Chapter Four

Paint Strokes On A Canvas

The colors of the earth come together in a salad; deep greens, bright reds, royal purples. There's something undeniably beautiful about what the earth provides, especially when the glory of those flavors and colors become the paint strokes on one canvas. And then, somehow, they become even greater. With the drizzle of lemon garlic marinade, with the crispy juiciness of spicy chicken, with the sour heat from pickled vegetables, the creaminess of dressing, the crunch of croutons, the most delicious and nutritious meal is born.

Making a salad that's incredibly satisfying and absolutely delectable is the ultimate goal especially for your lunch time needs. I’m going to go over the staples you need to keep in your kitchen to make your lunch quicker and healthier than you can imagine while also being tremendously flavorful.

Greens- For 1-2 weeks worth of your salad base I suggest buying a 16 ounce mixed greens box. Spring mix, kale and spinach, mixed greens, or just plain spinach are all great starters for your salad. Greens are high in vitamins and minerals, reducing the risk of many diseases such as heart disease and high blood pressure, plus it's great for skin! Feeling good about your health, and the meals you make begins with investing in products you believe work for you.

Added vegetables- This is where you can definitely add all your favorite veggies, you should enjoy every part of your salad. I love to add green peppers, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and red onions because a little goes a long way and they last for up to two weeks!

Sauces- I love marinades, especially Health By Juli’s garlic lemon marinade for the chicken and to dress my vegetables before I start assembling the rest of the salad. Having a bottle of some kind of marinade in your fridge will really simplify the cooking process will adding lots of delicious flavor

Chicken-My favorite tip for quick lunches is having organic grilled pre cooked chicken strips on hand, you can find them at Target. This makes it so that your chicken can come together in under 15 minutes. Just add your chicken to a hot skillet and coat it with your marinade and any seasonings you like to add! I love adding chipotle seasoning, garlic salt, and aleppo pepper for that spicy zing!

Pickled things- I firmly believe no combination of vegetables or in other words salad is complete with the sour heat from a pickled thing. And yes I’m calling it pickled thing because it can be anything that's marinated in vinegar and flavored with hot peppers and salt. It adds so much dimension to your salad, whether you make your own or find it in store, be sure to add it to your salad! I love Grillo’s hot pickles, and its pickle juice especially to drizzle over my vegetables after the lemon garlic marinade.

Crunchy Toppings- No salad is complete without some kind of crunch. This change in texture adds to the varying layer of what makes a great salad. Fresh gourmet has a multitude of salad toppers like crispy onions and jalapenos, and of course good old fashioned croutons with their multitude of flavors will also do the job! Having these in your pantry will make it very easy to throw together your salad, they have a long shelf life so they are worth investing in.

Dressings- There are many dressings on the market that suit different dietary needs but I absolutely love Tesse Mae’s dressings. I would suggest buying 2-4 different ones so you can rotate your dressing to keep it interesting. A couple of my favorites are ranch and caesar, and the best thing about them is that they’re often dairy, sugar, and egg free!

Cheese- Lastly I want to live in a world where a healthy salad can be dusted with a bit of cheese which is exactly why I do exactly that. I satisfy my craving for cheese with low fat mozzarella just before serving/eating but this is completely up to your own tastes. Add parmesan, feta, or vegan cheese!