MyPlate For The Heart

1. Spread it out thin and spritz it

For this Berry Spritzer Salad we spread the lettuce out on a big platter and spritzed with Italian dressing. Then we topped with berries and toasted nuts.

2. Heat and toss

Veggie Stir Fry Salad – We made a veggie stir fry and tossed with fresh spinach – it is served warm and was a staff favorite – even by teenagers!

3. Toss and top

Spinach Honey Mustard Yogurt Salad – We made dressing with yogurt, honey, mustard and vinegar, tossed it with spinach and then topped it with goodies that include: apples, oranges, red onion and toasted nuts.

4. Toss it all

Spring or Summer Tossed Salad – Here is a spring or summer salad – made with a variety of fresh ingredients and then tossed with a tiny drizzle of olive oil, lemon and fresh parsley.

5. Make it a dinner

Lentil Rice Garden Salad – This is one of my favorite recipes of all times – it has lentils and rice, fresh lettuce, olive oil, lemon, parsley, grated carrots and a string of balsamic glaze over the top.

You can buy the balsamic glaze ready made or it is easy to make it yourself: Take 2 cups of balsamic vinegar and simmer lightly for 20 minutes on the top of the stove until you have about 1/2-3/4 of a cup – less than half the amount left. The vinegar will be thick so it can lightly cover the back of a spoon. Cool and store covered at room temperature until ready to use. It is great on salads or in marinades.

Those are 5 of the ways we just finished making 25 salads in 2 days! And wow – when you want to be creative you can go miles beyond.

What is our secret?

MIS EN PLACE – everything it its place – when you prepare all ingredients ahead of time, the salad, or meal you are preparing, goes together quickly and easily. Cleanup is a snap.

And what are 3 Easy Ways to Keep Salad Healthy? Hint: think IN, OUT, OUT!

1. Put lots of healthy ingredients IN – vegetables, dark leafy greens, herbs, flavored vinegars,

2. Keep high-fat items OUT – these include high-fat dressings, cheese, croutons, deli meat and mayonnaise salads

3. Keep sodium OUT – high sodium items include dressing, cheese, croutons, deli meat and mayonnaise salads

BONUS: keep them interesting and varied so you eat more every day!

Which of these is your favorite? Vote in our poll below.

Which one do you like to make? Tell us in our comments section and win – the top 5 comments win a free Salad Poster from the NutritionEducationStore.com

Check out our new eCookbook on Salads – not only will you get great recipes but you will improve your culinary skills.

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