I’ve heard a lot of yummy-food-creators say that the 4 factors of an awesome salad are:
1 = the right foundation
2 = something crunchy
3 = good protein
4 = good fat
Here’s how I make a salad that I call “complete” because it has everything you need for a fulfilling meal, all in one bowl.
Factor 1 = the right foundation
The entire veggie world is your oyster, but the easiest foundation is leafy greens. Most people think the veggies have to be raw, but you can use steamed veggies as a base for any yummy salad, especially in the colder months.
Factor 2 = something crunchy
Apart from the veggies, great options can be: (handful of)
- roasted seeds
- raw or roasted nuts
Factor 3 = good protein
Again anything goes, especially anything from a leftover meal, but if you’re doing salad for lunch, and you’ll be eating animal protein at dinner, lunch salads are the best opportunity to use plant proteins or eggs:
- beans
- hemp hearts
- organic sprouted tofu (ideally baked/cooked/seasoned to be yummy, of course)
- hard boiled egg
Factor 4 = good fat
This can be in the form of an olive oil-based dressing or added ingredient such as:
- avocado
- goat’s milk feta cheese
- olives
Of course, the obvious factor not mentioned is the dressing, so if you want some great ideas for yummy healthy salad dressings, check out this post.
