As a swimsuit model, I am particularly cautious, as I'm sure you can imagine, of my weight, but I do love all kinds of food. I have been able to mix my passion for gourmet food with maintaining my weight with salads.
The pre-packaged salads you find in the markets bore me. Often, a salad for me is a meal, and I'd to share some of the ingredients I use in salad to not only make them delicious, but healthy too. I hope you find my blog interesting.
Salads are a powerhouse of nutrients and fresh flavors. They
are refreshing; they are fun, and you can make them anyway you'd like. This
time of the year people start eating more salad, but you can maximize the health
benefit of salads by adding these super-healthy vegetables, nuts, fruits,
cooked beans, lettuce, and salad dressing:
Asparagus
Add elegance to your salad with the creamy, savory taste of asparagus. Asparagus is rich in dietary fiber, which is great for lowering bad cholesterol levels and regulating blood sugar levels, antioxidants, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, B-Vitamin complex, and essential minerals.
Summer Squash
Add the colors of spring and the taste of summer to your salad with Summer Squash. Squash is a good source of fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, folate, riboflavin, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, and Vitamin B6. The health benefits of Summer Squash includes: improves vision, lowers cholesterol, lowers blood pressure, fights cancer, controls PMS symptoms and more.
Pistachios
Add an exotic flare to your salad with the addition of warm and toasty, green pistachios. Pistachios contain many nutrients such as protein, fiber, Vitamin B6, thiamin, phosphorous, and magnesium which are great for controlling your weight and helping with heart problems.
Grilled Fruit
Grilled fruit adds a sweet and smoky flavor to your salad. Let your salad wisp you away to the islands with the tropical flavors of sweet, juicy grilled pineapple, exotic, grilled plantains, and creamy, shredded coconut.
Asparagus
Add elegance to your salad with the creamy, savory taste of asparagus. Asparagus is rich in dietary fiber, which is great for lowering bad cholesterol levels and regulating blood sugar levels, antioxidants, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, B-Vitamin complex, and essential minerals.
Summer Squash
Add the colors of spring and the taste of summer to your salad with Summer Squash. Squash is a good source of fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, folate, riboflavin, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, and Vitamin B6. The health benefits of Summer Squash includes: improves vision, lowers cholesterol, lowers blood pressure, fights cancer, controls PMS symptoms and more.
Pistachios
Add an exotic flare to your salad with the addition of warm and toasty, green pistachios. Pistachios contain many nutrients such as protein, fiber, Vitamin B6, thiamin, phosphorous, and magnesium which are great for controlling your weight and helping with heart problems.
Grilled Fruit
Grilled fruit adds a sweet and smoky flavor to your salad. Let your salad wisp you away to the islands with the tropical flavors of sweet, juicy grilled pineapple, exotic, grilled plantains, and creamy, shredded coconut.
- Pineapples - Pineapples are a great source of Vitamin A, C, calcium, potassium, phosphorous, and fiber. Its nutrient content is great for strengthening bones, keeping gums healthy, alleviating arthritis symptoms, lowering your risk of Mascular Degeneration, and improving digesting.
- Plantains - This banana-like fruit is a great source of fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, potassium, niacin, B complex vitamins, folate, iron, magnesium, and phosphorous. They contain more Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and potassium than a banana and are great for providing starch and energy, soothing kidney and bladder problems, and easing menstrual discomfort.
- Coconut - This "super-food" is rich in good fatty acids, fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. The health benefits of the coconut include: provides a nutritional source of energy and endurance, supports tissue repair, helps protect against kidney and bladder infections, protects against liver disease, helps control weight, reduces inflammation, helps kill bacteria associated with ulcers, cavities, throat infections, gingivitis and more.
Canellini Beans
Add warm, buttery, meaty flavor to your salad with cooked Cannellini beans. Cannellini beans are a great source of B Complex vitamins, zinc, potassium, iron, essential minerals, saponins, isoflavins, soluble fiber, and more protein than any other plant based food. They provide a good balance or protein and complex carbohydrates, which provides a slow steady source of glucose.
The Best Types of Lettuce
Not all lettuce is created equal; add the following lettuce to your salad to really boost its nutritional value.
Add warm, buttery, meaty flavor to your salad with cooked Cannellini beans. Cannellini beans are a great source of B Complex vitamins, zinc, potassium, iron, essential minerals, saponins, isoflavins, soluble fiber, and more protein than any other plant based food. They provide a good balance or protein and complex carbohydrates, which provides a slow steady source of glucose.
The Best Types of Lettuce
Not all lettuce is created equal; add the following lettuce to your salad to really boost its nutritional value.
- Romaine - Romaine lettuce is said to be the healthiest of all lettuce. It adds a variety of flavors and textures to your salad and is a great source of Vitamin A, K, C, B1, folate, fiber, biotin, and molybdenum.
- Spinach - For a tender texture, with a light crunch, add or use Spinach leaves as your salad base. Spinach is rich in folate, Vitamin C, K, A, E, B vitamins, calcium, iron, copper, fiber, protein, and omega 3 fats. The nutrient content in Spinach is great for prostate health, regulating eye health, keeping bones strong and healthy and more.
- Endive - Endive lettuce provides a fun way to enjoy your salad in a aperitif-like fashion. Endive lettuce is a great source of Vitamin C, A, B vitamins, fiber, antioxidants, and essential minerals. This lettuce is great for protecting against oral and lung cancers, lowering bad cholesterol, and maintaining eye sight.
Top it Off with an Easy Low Fat Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup fresh raspberries
- 2 Tbsp organic raw honey
- 1/4 cup raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar
- 3/4 cup olive oil
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp basil
- 1/4 cup water
Directions
Place ingredients into a blender. Blend until smooth, and enjoy!
Place ingredients into a blender. Blend until smooth, and enjoy!
-Linda Vojtova
