How to Spice up a Simple Salad

Senior Care in Wake Forest, NC

Salads filled with fresh veggies can make for healthy, nutrient-rich meals all year long. They are a great way for elderly adults to get fiber, essential vitamins, and minerals without any added sugars, trans fats, or artificial ingredients. Unfortunately, elderly adults living at home can get into a salad rut and eat the same combo of veggies over and over again. When the salad becomes boring, it becomes less desirable and may get swapped out for a less nutritious meal. However, it can be important to keep salads a part of the meal plan for their health benefits. Read on for some ideas on how to spice up a simple salad and make some unique combinations that you can enjoy from week to week.

A salad has some basic components: greens, proteins, cheeses, dressing, and crunchy toppings. Use the lists below to create your own combinations for delicious and nutritious entree salads:

Greens:

• Romaine Lettuce
• Iceburg Lettuce
• Bibb Lettuce
• Kale
• Cabbage
• Dandelion Greens
• Arugula
• Spring Greens
• Baby Lettuces

Proteins:

• Grilled Chicken
• Grilled Steak
• Cooked Salmon
• Black, Northern, or Pinto Beans
• Chick Peas
• Pork

Cheeses:

• Cheddar
• Mozzarella
• Parmesan
• Blue Cheese
• Gorgonzola
• Provalone

Dressings:

• A simple blend of oil and vinegar
• Oil and lemon juice
• Honey Mustard
• Poppyseed
• Raspberry vinaigrette
• A creamy ranch
• French
• Green Goddess

Toppings:

• Croutons – store-bought or homemade
• Baked tortilla strips
• Nuts
• Sunflower Seed
• Crispy chow mein noodles

Fun Extras:

• Raisins or dried cranberries
• Mandarin oranges
• Apple Slices
• Melon chunks
• Mango chunks
• Figs
• Corn

Don’t Forget Your Colorful Veggies:

• Carrots
• Beets
• Red cabbage
• Bell peppers
• Red onion
• Avocado
• Radishes
• Cucumbers
• Tomatoes

Source

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/salad-ideas.html

Spice it Up: Salad Topping Ideas