6 Healthy Salads That Are Anything But Boring

Embracing a healthier lifestyle means making lighter food choices, whether you’re doing it to lose weight or just feel better overall. For many people, this will naturally involve eating more salads. Does the idea make you cringe and want to run back to tacos and hamburgers? Maybe that’s because your idea of salads centers on lettuce, a few veggies, and bland dressing. But salads can be much more than that. Here are 4 alternatives to traditional salad that will have you excited to make greens a central part of your eating life.

Ditch the lettuce

Are you someone who wants to avoid lettuce altogether? Try this Avocado Tomato Salad. It’s chock full of vitamins and fresh summer veggies that make it a refreshing treat. Jalapeños add a bit of bite. Eat it on its own or with low-salt chips.

Make a play on noodles with this Zucchini Buffalo Chicken Salad. Instead of pasta, it uses zucchini spirals as the vehicle for the sauce, turning what can be a high-calorie favorite into a lighter, nutrient-dense treat.

Kick it up with meat

Meat can bring excitement to any salad. Add flavorful zest to your day with this Asian Summer Salad With Marinated Steak. It offers the delectable umami flavor that you can’t get enough of in a lighter, more waistline-friendly way. It is also completely customizable. If steak isn’t your thing, you can use chicken or tofu instead.

Inject some spice into your life with this Spicy Carnitas Salad Bowl. Not only does this dish use savory carnitas to amp up the flavor, it also features mustard greens, apples, and shaved brussel sprouts as the base instead of traditional lettuce.

Flavor with fruit

Fruit can be a wonderful addition to all types of salads. This Spring Salad With Fruit, Feta, and Pecans is simple to prepare and even features homemade dressing that uses only 4 common ingredients.

For a salad that will be fresh no matter the season, try this Grilled Chicken Salad With Seasonal Fruit. Use fresh berries in the summer and customize it with whatever is fresh the rest of the year.

Eating well doesn’t have to be dull. Make your salads more enticing by focusing on the good foods you love and getting creative.