Top 5 Healthy Salad Recipes

Yummy and Fresh Salad Recipes

There’s really no way around it – salads are an essential part of any healthy diet and they really don’t have to be the same old boring version time and time again!

In addition to being low in carbs and generally low in fat (as long as you choose the right dressing and watch the cheese), the veggies in salads are packed full of vitamins and nutrients to support good health.

Being so nutritionally dense, salads will boost your energy and get you burning more fat and calories. And they’re versatile, which makes them great options for lunch, dinner, or snacking.

Here are 5 healthy salad recipes to add to your diet plan today. Whether your goal is to lose weight, burn fat, or support a healthy and active lifestyle, these are the kinds of recipes you want to write down!

My Top 5 Healthy Salad Recipes

1. Southwest Chicken Salad

Ingredients:

• ½ cup of salsa sauce
• ½ cup of fat-free sour cream
• 1 package of romaine & leaf lettuce salad mix
• ½ cup of shredded low-fat cheddar cheese
• ½ pound of grilled chicken, diced
• ½ cup of drained sliced black olives
• ½ cup of cherry tomatoes quartered
• 1 avocado, peeled and sliced

Directions: Whisk together salsa and sour cream. Coat lettuce with mixture, and toss with remaining ingredients. Serve with toasted flaxseed wrap for an extra crunch. Makes 4 servings.

2. Italian Chopped Salad

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of fresh baby spinach
• 1 medium tomato, seeded and chopped
• 1/3 cup of chopped bell peppers
• 3 ounces of non-fat ham (or alternative of choice), chopped
• 3 ounces of low-fat provolone cheese, cubed
• ½ cup of whole wheat Italian croutons
• 1/4 cup of red wine vinegar dressing

Directions: Toss together dry ingredients and drizzle with dressing. For an added protein boost, add a couple hard-boiled eggs. Makes 2 servings.

3. Mango Chicken Salad

Ingredients:

• 1 bag of coleslaw mix
• 1 ripe mango, peeled and diced
• ¼ cup of green onion, chopped
• ¼ cup of chopped toasted almonds
• 1 cup of diced cooked chicken breast
• ½ cup of low-fat yogurt-based dressing (could also use a low-fat poppy seed dressing)

Directions: Toss dry ingredients and drizzle with dressing. To make your own yogurt-based dressing, try combining equal parts peach flavored yogurt and white vinegar with ½ a teaspoon of dry ginger. Makes 4 servings.