After about one week into the new year, I'm pretty sure most people get tired of hearing about, thinking about, and eating salads. (News flash folks, there are other healthy things to eat that aren't salads.) With that being said, some of these salads I see people eating look like they stuck their fork in some dry grass. I literally saw someone in my dining hall just eating a pile of plain, undressed lettuce. Horrifying! What I'm saying is that salads should be way more than a basic pile of greens. I've come up with a list of 10 refreshing salads that are full of fruit, (to ease you in to the veggies) greens, nuts, and a whole bunch of other wholesome foods. I've heard some people (eh eh, my roommate) claim that fruit and veggies don't belong together, so this article is to prove them wrong!
Kale Citrus Salad
At this point, we all know that kale is a superfood. However, eating raw kale is disgusting, please don't do that. Instead, make this fruity salad that perfectly offsets the bitterness of the kale and makes you love being healthy.
5-Minute Citrus Beet Salad
This salad is the perfect balance of all things. You have your grains to fill you up and give you energy. The avocado adds a healthy, creamy fat. Beets are yet another superfood. Then top it all off with some oranges, almonds, and greens, and you will be very satisfied!
Peach and Plum Caprese Salad
Be adventurous and swap your tomatoes for peaches and plums in this take on a classic caprese. If you're questioning that these foods will taste good together, think of these classic cheese and fruit combos: a cheese and fruit platter, cream cheese and jelly, watermelon and feta. The list goes on. Don't be scared, just try it out.
Warm Spring Salad
Cold salads in cold weather aren't for everyone. This salad is hearty enough to eat for a meal, warm enough to not turn you away from getting your greens, and tasty enough to please anyone!
Quick Spring Apple Salad
This is a perfect salad to make when you only have about five minutes to get some fuel. You'll get the perfect balance of sweet and savory in just minutes.
Strawberry Salad with Coconut Bacon
One of my favorite salads includes spinach, strawberries, and toasted almonds. This recipe is like and upgraded version of that. Coconut bacon?! No, it's not coconut flavored pork, it's more like smoky, crispy coconut for all you vegan and vegetarians out there. If you're in the mood to try something trendy and new, this salad is for you.
Mango-Grape-Kale Salad
The concept of mostly fruit with some kale thrown in there may not come off as appealing to everyone, but don't knock it 'til you try it! This salad is full of flavor with a variety of fruit, cabbage, kale, nuts, spices, and a creamy cashew dressing.
Asian Salmon Salad with Pear and Avocado
Okay, if that crispy edge on the salmon doesn't make your mouth water, I don't know what will. Think a salad won't fill you up? This one's full of healthy fats making it perfect refreshing lunch.
3 Grain Kale and Kumquat Salad
This recipe takes a little more time on the preparation end due to it having three different types of grains, but the effort is worth it. This is a great thing to meal prep and eat the rest of the week. You'll get a burst of different flavors from the sweet and sour kumquats and the kale, and the grains will keep you feeling good for hours.
Toasted Almond Blueberry Arugula Salad
Though this salad looks like you might have a lot of different ingredients to prep, it's really pretty simple. There are quite a few ingredients, but you just have to do a few chops and throw 'em all together! The blueberries and jam dressing cut through the bitter arugula for the perfect balance of flavors, and the almonds and goat cheese add crunchy and creamy textures.