Detox Your Dinner Plate with a Spring Salad
April 12, 2019
It’s spring and that means smaller clothing and bare skin right? I’m craving lighter foods already. If you’re looking to shed a bit of that winter puffiness, start with adding a detoxing salad daily.
Detox salads are packed with nutrients, low in calories, and they are bright as the new season. We’re not talking salads with bacon bits, cheese, and heavy creamy dressings here. Take some time to experiment with new vegetables and herbs. You might find flavor combinations that wow your taste buds. And with the low-calorie content, you won’t feel sluggish afterward. Detox salads are cleansing and jammed with phytonutrients we need. They are the meal to keep the “spring” in your step this spring.
Salads make a great lunch or dinner on their own, or you can pair them with a small piece of fresh fish or meat of your choice.
Here are three simple ideas that will add color and detoxing foods to your spring diet:
Superfood Detox Salad with Lemon and Parsley
Start with a base of shredded greens including romaine, iceberg and darker greens like spinach or kale. I suggest getting out a huge bowl and making enough for several meals. They are as fun to make as they are to eat.
Add as many bright colorful veggies as you’d like, making sure to include reds, oranges, and yellows. This means shredded red cabbage, shredded carrots, radish slices, and thinly sliced yellow and red peppers. Shred or finely chop a broccoli stem if you have one for the extra phytonutrients.
Add a teaspoon of sesame, pumpkin, or sunflower seeds and then sprinkle a little chopped fresh parsley on top.
For dressing, drizzle with organic olive oil and a good squeeze of fresh lemon. Lemon can help clean the liver and detoxify our bodies.
Green and Red for the Win
What says clean, juicy, and fresh like tomatoes and cucumber? Chop cherry tomatoes or firm plum tomatoes and add them to diced cucumber over a layer of coarsely chopped romaine.
In sticking with this beautiful green and red theme, you can add finely chopped red onion and some thinly sliced radishes.
Ready to top it off? Sprinkle with chopped parsley and a pinch of salt and pepper. Then drizzle with a light summer balsamic or some freshly squeezed lemon and a dash of olive oil.
Spring Citrus Salad
Three simple ingredients for a juicy light salad that will get your tastebuds smiling.
- Antioxidant-packed strawberries
- Lycopene loaded watermelon
- Fragrant basil
That’s it and what a beauty it is!
Core and quarter your strawberries and mix with cubed watermelon. Chop sweet basil and mix in. This salad is so simple and beautiful and is also great as a healthy sweet dessert on a hot day.
Keep your refrigerator stocked with fresh vegetables this season. Head to farmers markets as often as you can for new, in-season choices, making sure to buy organic when possible. Remember that a detox salad is light and includes nutrient-rich fresh vegetables, herbs, and seeds. They are not loaded with meat, cheese, or heavy dressing.
