I never used to be a salad eater. I always knew they were great for me and ESPECIALLY for my skin, but I always found salads to be too light, not filling enough and really boring.
That’s until I figured out the key to making a great salad, or maybe I’ll call them Fran’s little salad making secrets.
You see, a salad should never, ever be boring. Nor should it leave you still feeling hungry. The secret to a great salad is adding a filler, or source of protein.
Fran’s salad secrets (that are not boring)
Here is a salad that I made just the other day. I was so happy with how delicious and healthy it looked that I took a photo (a little lame I know).
This salad tasted great. I started off with the basics – baby spinach leaves, cucumber, tomato and grated carrot. Then I chopped up a deli bought cold crab cake that I had in the fridge. Lastly I added a buttered piece of organic whole wheat bread. So quick to make and very yum!!
How to make your own mouth watering salad (that’s great for your skin by the way)
Start with basic base ingredients, and choose stuff that you like. Not every salad has to contain lettuce. If you don’t like lettuce, then don’t include it!
I’m personally not a big lettuce eater so I start my salad base with rocket, and sunflower sprouts. I then add some of my favorite ingredients, such as cherry tomatoes, lebanese cucumber, grated carrot and avocado. Once I have the base, then it’s time to add the protein.
To my salad I’ll add a couple of boiled eggs, or fetta cheese, tofu, tempeh, buttered sourdough bread (on the side), beans (such as butter beans, adzuki beans or red kidney beans), brown rice (this is one of my favorites), brown pasta or nuts (flaked almonds are great). The important thing is to add what you love and mix it up. Eating healthy is not about punishing yourself. You can still eat well and achieve great skin by eating foods that you absolutely love.
I’m a pescetarian so the only meat I add to my salads is fish (or other seafood). If you’re a meat eater then you could also add something like steamed chicken.
If you’re eating fish, opt for Atlantic salmon or tinned red salmon because they have the highest levels of healthy Omega-3 which is one of the best sources of good fats and a strong fighter of acne.
Add a great salad dressing
You either are or aren’t a salad dressing person. I personally love a good salad dressing. You can make really healthy ones too. Try to avoid buying pre-made salad dressings from the grocery store because they often include refined sugars, additives and preservatives which are not good for your skin. Home made dressings are always far tastier anyway!
You can find more tips about eating right for your skin, along with my very own favorite homemade salad dressing (that EVERYONE loves), in my food and acne guide – How To Eat Away Your Acne. You can download your own copy of the guide from here.
Fran
3 responses ↓
Great Article! Its always good when you write about food because lots of times we actually prepare stuff that looks like it came straight from dullsville just because we think we cant add this or that because its not healthy.But again, you always remind us that we dont have to eat the food that we picture in our minds which is some little perfect salad which we “believe” are healthy.
that food looks amazing!!!!! And I hate salads
I always make my own salad dressing. I eat a lot of salads so I often have a dressing already made up.
I mix olive oil, balsamic vinegar, with a bit of honey, mustard, black pepper and lemon juice. I never measure out the ingredients I just pore it in, mix it up and taste it, if it tastes good it will taste even better on a salad, if not I add a bit more of what ever I thing it needs more of!
Note: You don’t need the mustard, honey, or lemon juice for just a simple vinegarate, but I like to make it a bit more interesting.
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