Salads are a simple way to get in your greens for the day, and with the addition of protein and extra vegetables, they make a nutritiously complete, all-in-one meal. There’s just one problem though: Most people find salads boring.
No one wants to eat iceberg lettuce with chicken breast and the same dressing every day. However, making salads “interesting” is often synonymous with making them unhealthy. But this doesn’t have to be the case. Read on to learn 5 simple ways you can liven up your salads daily and actually look forward to eating them.
Tips to make delicious and healthy salads
1: Switch up the greens
Mix up those leaves to add different tastes and textures to your salads and to vary the nutritional profile. Some greens are more nutritious than others, and by throwing some arugula, kale or spinach in your salad, or even some dandelion leaves, you’ll add extra nutrients and keep the flavor interesting too.
Even experimenting with different varieties of lettuce can be a welcome change!
2: Add crunch
Ensuring your salad includes a variety of textures will make it instantly more appetizing. There are countless combinations to choose from – creamy avocado, crisp greens and crunchy vegetables – you can try all sorts of ingredients to keep things interesting.
Ramp up the crunch factor by adding roasted nuts like almonds or walnuts, toasted seeds, or even sliced onions to your next salad. The additional flavor, texture and nutrients will provide extra appeal and keep you feeling satisfied.
3: Add a warm element
Cold salads are great but have you ever tried a warm salad? This small change can liven things up substantially since warm salad ingredients often differ from ones used in cold salads. You can get creative and introduce new ideas you haven’t tried before.
For example, warm vegetables, a warm protein, or other warm elements will add variety and contrast, and provide you with a completely different salad experience. If you’re taking your salad to work or school, keep the warm element separate and heat it up before mixing with the other ingredients.
4: Add something sweet
Adding a hint of sweetness can liven up a salad too by providing a contrast in tastes. The best way to include extra sweetness is to use honey in your dressing or to add a handful of your favorite fruits to the mix.
Fruits such as berries, citrus, or even peaches would be good choices. Or just pick whatever works best with the rest of your salad, and you’ll be good to go!
5: Ditch the greens all together...
Not every salad comes with a bed of lettuce or other leafy greens. In fact, you can use lots of other vegetables – like cucumbers, beets, grated carrots, or even sweet potatoes – as a base.
Swapping the greens for vegetables or perhaps grains, like quinoa, will give your salads a new lease of life, and create a whole new range of recipes you’ll want to make again and again.
Read: A healthy sweet and sour chicken recipe
Salads don't have to be boring
In fact, you can experiment with endless variations to ensure that you eat a tasty, healthy salad every day without ever being bored again. It’s up to you, so get creative and change it up! Doing so will make being healthy that much simpler.
