April showers bring May flowers … and lettuce?
Yup! May is National Salad month. But if the idea of 30 days filled with leafy greens has you crying with boredom, don’t worry—we’ve got you covered.
Here are five hacks that will have you craving salad all month long:
1. Hot & Cold
Adding a warm topping to a cold salad can help make your meal more satisfying. Good options include grilled or sautéed vegetables such as onions, peppers and mushrooms, or warmed grains like quinoa or brown rice. Pro Tip: Don’t combine the lettuce base with warm topping until you’re ready to eat (#SoggySaladProblems).
For a warm base with cold toppings, try this roasted beet, pear and walnut salad or a warm kale salad with lentil and goat cheese.
2. Dress it Up
What’s a salad without the dressing? Save money and calories this month by making dressing from scratch.
– This chipotle hummus dressing is rich in fiber, protein and zinc (a well-known immune booster).
– Get you daily fill of antioxidants with tomato paprika salad dressing.
– Go vegan with a creamy cool ranch dip.
– For an oil-free option that still delivers a serving of Omega-3s, try cilantro-avocado dressing.
3. Lettuce Introduce Ourselves
Romaine lettuce isn’t the only salad base to choose from. Here are some other leafy options:
– Spinach. An excellent source of vitamin A, K, C, B2, B6, E… (Need we go on?)
– Kale. Many of the same health benefits of spinach, with a slightly more bitter taste.
– Arugula. This herb is touted for fighting a variety of cancers.
– Shaved Brussel Sprouts. High in fiber (good for your gut) and choline (good for your mind).
– Broccoli Slaw. No sun? Try broccoli for your daily dose of vitamin D. This veggie also helps lower cholesterol levels.
– Shredded Cabbage. Cabbage is a great source of sulfur—“the beautifying mineral”—which supports healthy hair, nails and skin.
4. Put a Lid On It
Mason jars are the new “it” item on the salad scene (trust us, it’s a thing). So why have these 12 oz. glass containers become the salad container du jour?
– They’re portable (and with a screw-on top, they’re also leak free).
– They prevent sogginess (dressing on the bottom is the key to the mason jar salad equation).
– They’re cute (and cute food always tastes better, right?)
For easy and creative ideas, check out “18 Mason Jar Salads That Make Perfect Healthy Lunches.”
5. Berry Creative
Salad isn’t just for vegetables. Here are some of our favorite fruit salads:
– Rich in vitamin C, this vegan citrus salad is the perfect summertime pick-me-up.
– We love the crunch in this Strawberry Chicken Salad with Warm Vinaigrette almost as much as all the vitamin A it contains.
– Get lost in the sweet and tangy tastes of this tutti frutti poppy seed salad—you won’t even realize you’re taking in a full serving of fiber.
Want more ideas? Check out our MyPlate: Salads board on Pinterest.
