7 Ways to Shake Up Your Salad
Dear Hungry Girl,I'm looking for ways to make my salads more exciting. I want to get into the habit of eating them regularly, but I get bored easily. Any advice?
Jenn in Jacksonville
Hi Jenn,I love salad -- it really fills me up! Here are some of my best tips to keep from getting stuck in a rut with your greens…
Turn Leftovers into Lunch
Let's start with what you have at home. One of my favorite ways to make a salad is to use my refrigerator for inspiration. Did you make fajitas last night? Top your salad with the leftover veggies 'n protein. Added bonus? You're cleaning out your fridge and saving some cash. Some of the best HG salad recipes were inspired by hot meals…
Switch Up the Base
I could eat chopped-romaine salads every day, but shake up your routine with spinach, mixed greens, or shredded iceberg. Or try a combo, like romaine with spinach.
Alternate Your Protein
It's easy to overdo it with chicken, chicken, and more chicken. Change things up with extra-lean ground beef or lean ground turkey on Tuesday, and add chopped deli meat on Wednesday. Toss in lean beef strips on Thursday, and round out the week with seafood Fridays: Go for shrimp or pouched tuna.
Top Your Greens with a Scoopable Salad
Speaking of switching up your proteins, I love scoopable deli-style salads (like tuna or chicken) over a big pile of lettuce. But watch out for store-bought versions, which are often high in fat. Your best bet is to DIY with recipes like these.
Keep a Supply of Chopped Veggies
Plain lettuce can be yawns-ville, but cutting up vegetables every single day is a chore. Like watching TV on Sunday nights? Spend the commercial breaks chopping up different veggies. Then you'll have a variety of fresh combos to use throughout the week. Some of my favorites are cucumbers, tomatoes, yellow bell peppers, and jicama. Toss a little fruit in there too, like chopped apple or strawberries.
Stock Up on Light Dressings
The wrong dressing can turn your healthy salad into a meal with more calories than a Big Mac. But using one low-cal pick daily will make every salad taste the same. So keep a bunch of smart finds on hand! Or go the nontraditional route with salsa, flavored vinegar, or a drizzle of BBQ sauce.
More Guilt-Free Toppings
Gotta have cheese? Sprinkle on a few tablespoons of reduced-fat cheddar or feta. Need something crunchy? Add a little high-fiber bran cereal, baked tortilla chips (broken into pieces), or sliced almonds. Crave a little heat? Add jalapeño slices!
Chew on this:
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