The Best Salads For Healthy Eating

It is often difficult for the non-salad person to become interested in salads. How can someone like the concept of a bowl of iceberg lettuce with a half wedge of tomato, drizzled in ranch dressing? Is that even good for the body? The truth is, finding the right elements to put in a salad can make or break the concoction for everyone. Since salads are often the vegetable in a meal, nutrition needs to be a primary consideration in the ingredients.

For starters, iceberg lettuce is rarely the best foundation of a salad. It has very little nutritional value, and it lacks flavor. A better alternative is either Romaine lettuce or spinach leaves. They can add much to the basis of a salad. Try mixing different types of greens together to get a variety of flavors. Sometimes, cucumbers can fill out the taste of the green portion of the salad.

The decorative elements of a salad are often the part that make or break the taste of the mix. Certain croutons are loaded with oils and fats, and can make the salad plummet in nutritional value. Try replacing bacon bits with hard boiled eggs, dried cranberries, or even carrot slices. This will keep the salad from resembling the main course in fat content.

The dressing of a salad can be where the battle for healthy eating is won or lost. Ranch, French, and other creamy dressings are high in sugars and fats. Often times, this can make a salad worse for the body than a cheese burger. The alternatives are many, from vinaigrette to do-it-yourself dressing packets. This change can also add new flavors to the salad that give it some zest.

Healthy eating does not have to be boring. There are endless possibilities to making salads exciting and unique. Blending fruits with nuts and the occasional grated cheese can make something that any family is bound to enjoy. The key is all in creativity, while being mindful of the sugars and fats that are being added. Healthy foods are always in reach, and all it takes is minding the labels.