Side Stepping Disaster Salads

What you need to know

Does your mouth start to water when you think of mile long salad bars? As far as the eye can see, are all the greens you could possibly want... Unfortunately a lot of them are slightly brown on the edges, but that's okay, there is so much more to choose from. You have the potato and pasta salads to check out, not to mention, the cheese, pickles and other goodies you can add to the plate. And then comes all of those crunchies that you get to sprinkle after drizzling the salad dressing. And if that isn't enough, there are all the different kinds of breads available. Does it get any better than this? And that is just for starters. Unfortunately, after a meal like that, we have probably consumed about a zillion calories without giving it a thought.

But salad can be a good thing if you stay away from the items that are full of fat and salt. Salads don't have to be boring... you simply have to be creative! Here are some possibilities for some pretty spectacular salads, at home or at the salad bar.

Greens...
Personally I prefer fresh spinach leaves over anything else, but check out what is available. There are so many greens that can be the beginning of a great salad. All you have to do is pick your favorite. Try never to pick the same greens twice. That will open up so many possibilities.

Dressings...
At home I make or rely on low fat, low sodium dressings or if I have any lemons or limes handy, I drizzle fresh juice over the salad. It has an amazing flavor and doesn't overpower the veggies.

Toppings...
This is where the fun begins. There are so many healthy items you can add to your salad. Here is a list of my favorites. Copy them down or create your own list.
Cherry tomatoes, chopped hard boiled egg, radishes, bean sprouts, chopped apple, cucumbers, sweet red pepper... grilled it's even better. I could continue, but you get the idea.

Sprinkles...
Although I stay away from the bacon bits because of the salt content, I do rely on different kinds of nuts and seeds. I have used everything from sunflower seeds to toasted pecans. They are all delicious. *Note... there is a high fat content with seeds and nuts, so only a sprinkling.
~If you have been really good all week, you might want to add a sprinkling of grated old cheese. Unfortunately it is high in both fat content and salt, so keep this topping to a minimum as well.

Now enjoy every bite, you deserve it!