Straying from the usual clothing, hair, and makeup posts today to chat about something just as important and relevant for looking and feeling your best…healthy eating! There’s something about getting a salad at the salad bar, ordering one at a restaurant, or grabbing one to-go that is so much more enticing than preparing one at home. Unfortunately, it’s not always convenient or possible to run out at lunch time, not to mention, takeout can get pretty expensive. Luckily, I’ve got a few tricks for making tastier, easier, and more exciting salads at home, and I promise you, they work!
I will be the first to admit that I’ve got a slight addiction to fast food …and alllllll of the not-so-healthy snacks. However, I’ve been trying to eat my guilty pleasures in moderation and have actually cut back a ton over the last year! It’s probably that whole getting older thing, but I’ve become so much more conscious about what I put into my body and the way certain foods make me feel after eating them. On top of that, with everything that happened to my Dad recently, I’ve found myself pretty turned off to junk food, which I suppose is a good thing.
A few months ago I took the time to figure out what exactly it was about ordering a salad that made it so much more enjoyable than making one. Maybe I’m alone, but here is what I came up with:
- Yummier ingredients
- No hassle/no prep-time
- Chopped!
- To-go container. Yes, this was really a thing.
It seemed an easy enough problem to fix, so I got to work!
SHOP
The first thing I did was go to the grocery store to pick out some of my favorite salad ingredients. Yes, salads can be loaded with hidden calories, but I tried to be smart with my choices and use certain foods sparingly. At the end of the day, using a tablespoon of a creamy dressing or adding a slice of avocado isn’t going to throw you off track; and if that’s what you like, it’s worth every bite!
My favorite combo as of late is iceberg & romaine lettuce, sliced roasted chicken breast, turkey bacon, corn, tomatoes, shredded cheddar (which I forgot to photograph for this post), avocado, and a creamy chipotle ranch dressing.
PREP
I took about an hour (probably less) on a Sunday to prepare everything the way I liked it so it was ready to go for the week! I baked the turkey bacon until it was extra crispy (this is key), I cooked the corn, and then chopped up the lettuce, chicken (get cold cuts so there’s nothing to bake!), avocado, and tomatoes! I like my salads (and all of my food to be honest) completely chopped. Everyone always makes fun of me because my plate usually resembles that of a 5 year old — I chop everything so tiny! I then packaged each ingredient in its own container or plastic bag and popped it into the fridge for the week!
TO-GO CONTAINERS
Tupperware just doesn’t cut it, it makes your food feel too homemade (which seems silly, I know, but I love a good to-go container). I initially grabbed a couple containers from Naked Greens to get me started, but I’ve since ordered some online. You can find a ton of options, but I like this style container best. I know this isn’t exactly environmentally conscious, but I do wash and reuse each container a couple of times before tossing. 🙂
ASSEMBLE
Once everything is cooked, chopped, and packaged, all that’s left to do is assemble. Every morning or evening all you need to do is pull out your ingredients, toss them into a container, and you’re good to go! No cooking, no chopping, no mess! Come lunch time, I add just a bit of dressing and shake it up. 🙂 An easy salad… full of everything you love… that’ll definitely have you looking forward to lunchtime.
This has proven to be the easiest way for me to build yummy salads at home! It’s essentially my own mini salad bar. 🙂 It may seem a bit odd, but I kid you not, I’ve not only been enjoying my DIY salads, but I’ve been craving them! I’ve been playing with some different flavor combinations, but this one is definitely a favorite.
Let me know if you make your own salads at home & what ingredients you like to use! 🙂
XOXO
Looks amazing! Nicely done. I like to make taco salad, but use beans seasoned up with taco seasoning in place of meat. Love the colors!
I love the idea of seasoning the beans! I’m not a huuuuge meat person, so that’s definitely something I want to try. And taco anything is my favorite!!
I love making salads at home. I usually start with kale, spinach or cabbage and add whatever I have on hand. I like adding berries, like blueberries and strawberries. I add nuts and craisens. If I want a less sweet salad, I’ll do red onions, black olives, avocado, little tomatoes, cheese. I also love experimenting with different dressings.
Ooooh yum! Those all sound delicious; adding fruit is one of my favorite things to do in summer! Adding feta or gorgonzola and some nuts is the best!!
I need to get into the habit of doing this more often! I do like the idea of prepping all your ingredients beforehand- major time saver right there! Yours looks so yummy! In the summer, I love to mix watermelon or strawberries in with my salad.
Yum!! I love fresh fruit in salad …with some kind of crumble cheese & a few nuts. 🙂 At-home salads get such a bad rap, but they can definitely be easy & delish!! XO