The beginning of summer and the opening of the farmer's markets is a great time to celebrate Greens!
Not just Lettuce - but some Greens you might not be familiar with. Getting to know different leafy greens has been an adventure for me. I have not eaten a lot of greens in my life and I have never even been adventurous when it comes to lettuce before I began my Food Sense journey. Perhaps I can inspire you to venture out of your comfort zone and start seeing Green!
They are one of the first crops that come up in the spring time and there are lots of different types readily available at the local markets and one of the first things that you will find welcoming you at your local farmer's market.
Creating a salad can be one of the easiest and best for you meals to prepare (just be sure you are too heavy handed with the dressing).
Start with your greens. There are so many to choose from ranging from mild to bitter with quite a bite depending on your mood.
Romaine -
Red leaf
Green leaf
Spinach
Spring mix
Iceberg
Mache
Cabbage
Arugula
Dandelion greens
Baby beet greens
Mesclun
Next add your veggies - anything goes here! The more the merrier.
Broccoli
Carrots
Beets
Olives
Corn
Celery
Avocado
Tomatoes
Cucumber
Onion
Sprouts
Peas
Bell pepper
Cauliflower
Radishes
Pineapple
Apples
Pears
Mangoes
Strawberries
Dried cranberries
Oranges
Grapes
Raisins
If you are feeling it, add a little bit of cheese.
Mozzarella
Feta
Parmesan
Blue Cheese
Cheddar
Cottage cheese
Keep it healthy and help yourself stay fuller longer with some protein.
Kidney beans
Black beans
Pinto beans
Garbanzo beans
Almonds
Pecans
Walnuts
Cashews
Pine nuts
Chicken or turkey
Beef or pork
Tuna or salmon
Sunflower seeds
Pumpkin seeds
Hard-boiled eggs
And top it all off with some Crunch!
Croutons
Seeds
Nuts
Tortilla chips
(crumbled)
Pepperoncinis
Small crackers
Happy Salad Adventuring!
