The Fall Salad Recipes That'll Help You Fight Your Junk Food Cravings (2024)

FAQs

What is the healthiest salad you can eat? ›

Best: Black Bean-and-Avocado Salad

The beans are a good source of disease-fighting antioxidants, and they have protein and fiber, as well as energy-boosting iron. Avocado adds creaminess and fiber. Plus, its fats help your body take in nutrients, including heart-healthy lycopene.

Crunchy Noodles, Wontons, and Tortilla Strips

“Crunchy noodles are like eating chips,” says Bonnie Taub-Dix, R.D.N., creator of BetterThanDieting.com and author of Read It Before You Eat It. All they add to your salad are calories (around 120 per half cup) and fat (half of those calories, at around 60 grams).

Choose dark, leafy lettuces such as romaine, spinach or arugula. Proteins. Add more satisfaction to your salad with grilled skinless poultry or fish with omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, trout and herring.

Two cups of romaine fulfill about 30 percent of your daily vitamin A, and nearly three-quarters of your vitamin K, per the USDA. To boost the nutritional value of your salad, mix romaine with some spinach or kale to pack in more antioxidants, or opt for a premixed blend.

Dark, leafy greens like spinach, kale and romaine are packed with fiber. Fiber is what makes us feel full, so be sure to choose salads that contain these greens. If you don't care for spinach or kale, you can stick to iceberg lettuce, but be sure to add protein to your greens.

An appetizer salad should stimulate the appetite and have fresh, crisp ingredients such as cheese, ham, salami, shrimp, crabmeat, or vegetables lightly coated with a tangy, flavorful dressing (that will 'wake up the mouth'). Appetizer salads should be substantial, but not filling.

You'll find salads created with an assortment of vegetables, including mixed greens, spinach, asparagus, scallions, edamame and beets, baby kale, and cilantro. Some salads include refreshing touches of fruit, such as apples, strawberries and pineapple.

What is the unhealthiest salad dressing? ›

And at the top of that list? Caesar dressing. Made up of mayonnaise, cheese, salt and oil (and all too often, anchovies), Caesar tends to be one of the least healthy options out there. Those ingredients cause it to be high in both saturated fats and sodium.

Fresh herbs, like basil, parsley, chives, cilantro, mint or dill, add flavor to salads and dressings. For a spicy kick, sprinkle some red pepper flakes. Make your own dressing. Bottled dressings are often lacking in taste and many contain artificial ingredients.

Can you lose weight by eating a salad every day? "Eating salads on a daily basis as part of an overall healthy lifestyle may support gradual weight loss over time," says Karnatz. "This is because leafy greens are low in calories and high in volume and fiber, which will keep you satisfied for longer," she adds.

Romaine lettuce: This lettuce is high in nutritional content. A traditional salad base, romaine lettuce contains healthy amounts of the minerals magnesium, calcium, potassium, and phosphorus. It also has high amounts of beta-carotene and vitamin K.

Although iceberg lettuce has many health benefits, it is commonly known as the salad green with the least nutritional value. To make sure you're getting enough vitamins and minerals throughout the course of your week, it's best to mix in iceberg lettuce with other salad greens like spinach, kale, chard, and watercress.

Whole heads of lettuce (instead of bagged greens) may also be safer. While whole heads don't necessarily have lower bacteria levels than packaged greens, their inner leaves are less exposed to sources of contamination and are handled less than bagged greens. This reduces the opportunities for contamination.