salads

vschwoob
vschwoob Posts: 17 Member
edited November 11 in Food and Nutrition
Love a good salad, lettuce, spinach, cauliflower.....
Just looking for some new ideas for toppings..your suggestions are appreciated.
Vanessa
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Replies

  • dawlschic007
    dawlschic007 Posts: 636 Member
    This is one of my favorite salads:

    Baby spinach (or you can use a spring mix)
    Apple, chopped
    Celery, chopped
    Balsamic vinaigrette dressing (Litehouse brand is my fav)
    Dried cranberries
    Pecans

    Really tasty! You can also mix up the apples, celery and cranberries with the balsamic dressing and leave it over night. The apples stay crisp and then just mix in the spinach and pecans when you're ready to eat it.
  • vegansara
    vegansara Posts: 192 Member
    I like to slice up carrots, zucchini, celery, whatever veggies I get in my produce delivery. Also small peppers. I also like to add high protein foods like edamame or sprouted mung beans, baked tofu, sunflower seeds. Stuff like that.
  • pa_jorg
    pa_jorg Posts: 4,404 Member
    This is one of my favorite salads:

    Baby spinach (or you can use a spring mix)
    Apple, chopped
    Celery, chopped
    Balsamic vinaigrette dressing (Litehouse brand is my fav)
    Dried cranberries
    Pecans

    Really tasty! You can also mix up the apples, celery and cranberries with the balsamic dressing and leave it over night. The apples stay crisp and then just mix in the spinach and pecans when you're ready to eat it.

    I make something similar with chopped apples, walnuts, gorgonzola, dried cranberries and a raspberry vinaigrette. Yum!
  • dawlschic007
    dawlschic007 Posts: 636 Member
    I'm going to have to try it with the gorgonzola! That sounds really good.
  • TheDrBuchanan
    TheDrBuchanan Posts: 89 Member
    Some things I love:

    Artichoke hearts
    Chick peas
    Sundried Tomatoes
    Feta Cheese
    Hearts of Palm
    Hardboiled egg
    Deli meats (turkey/ham)
    Black beans
  • atownsend84
    atownsend84 Posts: 14 Member
    I just googled this a week ago, I should have looked here! This is what I recently put together:

    Lettuce (spring mix&spinach- lots of nutrients)
    Broccoli and cauliflower
    Cucumber
    Shredded Carrots
    Banana Pepper rings -hot or mild to your taste
    Rotisserie chicken -only 1 or 2 ounces, it could have been any kind of chicken, this was just quick and available :smile:
    Light ranch- only 2 tablespoons

    I can not stand a plain, boring salad. This was delicious! And not too many calories.
  • vschwoob
    vschwoob Posts: 17 Member
    Wow thank you for all the ideas. I will be tryjng some of these suggestions.
  • tbresina
    tbresina Posts: 558 Member
    I have just started using 1% cottage cheese instead of dressing. It saves me 100's of calories and blows me away how good it is. I had a hard time trying it cause I just didn't think I could ever replace ranch dressing but now I actually prefer it!
  • SophieB74656
    SophieB74656 Posts: 81 Member
    I always add some bacos. They're low in calories and have a satisfying crunch and flavor
  • SilverStrychnine
    SilverStrychnine Posts: 413 Member
    I don't like fancy salads, so mine is pretty basic: lettuce, tomato, cucumber, carrot and onion, a bit of french dressing.
  • cmeade20
    cmeade20 Posts: 1,238 Member
    hardboiled egg, reduced fat or fat free feta or bleu cheese, avocados
  • Way_2_a_Healthy_Mel
    Way_2_a_Healthy_Mel Posts: 175 Member
    I love salads with all kinds of things on them. One of my MFP friends uses Cheerios on her salads, she says they are her new croutons! I bought Cheerios specifically for that, but haven't tried it, yet. She uses the Multigrain ones.
  • bjcomiskey
    bjcomiskey Posts: 3
    Slivered almonds Are good. Crumbled blue cheese has such a strong flavor that a very little bit goes a long way to enhance a salad. Mandarin oranges are good, too.
  • daphnegetnfit
    daphnegetnfit Posts: 175
    I saw on one of the posts for salad dressing mix plain Greek yogurt with dry Ranch salad dressing to give you Ranch dressing without all the calories - I bought both today have not tried it yet.
  • daphnegetnfit
    daphnegetnfit Posts: 175
    I love salads with all kinds of things on them. One of my MFP friends uses Cheerios on her salads, she says they are her new croutons! I bought Cheerios specifically for that, but haven't tried it, yet. She uses the Multigrain ones.

    Great idea!
  • mycovington
    mycovington Posts: 17 Member
    I have just started using 1% cottage cheese instead of dressing. It saves me 100's of calories and blows me away how good it is. I had a hard time trying it cause I just didn't think I could ever replace ranch dressing but now I actually prefer it!

    I like this idea! I think I will try it next time I get groceries. Thanks for the tip :)
  • princeza9
    princeza9 Posts: 337 Member
    My favorite salad- greens (whichever I have in the fridge), low fat cheese (again, whatever I have), seedless cucumber, apple, walnuts, a little hummus and Tarator sauce as a dressing.
  • tmfpartyof4
    tmfpartyof4 Posts: 124 Member
    This is one of my favorite salads:

    Baby spinach (or you can use a spring mix)
    Apple, chopped
    Celery, chopped
    Balsamic vinaigrette dressing (Litehouse brand is my fav)
    Dried cranberries
    Pecans

    ^^^^^^^^^^ THIS^^^^^^^^but with it, I add crumbled feta cheese. :bigsmile:
  • PamTheChallenger
    PamTheChallenger Posts: 1
    Baby spinach, pineapple chunks, fresh strawberry halves, raisins, walnuts, rasberry vinegarette dressing
  • LenaMena87
    LenaMena87 Posts: 469 Member
    My favorite is

    spinach leaves
    hard boiled egg
    raisins
    sunflower seeds
    tomato
    cucumber
    carrots/shredded cheese/crutons (If I'm up for it)
    balsamic vinegrette
  • LenaMena87
    LenaMena87 Posts: 469 Member
    k
  • manda1028
    manda1028 Posts: 148
    spinach with kidney beans, craisins, sunflower seeds, simple but amazing
  • deeva2266
    deeva2266 Posts: 65 Member
    I use heads of romaine and I add 1 cup of broccoli slaw to it. Very filling. I also like rasberry vinaigrette almonds sunflower seeds and multi color tortila strips
  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    i buy the same basis for my salads :
    baby spinach, spring mix and cucumbers every week, but each week i will vary it by adding in a few guest stars.
    grilled onions, red peppers, sprouts, sweet potato, fennel, avocados, and beets are all good to add in.

    for dressing i love Trader joe's champagne pear dressing (45 cals per serving) and their cilantro dressing (also 45 cals).

    one of my favorite salads is something a russian friend introduced me to : spinach, beets and sardines. no dressing needed since the srdines tend to be oily enough. i usually just add some of my homemade seasoning mix (which has a little of about 15 different spices)
  • captawesome
    captawesome Posts: 121 Member
    I made this a couple of days ago and thought it was a bit spesh...

    5 slices butternut pumpkin about 4mm thick. Spray with olive oil spray and sprinkle with ground coriander seeds. Roast in oven for around 15 mins on 220 and repeat on the other side.

    In a large bowl throw in:
    1.5 cups mixed lettuce
    1 tomato
    1/3 red capsicum
    1/2 cup cubed cucumber
    1/4 cup pistacios

    Dice up the roasted pumpkin and throw it on top. Beautiful!!

    Nutrition (including ALL ingredients)
    Calories 298
    carbs 31
    fat 17 - the good kind
    protein 13
    sugar 13
    sodium 146

    :smile:

    Edited to add: and there's no need for dressing either!
  • cpiton
    cpiton Posts: 380 Member
    I saw on one of the posts for salad dressing mix plain Greek yogurt with dry Ranch salad dressing to give you Ranch dressing without all the calories - I bought both today have not tried it yet.

    I did this today! I used a packet of Hidden Valley Ranch powder, 1C 2% milk (all I had here for the kids--next time I'll try non), and 1C of Trader Joe organic plain yogurt. Even being extra generous, I couldn't get the calorie count above 30 calories for 2TBSP, and it tastes really good. Waaaay better than the bottled stuff, which has a sort of "sweet" flavor. Yucko. Wish I'd found this ages ago.
    The only thing is that the mix has MSG, for those of you who are trying to avoid it. :)
    I also like to mix some olive oil, balsamic vinegar, dijon mustard and honey (I get it locally), whisk it all together for a honey mustard vinaigrette. Delicious!
    My favorite topper is feta cheese. I could eat that on every salad! Also, olives, bell peppers, onions, and jalapenos! (keep an eye of the sodium in those things, though) Great post, thanks for the ideas everyone! :)
  • cmeade20
    cmeade20 Posts: 1,238 Member
    I saw on one of the posts for salad dressing mix plain Greek yogurt with dry Ranch salad dressing to give you Ranch dressing without all the calories - I bought both today have not tried it yet.



    Genious!
  • issyfit
    issyfit Posts: 1,077 Member
    I have just started using 1% cottage cheese instead of dressing. It saves me 100's of calories and blows me away how good it is. I had a hard time trying it cause I just didn't think I could ever replace ranch dressing but now I actually prefer it!
    Back in the '50's my mother used to make a dressing by blending cottage cheese, yogurt, worcester sauce, dried onion flakes and parseley. I remember I really liked it but I haven't made it for years.
  • harebearva
    harebearva Posts: 216 Member
    This is my go to salad. Granted it does have some things that aren't exactly low fat, but if you keep it to a minimum it's OK. Just make a regular tossed salad, I like to use 50-50 romaine and spinach. But anyway, put in about 4 oz of grilled chicken and then sprinkle a few bbq corn chips on instead of croutons. now for the magic. Get some hidden valley spicy ranch and use 1-2 tablespoons of that and then 1-2 tablespoons of your favorite bbq sauce. Sounds crazy, but it's completely addictive. For a southwest flair, you can add some black beans and/or whole kernal corn, just a tablespoon of each works. Anyway, there's my 2 cents ;o)
  • emmalecras
    emmalecras Posts: 79 Member
    baby spinach
    low fat fetta
    oven roasted pumpkin or sweet potato
    baby beetroot
    pine nuts
    balsamic dressing
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