Salad Love: Part II

Falling into a rut—optimistically called “doing what’s working”—is another frequent beginner’s mistake that can lead to plateau, decreased health, and eventually falling off the wagon. Why? Many people find patterned eating is an easy key to resisting temptation. They eat the same thing for breakfast every day. Some people go so far as to eat the same things for breakfast lunch or dinner. They consistently reach for the same snacks. This may feel like an easy initial way to address bad habits and cravings, but it doesn’t mark the transition to a new lifestyle that you can live with in the long run. Proper nutrition requires a certain degree of variety; no one food provides the full spectrum of nutrients your body needs. New research even suggests that your body’s absorption of nutrients is improved if nutrients are received irregularly.

There are some key salad combos that are consistent winners (recipes will follow for Greek Salad and Pear and Blue cheese Salad). But remember, the heart of gourmet is finding joy in experimentation. At first many people feel uncomfortable with experimentation. As with any new task, you may have to force yourself in the beginning. Consciously break out of your old patterns. Make a deal with yourself to try one new element each time you make a salad.

Some ideas...

Sweetness

• Apples
• Pears
• Raisins (or for an even healthier alternative: finely chopped prunes)
• Mandarin Oranges
• Papaya
• Mango
• Strawberries

Vegetables

• Beets, Red or Golden
• Corn
• Peas
• Chopped Celery
• Thinly sliced red onion
• Cucumbers
• Tomatoes, Cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes
• Green, red or yellow peppers
• Jimaca
• Radishes
• Artichokes, spicy marinated artichokes

Protein

• Garbanzo Beans
• Black Beans
• Grilled Chicken
• Grilled Steak
• Grilled Shrimp

If you enjoyed this article, you may also enjoy:
Salad Love Part I
Heidi's Salad