Healthy Salad Recipes

Are you looking for healthy salad recipes?

Although salads often seem like the most healthy item on the menu, they are often packed diet busters like high calorie dressings and toppings that lack nutritional value.

Here are 8 tips for preparing tasty, healthy salads:

1. Use different types of salad greens add variety to your salads. Load your salad up with fresh, crisp vegetables that are filling, but low in calories. Mushrooms, broccoli, carrots, tomatoes, cauliflower, red onion, bell pepper, cucumbers, purple cabbage and beets are filling, healthy options.
   

2. Avoid prepackaged salad dressings that contain unhealthy ingredients like trans fat and high fructose corn syrup. Look for low-fat options or prepare your own dressings using olive oil and vinegar or your favorite homemade dressing recipe.
   

3. Dry your salad greens thoroughly before adding them to your salad so the water from the lettuce does not dilute the dressing, causing you to use more dressing than necessary.
   

4. Measure your dressing before placing it on your salad, or leave your dressing on the side. Dipping your salad in dressing is a great way to add flavor to your salad without adding too many calories. Salad spritzers are also a great way to prevent using excess dressing.
   

5. Use fruit like mandarin oranges, strawberries, raspberries, grapes, sliced pears, sliced apples and pineapple to sweeten your salads. Mixed fresh fruit is also makes a healthy side dish.
   

6. Use grilled chicken, turkey, fish and nuts in place protein with a high fat content like fried chicken strips, bacon and cheese. Legumes like black beans, chick peas and kidney beans are also a source of healthy protein, as well as fiber.
   

7. If you can't resist toppings like bacon, croutons, crispy noodles and cheese, go ahead and use them, but in moderation. Instead of covering your salad in shredded cheese, sprinkle on a little parmesan, crumbled blue cheese or feta.
   

8. Watch your serving sizes. Using healthy salad recipes does not give you a license to overeat. Serve your salad on a small plate, eat slowly and stop eating as soon as you good full.
   

You can have your cake and eat it too! Salads can be both healthy and satisfying if you take time to choose the right ingredients.