How to Make a Better Salad

When you hear the word “salad," do you think of light lunch fare, dieting, or restrictive eating? If you do, it's time to rewire your thinking.

A salad does not have to be a pile of lettuce with some bland store-bought dressing and a few cherry tomatoes. A salad can be an entire meal, and feature the best of seasonal eating in a bowl.

I have worked with severalclientsto develop salads, and the exercise is the same as the approach to take at home. When constructing a salad, consider the following:

• Think about all the elements ahead of time and give yourself some options as you create.
• Ingredients can be cooked, raw, or pickled.
• Think about dressing options (creamy, vinegar based, spicy, etc.).
• If you want to make it a meal, add an element of protein, bread, and textures.
• A salad can be served as individual or family-style platters, usually at room temperature or chilled.

There are six main salad components. They are:

• Base
• Bulk items (vegetables)
• Texture
• Fruit/sweet element
• Proteins
• Dressings

How to make 4 seasonal salads