Salads are a delicious, nutritious meal. If you’re looking for ways to make your salad more enjoyable, this article is for you! Read on for creative suggestions that will help keep your salads interesting and satisfying.
Add a handful of nuts or seeds.
Nutrient-dense, healthy options include walnuts, almonds, pecans, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, sunflower seeds, or flaxseeds. Nuts and seeds not only add crunch to your salad, but they also increase the protein content by about 4 grams per ¼ cup serving.
Mix different salad greens.
Adding a variety of lettuces and/or arugula can add extra flavor, texture, and nutrients to your salad. The only disadvantage is that you may have to pay more for the pre-mixed bags.
Add a few dried cranberries or other dried fruit.
Dried fruits add sweetness to your salad, so you won’t need as much dressing. They also provide an extra boost of nutrients.
Buy pre-cut veggies and fruit.
Purchase pre-cut vegetables and fruits to speed up the preparation process. Many grocery stores offer these items in their produce section, but you can also find them in the frozen food aisle.
Add a healthy dressing or dip to your salad.
There are many low-fat, low sodium options available. Experiment with different types and flavors to find what you like best!
Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on your salad.
Not only does this add a boost of flavor, but it makes the salad more filling so you’ll eat smaller portions.
Add beans to your salad.
Black beans, kidney beans, chickpeas/garbanzo beans, and white beans are all tasty options. Beans add protein to your salad, so you’ll feel fuller faster.
Stuff your salad inside a whole wheat pita.
Great as a portable option, salads stuffed inside a pita are healthy and easy to transport. To make it more fun, try swapping out the lower-carb pita for a wrap made from flaxseed or chia seed tortillas!
Layer your salad inside a hollowed-out tomato or bell pepper.
This makes an easy presentation, and it’s also great for people who prefer not to eat tomatoes (because of the extra texture).
Add baked tortilla chips on top.
Combining salads with crispy textures, like tortilla chips, can be a fun way to mix things up.
Throw in some of your favorite protein.
Whether it’s beans, tofu, or grilled chicken breast, adding protein to salads makes them more filling and satisfying—in addition to boosting the nutritional value!
Add fruit to create a salad parfait.
Combine layers of yogurt (or any other low-fat dairy product), fruit, and salad to make a tasty treat.
In conclusion, eating a salad doesn’t have to be boring. There are many ways to make healthy, nutritious salads more enjoyable. Adding one or two of these suggestions can help you enjoy your salad guilt-free while adding more valuable flavor to the simple dish.