When we want to drop a few pounds, we often turn to salads. However, the novelty soon wears off when flavours become same-old and the thought of eating another piece of lettuce makes us want to cry.
It doesn’t have to be that way! There’s far more foods you can add to your salad dishes other than tomatoes and cucumber, and although some might sound a little strange or unconventional at first – don’t knock them until you try them!
Hopefully, they will inspire you to spice up your salads! And not frighten you away…
Vegetables – Peppers, Carrots, Broccoli, Asparagus, Beetroot, Peas, Celery, Red onion, Sweet potato, Olives, Sweetcorn, Radishes, and Mushrooms. (You can try your vegetables pickled, raw, marinated, grilled, or roasted.)
Eggs – Poached, Hard boiled, Soft boiled.
Dried fruit – Blueberries, Raisins, Mango, Cranberries, Apricots, and Cherries.
Whole Grains – Barley, Rice, Quinoa, and Couscous.
Seeds – Sesame seeds, Ground flax seeds, Sunflower seeds, and Chia seeds.
Seafood – Crab sticks/cakes, Shrimp, Prawns, Scallops, Tuna, and Cockles.
Vegetarian Protein – Tofu, Edamame, Kidney beans, Hummus, and Quorn.
Meat – Turkey breast, Chicken breast, Bacon, Ham, and Steak. (It’s an effective way of getting rid of leftovers.)
Nuts – Pecans, Cashews, Walnuts, Almonds, Pine nuts, and Pecans. (They’re great candied or roasted. Avoid salted if you can.)
Fruit – Pomegranate seeds, Apple, Avocado, Strawberries, Grapes, and Pears. (In dressing, chopped, segments, or thinly sliced.)
Herbs – Mint, Basil, Parsley, Dill, and Chives.
Cheese – Mozzarella, Parmesan, Cheddar, Blue cheese, and Gorgonzola. (It can be sliced, grated, or cumbled.)
Other – Croutons, Crispy noodles, Smashed avocado, Salsa, Pureed fruit or veg, Water chestnuts.
So, what do you think? As you can see, this list is far from exclusive – because really, you can put whatever you like on your salad if you’re truly brave enough. Explore different combinations and flavours and you’ll be surprised at how many ways there are to enjoy your salad!
