7 Ways to Dress Up Your Boring Salad

We all know we need to eat more of it. But who really gets excited about fork fulls of lettuce slathered in dressing? No one. Well, maybe some people. Most people choose salad as a healthy lunch or dinner option – a way to get some green veggies in. Here’s the thing. If your salad is made up of nutrient dense lettuce like Iceberg with nothing much by way of toppings you’re saving calories but missing out on all of the great nutrients and vitamins that a well made salad has to offer.

Here are some ways to help you fall in love with salad.

Use more than one lettuce

Let’s start with the base of the salad: the lettuce. Use a mixture of lettuces to give your base more flavor. There’s Arugula, Romaine, Spinach, Buttercrunch, Red Coral, Oakleaf, Radiccihio, Cos, Rocket, Watercress… All of these lettuces have different textures and differnt flavors and are way more interesting than your standard romaine or iceberg.

Add unexpected ingredients 

Your lettuce mix doesn’t have to be made entirely of lettuce. There are fresh herbs and other veggies that can be chopped up and thrown in. Herbs make your lettuce mix come to life becuase of their bold flavors. Here are some ideas: sliced Brussels Sprouts, Kale, Chicory, Cilantro, Oregano, Sage, Basil, Parsley or red and green Cabbage.

Add raw veggies

Tomotoes and onions are not the only vegetables you can add to a salad. There’s avacado, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, carrots, radishes, peppers, etc. All of these raw veggies make excellent additions to any salad.

Roast some veggies

Not everything in your salad has to be raw. Roasting veggies brings out the flavor of the vegetable and makes a great topping for salad. Try roasting beets, asparagus, brussel sprouts, sweet potatoes, corn or potatoes.

Add crunch with nuts

Nuts are an excellent source of protein and a great way to add some crunch to your salad. Try roasting them to add a deeper flavor. Nuts that go great in salads include almonds, pecans, walnuts, hazelnuts, and cashews.

Add beans

Beans are another excellent source of protein that go well in salad. Black beans, white beans, garbanzo beans, and kidney beans all make great additions.

Sweeten it up with fruit

Outside of veggies you could also go the fruit route. Fruit is an excellent way to add some variety. Fruits that go well in salads are strawberries, peaches, apples, apricots, plums and mangoes. Dried fruits like raisins, cranberries and cherries are also good salad toppers.

Your salads don’t have to be boring. There are so many ways you can throw a salad together, you just have to get creative! How do you top your salads?