question for those who love salads!

perkymommy
perkymommy Posts: 1,642 Member
edited 10:53AM in Food and Nutrition
I need ideas on what to eat in my salads. Last night I had a chicken caesar salad for dinner (baked chicken breast, romaine hearts, caesear dressing, parmesan shredded, croutons). I weigh and measure it all so that it's in line with my calories for the day. Today I'm having for lunch a salad with no meat but adding in mild cheddar cheese shredded, croutons, black beans and corn. Looking for more ideas. I don't like red meat, only chicken and no seafood on salad either. Share your ideas with me!

Replies

  • SuzySunshine99
    SuzySunshine99 Posts: 2,989 Member
    Every day for lunch I have a big salad from our work cafeteria. On top of the romaine, it typically consists of:
    Peas, carrots, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, raw zucchini, hearts of palm, artichoke hearts, green olives, dried cranberries, broccoli, toasted almonds, and mushrooms. It's so good, I enjoy having it every day and don't get sick of it.
  • cross2bear
    cross2bear Posts: 1,106 Member
    I love a good taco salad, or a greek salad, and I will use whatever is in the fridge to make it! I like to add chickpeas, corn, left over cooked veg from the night before, some protein, and then use either sour cream or a really light balsamic and oil dressing. I like to mix up the greens by combining say, spring mix with iceber lettuce, or have a slaw type salad with cabbage. Also, I just discovered roasted radishes taste alot like little red potatoes, so I am going to try a potato salad recipe using them.
  • dbanks80
    dbanks80 Posts: 3,685 Member
    I've been making my own chopped salad which is sooooo delicious. When I measure everything it is 569 calories

    2.5oz Purdue chicken breast carve select pouches(already cooked and packaged)
    2 cups Organic Spring Mix
    2 pickled beets
    1 hard boiled egg
    1/2 avocado
    1 oz blue cheese crumbles
    1 oz chinese lo mein crunchy noodles
    3 tblspoon Newman Lite Balsamic Vinaigrette
  • Sassypattysassypatty
    Sassypattysassypatty Posts: 10 Member
    I have two favorite salads:

    Kale, avocado, seaweed, red onion w flax seed oil and fresh lemon.

    Arugula, roasted beet, goat cheese, avocado, red onion with dribble of raw honey, balsamic vinegar. (Adding walnuts and cranberries adds extra calories, so I omit this on most days).
  • jessiferrrb
    jessiferrrb Posts: 1,758 Member
    i like chopped salads a ton, i usually make a huge batch and pre-portion them out for the week and squeeze some lemon juice on them to keep the veggies fresher and add the dressing right before eating.

    typical ingredients
    romaine lettuce / spinach / cabbage and carrots as bases
    red onion
    orange bell pepper
    cucumber
    tomato
    edamame
    crumbled feta
    sweet and spicy pecans
    tuna

    i also really like greek yogurt based dressing, there is one that is kalamata olive flavored that is amazing, but they are all pretty low cal and have a bit of protein
  • annacole94
    annacole94 Posts: 994 Member
    Something pickled. I make my own pickled carrots and pickled onions, and will throw some of those in a salad. Big flavour, low calories.

    For lunch in the summer, I'll do mason jar salads. There are lots of recipes around for inspiration, like this:
    http://letslassothemoon.com/2014/12/20/mason-jar-recipes/
  • schmanciepants
    schmanciepants Posts: 62 Member
    My favorite now is a bbq salad....romaine, carrots, bell peppers, red onions, chopped pickles, shredded cheese, tortilla chips, any kind of meat/chicken/turkey - dressed with a mixture of BBQ sauce and sour cream. Yum!
  • perkymommy
    perkymommy Posts: 1,642 Member
    cross2bear wrote: »
    I love a good taco salad, or a greek salad, and I will use whatever is in the fridge to make it! I like to add chickpeas, corn, left over cooked veg from the night before, some protein, and then use either sour cream or a really light balsamic and oil dressing. I like to mix up the greens by combining say, spring mix with iceber lettuce, or have a slaw type salad with cabbage. Also, I just discovered roasted radishes taste alot like little red potatoes, so I am going to try a potato salad recipe using them.

    Never thought of a taco salad! Sounds good.
  • perkymommy
    perkymommy Posts: 1,642 Member
    My favorite now is a bbq salad....romaine, carrots, bell peppers, red onions, chopped pickles, shredded cheese, tortilla chips, any kind of meat/chicken/turkey - dressed with a mixture of BBQ sauce and sour cream. Yum!

    Sounds really good, thanks!
  • perkymommy
    perkymommy Posts: 1,642 Member
    These are all great ideas! :)
  • imabeevampire
    imabeevampire Posts: 166 Member
    oh gosh im so bland haah, i will have chicken mayo, or ham salad cream, with lettuce, cucumber, cherry tom, and carrot :)
  • youngcaseyr
    youngcaseyr Posts: 293 Member
    Think about just about anything you want for dinner (anything solid or semi-solid, soups won't work) and divide the serving in half or a third and put it on top of your salad. I've put just about anything savory onto a salad-- macaroni and cheese, potatoes, omelets, taco ingredients, Thanksgiving leftovers... Get creative! If you would eat it with a salad on the side, try eating it on your salad!
  • estherdragonbat
    estherdragonbat Posts: 5,283 Member
    Typically, I take 1/2 cup of corn, slice up a cold veggie dog and mix it up with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, dill pickle, hot pepper, and onion or scallion and make a dressing from 1/4 cup salsa, and 1 tbsp each of Tofuti Sour Supreme and sweet pickle relish.
  • AlyssaPetsDogs
    AlyssaPetsDogs Posts: 421 Member
    I like making my own Italian/Greek dressing (I use a little more vinegar and water to cut down on the oil) and I'll add feta crumbles, kalamata olives, artichokes, and chicken if I have it! Super good!
  • metalmeow1
    metalmeow1 Posts: 111 Member
    I [hate] salad. I fix this by stuffing it between two slices of bread with light dressing. For some reason salad-to-sandwhich matters with me lmao
  • rdmitch
    rdmitch Posts: 278 Member
    Wow you folks are unbelievably creative. I feel so simple.
    For me it's regular, boring, iceburg lettuce and I add some fancy bagged romain lettuce to
    spruce it up. Add shredded carrots, some red cabbage, onion and a bit of green pepper.
    That's the basic mix I take to work every day. I add either broiled chicken breast (3 oz), or
    Some cut up lunch meat or pepperoni to make it a bit different.
    I never get as fancy or creative as you guys.
  • AndOne8675
    AndOne8675 Posts: 151 Member
    I like lettuce, cabbage and shredded carrots as a base. Yesterday I added shredded rotisserie chicken, roasted beet, sunflower seeds, and martini olives. I make a dressing with rice vinegar and full fat mayo or yogurt and spices. Some days I have my base and eat goat cheese, dried apricots, cucumber, tomato and nuts on top.
    I will also throw pears, oranges or apples and mix up the lettuce and cabbage with raddicio, spinach and arugala. Eggs on top is always good too.
    But I usually stick to standards and get a little creative with a couple toppings.
  • dshalbert
    dshalbert Posts: 677 Member
    Throwing toasted pumpkin seeds into any salad makes me smile!
  • wellthenwhat
    wellthenwhat Posts: 526 Member
    I just make boring, lettuce, cucumber, tomato, carrot, maybe bacon bits and sunflower seeds salad with salt sprinkled on top, lol
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 10,089 Member
    tonight I'm having spring mix, avocado, tomatoes, barley, carrots, and cucumber, dressed with salt, pepper, olive oil, and vinegar (probably tarragon-infused, but I might go with white balsamic).
  • toothgal5
    toothgal5 Posts: 3 Member
    I love adding warm chili to chopped romaine. It adds a nice crunch. U could top with a dollop of lite sour cream too.
  • hopalong315
    hopalong315 Posts: 1 Member
    Spinach, chicken, apple slices, gorgonzola, dried cranberries, Balsamic dressing, and sometimes walnuts
  • can't really add much to the above except I have found goat's cheese to be wonderful on salads. Dried pomegranates too. And yay for more salad ideas!
  • TonyB0588
    TonyB0588 Posts: 9,520 Member
    I just make boring, lettuce, cucumber, tomato, carrot, maybe bacon bits and sunflower seeds salad with salt sprinkled on top, lol

    I'm with you on that. It's amazing what "salad" has become. I always just thought of it as a mix of chopped up vegetables.
  • pita7317
    pita7317 Posts: 1,437 Member
    Spinach, bean sprouts, sliced water chestnuts, toasted slivered almonds add some type of fruit diced, pears . Dressing mayo, white wine vinegar, sugar. Can add diced red onion or ? To your liking.
  • sonnshine27
    sonnshine27 Posts: 13 Member
    I like
    - baby spinach, butternut squash, roasted peppers in olive oil, rocket, pumpkin and sunflower seeds and some feta
    - apple, pecans, rocket, mixed leaves, avocado, feta and a maple syrup vinagrette
    - edemame, mixed leaves, miso roasted eggplant, cherry tomatoes, fresh and pickled spiralized cucumber
    - chicken breast marinated in Chinese rice wine, soya sauce, ginger and garlic, served wiyh shredded chinese cabbage, chopped romaine lettuce, shredded carrot, crushed roasted peanut and spicy peanut sauce
    - when im lazy though I just do romaine lettuce cups with tuna salad (red onion and tomato) or chopped bbq chicken and hummus

  • aeshippers
    aeshippers Posts: 416 Member
    My favourite lazy salad that I take to work for lunch is:

    canned red kidney beans (or whatever beans I have in the cupboard)
    canned sweetcorn (not creamed!)
    chopped fresh salad veggies (capsicum, tomato and a little onion or scallion would be my favourite)
    and dress with ready made tomato salsa, the sort you buy for dipping chips

    sonnshine27 - I am intrigued by your miso roasted eggplant - how do you make that?
  • Fallfrenzy
    Fallfrenzy Posts: 118 Member
    edited March 2017
    I like putting spinach, sliced carrots, red peppers, banana peppers or pepperocinis, quinoa, meat preference (I use either tofu, chorizo seitan, boiled eggs and/or sliced turkey), quinoa and some corn salsa. I don't bother with dressing since the corn salsa normally is enough for me. I occasionally put black beans in there as well.
  • leanjogreen18
    leanjogreen18 Posts: 2,492 Member
    I use a variety of lettuce and I add:

    Cheese
    Beans (black and kidney are my go to)
    Spicy Chicken Boca (vegetarian "meat")
    Avocado
    Flax Seeds
    Red Onions
    Tomatos
    Croutons
    Bolthouse Classic Ranch

    My salads are usually mixing bowl size and can get up to 600 calories:)
  • TheCupcakeCounter
    TheCupcakeCounter Posts: 606 Member
    Shredded chicken taco salad
    put some frozen chicken breast in a crockpot with some chicken broth and a packet of taco seasoning. Cook on low 8 hours and then shred. I will make the salad portion (lettuce, corn, black beans, avocado, tomato, etc...) in one container and then have the shredded chicken in another. Warm up the chicken, plop on top of the salad and you are good to go! My go-to dressing is a fiesta/chipotle ranch.
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