Salads are a great option when trying to eat healthy and get adequate servings of the
nutrients your body needs, especially vegetables. They can be simple to make, catered
to meet your taste preferences, and a great meal to pack for lunch. By following these
simple tips, you can plan your meals ahead of time and look forward to your fresh
salads.

1- Keeping It Fresh

Often, salads are not thought of something that you can plan and pack ahead of time
because it can be difficult to keep it fresh and not soggy. One tip is to pack the salad
dressing on the side. Much of the sogginess comes from the salad dressing sitting.
Another way to keep salads fresh is by choosing your containers wisely. It is best to use
airtight, leak proof containers. Some people opt for using mason jars, which can be a
cheaper choice. It can also be helpful to create the salad in layers with the greens at the
top. If you choose to add the dressing to the salad ahead of time, it should be the
bottom layer.

2- Having unique Ideas

Salads can get boring if you are using the same ingredients everyday. To keep it
unique, try a variety of salad recipes. You can use different toppings other than
croutons. For example, you can try topping with Tostitos or pita chips. Nuts, seeds, and
dried fruit are also healthy options. Meats (such as shredded chicken and tuna),
seafood, boiled eggs, beans, and cheeses can add protein to your salad. It can be fun
to try different things and give your taste buds a surprise.

3- For Lettuce Haters

Not everyone likes lettuce and often shy away from salads because of this. However,
not all salads need lettuce. There are many salad recipes that call for noodles instead of
lettuce. Pasta salad can be healthy if you use whole wheat pasta or create noodles out
of vegetables. For example, spaghetti squash can replace regular noodles for any pasta
salad recipe. There are also salads that call for beans as the main ingredient. Of
course, there is also taco salad, which can be created to meet your taste preferences.

4- Final Tips

In a nutshell, if you want to meal prep and plan your salads for the week, here are some extra tips to follow:

Use a salad spinner – This is going to remove excess water from your lettuce after you
wash it, so it doesn’t make everything extra soggy. Get small containers for dressing – Keep your dressing separate in little containers that are easy to use when it’s time to eat your salad.

See you soon,

Ludmilla!