Many of us reach for salads when we’re trying to make the healthier choice, but sometimes salads just really suck. And who’s actually willing to eat healthy long-term if the food isn’t even remotely satisfying?
Salads are often thought of as boring, not filling, and just overall…not very appetizing. It’s easy to make these types of salads, but it’s not easy to choke them down. While I definitely make boring salads every once in awhile (and immediately regret everything), I also know what it takes to make an absolutely DELICIOUS pile of greens.
Just like when I posted my tips for making better sandwiches, I wanted to share some advice for how to step your salad game up a notch, so you actually like what you’re eating and don’t swear off salads forever.
While salads aren’t necessary to lead a healthy lifestyle, they can be a powerhouse of nutrients all in one little (but preferably big) bowl.
1. Mix up the type of leaves you use.
I used to only make salads with spinach, because it’s obviously amazing for you. But once I started branching out with different types of leaves, it changed everything. (For the love of God, romaine, stop getting contaminated.) If you’re feeling crazy, include different leaves in the same salad; some people even incorporate herbs.
2. Don’t underestimate the power of a good dressing.
Whether you make your own dressing or find a simple store-bought one that isn’t full of sugar and hard-to-pronounce ingredients, the dressing can make or break a salad. I’ve started to really embrace certain dressings because they completely transform the entire salad. My absolute favorite homemade recipes include my Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette, Olive Oil & Vinegar Dressing, and Poppy Seed Dressing.
3. Don’t shy away from toppings.
In my opinion, the toppings are the whole point of the salad (sometimes I don’t even add lettuce). And I’m not just talking chopped veggies here. Sure, sometimes I add purely vegetables, and it can be great (with the right dressing, of course)—but magic happens when you go beyond the obvious. Try incorporating fruits, nuts, seeds, different proteins, etc. You might be surprised how different topping combos can create such a delicious salad!
4. Use a theme to help you branch out and get creative.
I wrote a whole post about using a theme to make salads less boring, because it completely changed the way I look at salad prep. Instead of making the same salads over and over, which gets extremely boring, I tried thinking about what salad components would work together that I might not normally think of. Think through themes and you might create a masterpiece (yes, still talking about salads here).
5. Make it a big salad so you’re not hungry after five minutes.
Anytime I see someone with a small salad that they call “lunch,” I get really sad for them, because 1. they usually look boring and 2. I know they’re going to be hungry in no time. As long as you’re not loading your salad with heavy dressings and sugary toppings, chances are you can afford a much bigger salad than you think. Make a big salad that actually does the term “meal” justice. And pro tip: use a much bigger bowl than you think you’ll need; it just makes your life so much easier.
6. Indulge in fun add-ins once in awhile.
As I mentioned above, you don’t really want to weigh your salad down with sugar and saturated fat—it defeats the whole point—but that doesn’t mean you can’t throw in some fun toppings once in awhile. I’m talking items like dried fruit, cheese, tortilla chips, corn, creamy dressings, and croutons (Cajun Roasted Chickpeas are my go-to alternative). If anything, just make sure you add a reasonable amount that won’t undo your effort to eat healthy. A little bit won’t hurt, but it can make the entire salad so much more palatable.
7. Make it ahead of time when you’re actually motivated.
Salads can take some effort, and I don’t know about you but when I’m hungry…I’m not very willing to slave over my meal. I do know, however, that having food already prepared can make a huge difference in what I’m willing to eat. Whether you prep certain ingredients or put it all together in a container (shout-out to mason jar salads), having the salad already made may be the trick that actually motivates you to eat them. But obviously…follow my above tips so you’re not just meal prepping bland salads that you feel obligated to eat.
How do you make salads more exciting?
