Healthy eating to lose weight may not seem like fun, but it doesn’t have to be the dry, boring experience you are imagining. With some creativity and a little hard work, you can turn boring diet food into a delicious meal that the whole family is sure to love. Salads have a reputation as the perfect diet food. While this is true to an extent, it is very easy for a salad to wind up an unhealthy mess. Be adventurous and turn a boring (and possibly unhealthy) salad into a fun masterpiece.
First, don’t get caught in the iceberg rut. There are so many other lettuce options besides iceberg. Consider romaine or arugula for some flavor or perhaps you want to try one of the micro green blends that restaurants use. Spinach or cabbage are other options, they have more nutrition than lettuce and give a little different flavor. Also, nothing says you need a leafy green in your salad at all. Shaved carrots, beets or turnips make a great base for a salad.
Next, add colorful fruits and vegetables. There’s more than just carrots and tomatoes out there. If you are working on healthy eating to lose weight, you want as many vegetables as possible to get a variety of vitamins in your diet. Fruit is a nice addition too, and gives your salad flavor and sweetness.
Add some protein to your salad to make it the perfect well-rounded meal. While grilled chicken, ham or boiled eggs are probably what you first think of, there are other options as well. Garbanzo beans, tofu, peanuts, tuna and shrimp are more exotic choices and all add a healthy dose of protein to your salad. Low fat cheese is another great choice.
Make every salad different, and you are less likely to become bored.
Finally, dress your salad with a healthy dressing. Depending on your topping choices you may not need much. If you have added a flavorful meat to your salad, you may get by with just a dash of lemon juice and a splash of olive oil. Vinegars are a good choice too.
When you are concentrating on healthy eating to lose weight, salads are always a great choice. Follow these tips, and don’t be afraid to try something new and exciting. Salads can be more than just a diet food, they may become one of your family’s favorite tasty and easy go-to meals.