Salads are full of nutrition, but they don’t excite
most of us. Worse, while leafy greens and vegetables are
great for your health, they can leave you feeling hungry
again in short order.
It doesn’t have to be that way! Check out these four
hearty salad recipes that will keep you satisfied until
your next meal:
#1: Lemony Seafood Salad
This salad combines fresh lemon juice with colorful
veggies and low-calorie imitation crab meat for a great
light meal.
Ingredients:
1 package imitation crab meat
1 green bell pepper, sliced thin
1 red bell pepper, sliced and diced
3 cups thinly sliced red cabbage leaves
3 cups thinly sliced green cabbage leaves
1 cup fat-free mayonnaise
1/4 cup freshly-squeezed lemon juice
2 tsp sugar (or Stevia)
2 tsp white wine vinegar
2 tsp hot pepper sauce
Directions:
In a mixing bowl, blend the mayonnaise, lemon juice,
sugar, vinegar, and pepper sauce. In a larger bowl,
combine the crab meat, peppers, and cabbage. Toss with the
blended dressing mixture and keep cold until meal time.
#2: Filet Mignon Couscous Salad
This recipe combines hearty filet mignon with the
classic flavors of Greek cuisine.
Ingredients:
1 beef filet, cooked to taste
1 cup whole grain couscous, cooked as directed
10 cherry tomatoes, halved
1 small cucumber, halved and sliced
6 basil leaves, halved
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup toasted pine nuts
1/4 cup feta cheese crumbles
Directions:
Cook the filet to suit your taste. Season with sea salt
and freshly ground black pepper.
In a large bowl, mix the cooked couscous, cucumber,
tomatoes, and basil leaves. Drizzle with the olive oil,
and serve on a plate with sliced filet on top. Sprinkle
with toasted pine nuts to complete the meal.
#3: Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad
Roasted chicken breast is paired with walnuts and
cranberries for a heart-healthy taste sensation.
Ingredients:
1 boneless chicken breast, roasted and sliced
3 cups baby spinach leaves
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup bleu cheese crumbles
Fat-free raspberry vinaigrette
Directions:
Roast the chicken breast until cooked throughout. Slice
it into strips.
Arrange the baby spinach leaves on a plate. Sprinkle
with walnuts, cranberries, and bleu cheese. Place the
chicken slices on top. Drizzle with raspberry vinaigrette
and serve immediately.
#4: Canadian Bacon Sweet Potato Salad
Ham and potatoes take on a new twist in this nutritious
salad blend.
Ingredients:
1 bag baby spinach leaves
1 large sweet potato, peeled and sliced into 1/4 inch strips
1/4 pound Canadian bacon, cut in strips
8 oz green beans, cut in half
1/2 red onion, thinly wedged
2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup light honey-Dijon dressing
Directions:
Cover serving plate with spinach leaves.
Boil one cup of water with a pinch of salt. Add sweet
potato strips and green beans. Boil for approximately 6
minutes, until the potatoes are tender but not mushy.
Drain water, add olive oil. Add Canadian bacon strips
and red onion wedges. Sautee with oil for 5 minutes over
medium heat.
Reduce heat to low and add light honey-Dijon dressing.
Stir until well-blended, and spoon the entire mixture over
the spinach leaves. Serve and enjoy some natural weight loss!
Bonus: Build-Your-Own Hearty Salad Meal
You can easily create a custom salad dish that won’t
leave you hungry. Just mix any of the following together,
top with a heart-healthy oil or a low-calorie salad
dressing, and savor the flavor!
Start with…
Baby spinach leaves
Romaine lettuce
Cabbage
Mixed salad greens
Add…
Roasted chicken breast slices
Lean beef, sliced or cubed
Canadian bacon, sliced
Smoked salmon
Imitation crab meat
Boiled shrimp
Sprinkle with…
Crumbled cheese
Sunflower seeds
Dried fruit
Tasty fresh herbs
Toasted nuts
This creation will keep you from getting bored, because
it helps you indulge in a variety of flavors without
devastating your diet. Bon appetit!