Spring has sprung … and that means fresh salad season is here.
Thanks to the abundance of fresh ingredients and lettuce varieties now available at supermarkets, a salad is now much more than a boring side dish.
Michelle Wilson with Cheffie's Café shared five tips for making a healthy and delicious salad.
To begin, Michelle says to choose your favorite greens and add a variety of different colored vegetables. Vegetables not only provide flavor, but also supply many different vitamins, minerals and fiber. Some examples of Michelle’s favorite additions are carrots, red bell peppers, edamame and artichokes.
She also recommends adding a lean protein, such as grilled chicken, hardboiled eggs or avocado. Lean proteins are a healthy power source to the body.
Chop your salad to make it easier to eat - especially while talking with friends and family. Chopping your salad also combines all the flavors of your delicious salads.
Michelle also recommends homemade dressings versus store-bought. Homemade dressings minimize any preservatives, plus you can use a heart-healthy oil as the base. At Cheffie's, Michelle says they like to use olive oil in their vinaigrettes since it is an excellent source of omega-3’s.
For the finishing touch, top your salad with a healthy textured crunch, such as sunflower seeds or nuts. It makes the salad interesting, as well as adds another source of many nutrients and antioxidants. Nuts and sunflower seeds can help improve your heart health and help support your immune system.
There you have it, a delicious, healthy salad!
This is Jennifer Chandler with The Weekly Dish. Bon Appetit!
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