Easy, Healthy Summer Salads! Use as a main meal or side dish.
For an easy summer Shabbat lunch, with or without company, see how many fruits and veggies you can make! Then when you go to eat the leftovers…you won’t feel guilty – just happy and light and like you’ve set yourself up for a healthy week. That’s the Healthy Family, Healthy You way!
First, my recipe, and then one from www.Kalyn’sKitchen.com.
This first salad is a hearty weekday meal filled with different colors and textures. This works great for a one dish dinner or lunch. If you’re not watching carbs, perhaps add a side of garlic bread made on sprouted whole grain bread, like Ezekiel. I’ve been meaning to finally try to make my own seed crackers for the past month or two, but just haven’t gotten there yet. Those would also make a crunchy and filling side for this salad. I’m also about to finally experiment with Zucchini Chummus. That sounds like a guilt free dip to round out this meal.
See recipe below.
Easy Summer Salad with Roasted Red Pepper and Avocado dressing
Serves 6-8
Salad ingredients
2 sticks celery, diced
1 cup cherry tomatoes
1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 cup shredded carrots
1 cup shredded purple cabbage
1 Persian cucumber, diced
2-3 cups spinach
1/4 cup sunflower seeds (raw, unsalted are best)
Combine all ingredients, except spinach and optional garnish, in mixing bowl. For individual servings, or for a group platter, spread spinach on bottom of plate, bowl or platter; then place vegetables on top, in the center. Drizzle dressing over salad. Optional garnish: 1 Tablespoon sunflower seeds per serving.
Roasted Red Pepper and Avocado Dressing
1 cup roasted red peppers
1 avocado
Juice of 1 lemon
1 small shallot
2 garlic cloves
Salt and Pepper to taste
Toss everything into the blender and blend!
Easy, peasy, lemon squeezey!
Chickpea and Edamame Salad with Lemon and Mint
Recipe by Kalyn’s Kitchen
I wish I could tell you this was my recipe, but it is not. Click on the picture or recipe title to get the detailed recipe. For those of you into paleo and whole30, her website should be a good resource. It’s great to know that someone who is into meat also knows how to put together a fantastic vegetable dish. This can be a vegetarian main dish or a hearty side dish. The bright green edamame just makes me happy!
(Uhh…by the way, I realize the above picture is pretty crappy. I have to commit to taking all of my dishes out to the sunroom to take pictures. That’s why the first one is so good. Be patient! I’m improving my food photography!)
Also, for everyone who feels like they have to grab chips or a granola bar for snacks, I have to tell you that I grabbed these leftovers the other day before I picked up the kids for Practice and Play at My Gym. I didn’t say a word to my kids about eating it (always a good way to get them to try something out of curiosity, rather than resist your orders and refuse to taste a dish). In fact, I hadn’t even realized that my daughter had been snacking on the salad until one of the teachers told me. I mentioned to my daughter that I wanted to show her the new Healthy Family, Healthy You book cover (I’ll be posting it shortly!). The teacher overheard and asked what the book was about. I told him it was a book to help parents feed their children healthy food, with nutrition information and a strategic plan, tips and tricks. He said, “Oh, that makes sense. You guys always have the coolest snacks. Your daughter was just eating away at those beans!” Oooh, I was so proud!
Do you have a salad you make that your kids enjoy? Let me know over on my Facebook page. Have you liked it yet? You know you want to…get healthy tips and tricks over there!