Someone’s gotta do it. There are some things most of us just don’t want to talk about – even if they’re in our best interest. Since your health is our priority at Max, and because we’re focused on helping you be the best you can be, we’re going for it. So, without further ado, the subject at hand is… Salads.
No. No. Not salads from the days of old that strict dieters chose to seemingly satisfy absolutely nothing at all, but salad after the second decade of this second millennium. We’re talking salads as in super food for smart health and all the important – and delicious! – stuff that goes with them. So before you say, “no way”, discover (or rediscover) some healthy solutions to meet your nutritious needs, your hungry cravings, and your culinary potential.
Chances are you’ve ordered a salad and what you got was some lettuce, tomatoes, croutons, and maybe some cucumber. That would explain some of the lackluster judgments salads receive. Likewise, chances are you’ve found yourself in the produce section of the grocery store. And what you’ve seen is a scene full of dozens of choices, all sorts of colors, and a selection that spanned wall to wall – an entire large, sometimes larger, room.
In that space you have an abundance of choices. Among them, for even the most self-proclaimed vegetable-dis-likers, there are options likely to satisfy.
Satisfaction is important. Beyond that, though, so are proactive health, cellular support, antioxidant reinforcement, combating disease, metabolism, immune system health, anti-aging defense, and more. Salads offer a refreshing and delicious multitude of options to satisfy the daily vitamins, nutrients, antioxidants, and other essential nutrition your health requires.
What you choose to put in your salad is up to you. The end results are infinite.
Creature of Habit?
Make a salad you love and it can be your favorite go-to.
Like trying new things?
Switch it up and try all the combinations and quantities you want.
With salads, the sky’s the limit!
Here are suggestions of some of the most nutrient-rich vegetables and leafy greens to choose and include when considering salads:
Spinach. Broccoli. Carrots. Cauliflower. Swiss chard. Garlic. Kale. Green peas. Beets. Red Cabbage. Romaine Lettuce. Arugula. Endive. Turnip Greens.
But, remember, there are many more you can choose from or add!
To Top It Off
Almost there! While some of you may actually like a dry salad, chances are you’re going to want to top yours off with some savory dressing – with one you make yourself!
If you’re using store-bought salad dressings, you could be spending money to sabotage your own health. According to this article at Harvard Medical, some store-bought dressings come with high levels of saturated fats, sodium, and sugars. Those aren’t good – not to mention many contain unwanted artificial flavors and preservatives.
If you want to shop smarter and healthier, you can review the labels of your dressings to check which ones use the least amount of sugars, salts, and trans fats. Plus, “healthier” store bought dressings could come at a premium price compared to their competition. So, allow us to offer another solution that can actually save you from these negatives and save you money!
If you purchase your own ingredients to create your own homemade, then the amount you can make will likely cost you much less per ounce than if you had purchased the premade, prepackaged store-kind. Think about your favorite dressings and research online how you can make them yourself.
Or, get to the finish line of your creation with one of the following of our favorite suggestions:
Latin style
Fresh lime juice, pressed garlic, chopped cilantro, a little olive oil and a pinch of salt.
Mediterranean style
Red wine vinegar, oregano, lemon juice, and olive oil.
Italian style
Balsamic vinegar, olive oil, chopped garlic, black pepper
Ranch style
Mayonnaise, sour cream, chives, parsley, garlic and a pinch of salt
This is the time to make your health and wellness your priority. Life in the new normal deserves optimum nutrition and vitamin replenishment. Salads with dressings are culinary creations you can make on your own. They’re the perfect chance to customize healthier habits. Give salads a second chance.
Live to the Max.
