Are you tired of trying to make sure your family eats enough veggies? Salads can be a fun, tasty, and budget-friendly way to add more vegetables into your family’s meals. The great part about salads is that you can choose your family’s favorite foods. This may include leftovers from last night’s dinner, or items you find in your #Better Pantry. 

Step 1: Choose a Base

The first step is to choose the base of your salad. For a green salad, romaine lettuce, spring greens, or spinach make a perfect base. For a heartier salad, whole-wheat pasta, brown rice, potatoes, or other grains also make a great base. Choose 2 cups for greens and 1 cup of grains per person.

Step 2: Choose a Couple Vegetables

Add about 1 cup of vegetables per person. Choose different veggies, such as tomatoes, carrots, broccoli, or cucumbers. This is where you can personalize your salad so choose veggies that your family will enjoy. Another good idea is to choose veggies that are in season. Seasonal produce can offer better taste, nutrition, and price. Make sure to check out your local farmer’s market for fresh, seasonal produce as well!

Step 3: Choose a Protein

Add a protein food to help turn your side salad into the main dish. Protein options include grilled chicken, black beans, or hard boiled eggs. Making a salad is a great way to use leftover meat from last night’s dinner, or you can just grab a can of beans or canned tuna from your #BetterPantry.

Step 4: Add Additional Toppings

This is where you can get creative and make it to your tastes. Additional toppings may include reduced-fat shredded cheese, fresh or dried fruit, or crunchy nuts or seeds. This is also where your family’s favorites can really come into play. Get your kids in the kitchen and have them help choose the toppings.

Step 5: Choose a Low-Fat Dressing

Finish your salad with low-fat dressing, but be sure to check the ingredients label for added sugar. You can also make an easy, simple dressing using ingredients from your #BetterPantry. Combining 2/3 cup olive oil, 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper taste makes a great and easy vinaigrette that can be used for many different salads. Just store in an air-tight jar in the fridge and shake it up before using. Another easy vinaigrette recipe can be found here.

Follow these simple steps to you build your own #BetterPantry salad.