A healthy salad doesn’t have to mean a boring salad. Lots of people I work with love salads. But they get bummed out when taking out their “fun: ingredients. Hold the blue cheese? No crumbled bacon? Remove the candied pecans? I mean, where’s the fun in that?
But a healthy salad doesn’t have to mean boring. So first, let’s start with the basics. A healthy salad and a ho-hum one start in the same way. But after the basics, we’re gonna liven it up!
The basics: Pick a lettuce
- Spinach
- Kale
- Arugula
- Red or Green Leaf Lettuce
- Butter Lettuce
Next: Pick some healthy vegetables
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Tomatoes
- Mushrooms
- Snap Peas
- Radishes
- Beets
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
Ok, BORING! Because we’ve still got our salad in the category of healthy but dull. So now let’s spice it up…the healthy way!
Pick a lively protein
- Turkey Meatballs
- Blackened Chicken or Salmon
- Turkey sauteed in taco seasoning
- Tempeh sauteed in taco seasoning
- Crumbled Veggie or Turkey Burger
- Baked Shrimp
- Hard Boiled Egg
Now pick some healthy, filling and fun fats
- Avocado
- Pumpkin Seeds
- Sunflower Seeds
- Hemp Seeds
- Shredded Coconut
- Sliced Almonds
- Walnuts
Give it some kick
- Pepperchinis
- Jalapenos
- Garlic
- Hot Sauce
- Taco Spices
- Pico de Gallo
Now let’s make it interesting
- Jicama
- Crumpled Dried Seaweed
- Sundried Tomatoes
- Water Chestnuts
- Baby Corn
- Marinated Artichokes
- Crumbled Paleo Turkey Jerky (usually sold in health food stores)
- Grainless Granola (I love Trader Joes brand)
- Zucchini Noodles
Don’t forget to appease your cheese cravings!
- Savory Hummus
- Cashew Cheese
- Crumpled Organic Tofu
- Sprinkled Nutritional Yeast
Add the crunch of croutons
- Air Popped Pop
- Baked Garbanzos (sold in the chips section of most natural markets.)
- Wasabi Peas
- Almond Flour Croutons
- Carrot Chips
Throw on some new spices
- Cilantro
- Mint
- Curry Powder
- Cumin
- Red Pepper
Put a cherry on top
- Sliced Strawberries
- Grapes
- Dates
- Raisins
- Orange Segments
Naturally Dress It
- Squeezed Lemon & Garlic
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Olive Oil
- Balsamic Vinegar
- Red Wine Vinegar
- Avocado Salad Dressing
If you’re getting bored from eating too many salads, it’s time to spice it up.
There are so many options for a healthy salad. One day you can have one that is more savory. The next day you can pick an option that is more sweet.
So take your healthy salad and throw in some fun! Explore. Just because you don’t often see something in a salad doesn’t mean it can’t go there.
Diet should never mean deprivation. It should mean finding a whole new, exciting way to enjoy good-for-you foods! So take that lesson with you to your next healthy salad. Because your salad should never be boring. It should be uniquely amazing.
Really great tips here! I love adding jicama and cilantro to mine 🙂 Yum!
Okay, I love all the new and different ideas you listed out here. I’ve always been so bored of my ceasar salads but just didn’t know what else to do. I’m going to use this post as a reference when making my next salad!
Great list of goodies. I love salads with all the toppings. Always wonderful to fill it with crunch & flavor 😉
With all those fantastic add-ins, I could skip the lettuce and eat all the other stuff! Visiting at my sister’s last week, we ate so many salads that by the last day when she suggested one, I cringed. Next visit, I’ll bring some of these along!
Great suggestions! I love salads, especially this time of year. I make a delicious dressing and sprinkle nutritional yeast on top.
Great tips for a delicious salad! 🙂