caloric value. The 1 tbs is plenty when you shake the container with all of your salad mix. At least I think so :smile:
  • ASKyle
    ASKyle Posts: 1,475 Member
    I like chopped salads as well! Everything gets nice and mixed up.

    If you like ranch- I recently discovered Bolthouse Farms ranch. It's actually really good! Only 45 calories for TWO tablespoons!
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    There's always EVOO & vinegar for salad dressing too. Or just vinegar for 0 cals. Especially balsamic or raspberry!
  • Losewtforlife4him
    Losewtforlife4him Posts: 423 Member
    ASKyle wrote: »
    I like chopped salads as well! Everything gets nice and mixed up.

    If you like ranch- I recently discovered Bolthouse Farms ranch. It's actually really good! Only 45 calories for TWO tablespoons!

    Oh wow! I'll have to try that! Where do you find Bolthouse Farms Ranch? I get 1 tbs of buttermilk ranch for 55 calories so the 45 calories is better and the 2 tbs! Thanks! I do like the regular ranch compared to light or fat free because it tastes better and carbs are lower.
  • Losewtforlife4him
    Losewtforlife4him Posts: 423 Member
    lorrpb wrote: »
    There's always EVOO & vinegar for salad dressing too. Or just vinegar for 0 cals. Especially balsamic or raspberry!

    I do like that too but I'm not crazy about vinegar. I do sometimes eat the balsamic dressing though.

  • ASKyle
    ASKyle Posts: 1,475 Member
    joobey wrote: »
    ASKyle wrote: »
    I like chopped salads as well! Everything gets nice and mixed up.

    If you like ranch- I recently discovered Bolthouse Farms ranch. It's actually really good! Only 45 calories for TWO tablespoons!

    Oh wow! I'll have to try that! Where do you find Bolthouse Farms Ranch? I get 1 tbs of buttermilk ranch for 55 calories so the 45 calories is better and the 2 tbs! Thanks! I do like the regular ranch compared to light or fat free because it tastes better and carbs are lower.

    I find it in the refrigerated dressings section where all the prepackaged salads are.
  • Losewtforlife4him
    Losewtforlife4him Posts: 423 Member
    ASKyle wrote: »
    joobey wrote: »
    ASKyle wrote: »
    I like chopped salads as well! Everything gets nice and mixed up.

    If you like ranch- I recently discovered Bolthouse Farms ranch. It's actually really good! Only 45 calories for TWO tablespoons!

    Oh wow! I'll have to try that! Where do you find Bolthouse Farms Ranch? I get 1 tbs of buttermilk ranch for 55 calories so the 45 calories is better and the 2 tbs! Thanks! I do like the regular ranch compared to light or fat free because it tastes better and carbs are lower.

    I find it in the refrigerated dressings section where all the prepackaged salads are.

    Great. Thanks!
  • eldamiano
    eldamiano Posts: 2,667 Member
    Salad and yummy are just antonymous. The two things together are impossible....
  • elaineamj
    elaineamj Posts: 347 Member
    joobey wrote: »
    I use mostly lettuce (from a bag and also the greens from the box) and chop it up in a container that I eat out of. I use some veggies too and chop those up and sunflower seeds, sometimes feta and @2-3 oz chicken breast. My salad is pretty big but not many calories since I don't use too many toppings that have high caloric value. The 1 tbs is plenty when you shake the container with all of your salad mix. At least I think so :smile:

    I like that. New goal - try to reduce the amount of salad dressing! I use hard boiled eggs + shredded chicken/deli meat + avocado + salad dressing...so I know where all my cals are coming from!!

    That said, I LOVE Cobb Salad and get super excited about eating it and I'm happy to keep it that way :)
  • Losewtforlife4him
    Losewtforlife4him Posts: 423 Member
    elaineamj wrote: »
    joobey wrote: »
    I use mostly lettuce (from a bag and also the greens from the box) and chop it up in a container that I eat out of. I use some veggies too and chop those up and sunflower seeds, sometimes feta and @2-3 oz chicken breast. My salad is pretty big but not many calories since I don't use too many toppings that have high caloric value. The 1 tbs is plenty when you shake the container with all of your salad mix. At least I think so :smile:

    I like that. New goal - try to reduce the amount of salad dressing! I use hard boiled eggs + shredded chicken/deli meat + avocado + salad dressing...so I know where all my cals are coming from!!

    That said, I LOVE Cobb Salad and get super excited about eating it and I'm happy to keep it that way :)

    I don't blame you! That sounds super yummy and healthy!! Hey if it's working, don't change a thing! I think it's good to have real healthy fats in our foods and not to cut calories in those ways because those foods are satiating. I also use jalapeño peppers out of a jar and chop those up and they are filling and add some liquid to the salad too. I need to start using avocados as I see many people are using.
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