Got kale-quinoa fatigue? It can be hard to find inspiration when it comes to making delicious salads that don’t just involve throwing whatever veggies you’ve got into a bowl. (That can work too, by the way.)
To help, we pulled all of our most creative salad recipes into one place.
RELATED: The Easiest Homemade Salad Dressing Ever
Each salad includes antioxidant-rich vegetables and plenty of fiber. Some have enough protein (think chickpeas) to qualify as lunch; others are better as a side dish. Bonus: There’s even a salad you can eat for (gasp!) breakfast.
The one thing they all have in common? They involve creative flavor combinations you’ve likely never tried before, to totally banish your salad boredom. Happy crunching!
7 Delicious Salads To Try Now
Pineapple Cucumber Lime Salad
Corn and Tomato Salad with Pine Nuts and Parm
Barley Breakfast Salad with Ricotta, Orange, and Pecans
Plum and Pecan Spinach Salad with Pomegranate Dressing
Chickpea, Broccoli Rabe, and Tomato Salad
Apple, Red Cabbage, and Cranberry Slaw
Green Salad with Shiitake Bacon and Turmeric
5 Instagram Salads to Inspire a Week of Healthy Lunches
It’s hard to find the inspiration to pack a healthy lunch to bring to work, but scrolling through Instagram salads can help.
Healthy food bloggers just have a knack for making kale covetable and turning cauliflower into…well… anything. It’s why they do what they do (or at least why you follow them).
RELATED: 5 Expert Tips for Healthy Food Photos on Instagram
And following their lead really is worth it, since research shows making your own meals means you’ll ingest fewer calories. You’ll also be less tempted to grab cholesterol-raising deep-fried falafel from that local food truck. Not to mention how much easier it will be to get through the afternoon slump if you’re powered by fresh veggies and clean protein.
RELATED: The Essential Guide to Plant-Based Protein
You don’t have to recreate their exact recipes, but check out these five gorgeous, healthy Instagram salads for inspiration, and then start spinning and chopping ahead.
5 Instagram Salads for Healthy Lunches
Steak and Kale Salad, @hemsleyhemsley
Spicy Thai Salad with Shrimp, @againstallgrain
Wheatberry and Cauliflower Salad, @eating_peanut_better
Roast Veggie Salad with Lentils, @deliciouslyella
Herbed Quinoa Salad with Chickpeas, @cookieandkate
3 Easy, Healthy, Homemade Salad Dressing Recipes
If you made homemade salad dressing, would you add titanium dioxide or monosodium glutamate (MSG) to it?
Um, no.
But guess what? There’s a good chance you’re drizzling these two ingredients (plus many more) on your fresh spinach and sliced tomato salad without realizing it!
Many seemingly benign bottled dressings include a laundry list of yuck ingredients including added sugar, unhealthy fats and gross preservatives, quickly turning your greens from a yay to a nay.
The good news? It’s not hard to do good by your go-to salad. Homemade salad dressing can be not only simple, fast and easy to make but it can also add awesome nutritional value without sacrificing taste.
Healthy fats help you absorb the fat soluble vitamins found in your salad and antioxidants from herbs and spices add anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory benefits to your fork. All my homemade salad dressings include both.
Skip the fuss of finding the perfect store bought dressing and make your own. These are my top 3 homemade dressings and they’re surprisingly easy to make!
3 Easy, Healthy, Homemade Salad Dressing Recipes
Keri’s Lemon Dressing:About 6 servings
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Kefir Avocado Dressing:
About 5 servings
- ½ cup Kefir
- ⅓ avocado
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon
- ½ clove garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Pomegranate Mint Dressing:
About 6 servings
- 6 tablespoons 100% pomegranate juice
- 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons fresh mint, finely chopped
Perfect Coleslaw and Potato Salad Without Mayo
Raise your hand if you equate a bbq with coleslaw, macaroni salad and potato salad. After all, they’re tradition, right?!
But let’s be honest. More often than not, many a backyard feast winds down with containers missing only one spoonful of each salad and a thin brown coating atop of what’s left.
In the end, they all wind up in the garbage.
Since we have all come to expect these traditional dishes at traditional cookouts, I am often asked what to eat at a fete that has burgers, dogs, mayo based salads and little else (answer, eat the lettuce, tomatoes, onions and pickles with a grilled burger and no bun).
If you’re looking forward summer bbqs this year, give your mayo salads a facelift and everyone will be eating them, loving you, and sticking to their healthy ways. Party on.
Coleslaw Without The Mayo
Coleslaw should be healthful! After, all, it’s mainly cabbage. Lots of more healthful versions use Greek yogurt to replace the mayo, but both ingredients expire quickly and you want to keep your guests safe.
Try a vinegar based coleslaw that is delicious and safer than the traditional version. I’d make a double batch and hope for leftovers!
Macaroni Salad Without The Mayo
Macaroni salad is comfort on a fork, but the processed pasta, fat-laden mayo and nutrient poor ingredients aren’t going to set you up for fueling yourself well.
Use a high fiber pasta and try a pasta salad full of veggies or a pesto pasta salad that uses good fats for amazing flavor. I’m not gonna lie, I’ve tossed in a spoonful or two of flax meal to boost the nutrition and nobody noticed.
Potato Salad Without The Mayo
Potato salad takes so much work to make — you gotta peel the potatoes, boil ‘em, wait for them to cool, dress them and then refrigerate them so the flavors can marry.
Who needs all that work for something so unappreciated? Try a farmer’s market potato salad that you can throw in the oven and feel great about eating.
Yes, I know coleslaw nad macaroni salad and potato salad without mayo is going to feel a little different. A little strange, maybe. Try these anyway! You can have the comfort and tradition without ditching your healthful ways. You’re welcome.