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Healthy Eating Tip: Salad Dos and Don'ts

Fri, 05/16/2008 - 8:00am by FitSugar
1,710 Views - 22 comments

In the warmer months of Spring and Summer I often opt for a cool crisp salad for lunch. If you find yourself eating more and more salads as the weather gets warmer and warmer, then use these salad bar tips for the dos and don'ts of keeping that salad easy on your waistline.

  • Do make your own salad (if possible).
    Don't think that the pre-made salads are always going to be healthy.
  • Do get the darker leaf greens, like spinach, romaine, or arugula.
    Don't fill your bowl with Iceberg lettuce — it offers little to nothing nutritionally.
  • Do load up on fresh veggies.
    Don't load up on grilled veggies — grilled veggies at a salad bar are often coated with butter and oil.

I've got more tips for keeping a salad healthy so read more.

  • Do get a simple olive oil and balsamic dressing on the side.
    Don't drench your salad in a creamy dressing — even low fat creamy dressings are loaded with sodium.
  • Do throw a few raw nuts on top.
    Don't throw a salad on top of your salad — tuna, egg and chicken salads are loaded with mayonnaise.
  • Do add a protein like ahi tuna, hard boiled eggs or baked chicken breast.
    Don't add bacon bits as your protein.

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22 Comments Add a Comment

  • Renees3's picture
    Renees3
    3

    Awww bacon bits don't count as protein? haha
    I like to add a little avacado to my salads just to add some of that creaminess. Not a lot, just a bit.

    7 weeks 1 day ago Report Comment
  • bengalspice's picture
    bengalspice
    4

    I always get the prepackaged salads at West Side Market that come with a simple oil or vinegar dressing. I love my red onions and spinach!

    7 weeks 1 day ago Report Comment
  • MiyaBi_na's picture
    MiyaBi_na
    6

    what about cottage cheese? is that a Do or a Don't?

    Sometimes when a place doesn't carry the kind of dressing I like (I usually like red wine vinegarette or olive oil)...I use a small spoon of cottage cheese instead. It ads a bit of flavor (saltiness) adn keeps my salad from being too "dry"

    everything else...I already follow
    and I actually prefer a bowl full of baby spinach leaves to lettuce...it tastes better!

    7 weeks 1 day ago Report Comment
  • MiyaBi_na's picture
    MiyaBi_na
    7

    oh yeah, one more question~ are sunflower seeds bad? I know they aren't in large amounts...but most places don't carry nuts..just sunflower seeds....

    My favorite is almonds! I love almonds in my salad...

    7 weeks 1 day ago Report Comment
  • MiyaBi_na's picture
    MiyaBi_na
    8

    oh yeah, one more question~ are sunflower seeds bad? I know they aren't in large amounts...but most places don't carry nuts..just sunflower seeds....

    My favorite is almonds! I love almonds in my salad...

    7 weeks 1 day ago Report Comment
  • skigurl's picture
    skigurl
    9

    good tips - i love the irony when my friends order a caesar salad and think they're being so "healthy"! or the salads at wendy's with the chicken trips on top! you're just substituting lettuce and creamy dressing for fries, and while it probably doesn't taste as good, it's the same amount of calories!

    7 weeks 1 day ago Report Comment
  • RosaDilia's picture
    RosaDilia
    10

    I've never liked dressing on my salads and always have dried cranberries or blueberries and nuts that I add to the salad for some tasty texture.

    7 weeks 1 day ago Report Comment
  • XSofieX's picture
    XSofieX
    12

    I agree with all of those - I always laugh when girls at my school buy a big salad and covers it in creamy dressing, the think they're eating so healthy when its in fact just as bad as fast food

    7 weeks 1 day ago Report Comment
  • FitSugar's picture
    FitSugar
    13

    MiyaBi_na, good questions. Both are good salad options. Cottage cheese is a good choice because it's high in protein, calcium and potassium, but can be high in sodium and fat so use it sparingly (or opt for the low fat or non-fat version).

    A handful of sunflower seeds supply significant amounts of vitamin E, magnesium and selenium, as well cholesterol lowering fats and Phytosterols. Again, don't go overboard because they are also high in fat and calories when consumed in large quantities.

    7 weeks 1 day ago Report Comment
  • teacherturtle1's picture
    teacherturtle1
    15

    mmm tuna make me think of a spicy tuna sushi roll!

    yum!

    but yeah, you'd be surprised how unhealthy a salad can be when you add dressings

    7 weeks 1 day ago Report Comment
  • Chaoticfury's picture
    Chaoticfury
    16

    I didn't even think to use ahi tuna in my salad until this month. It was great. A strip with spinach, tomatoes and balsamic vingarette and my day gets a little happier.

    7 weeks 1 day ago Report Comment
  • emalove's picture
    emalove
    17

    I always use baby spinach and mixed greens in my salad--I hate iceberg lettuce.

    I always throw in cucumbers, carrots, green beans, radishes, and a little feta cheese. Lately, I've also been adding some sunflower seeds, walnuts, and artichokes.

    7 weeks 1 day ago Report Comment
  • JessNess's picture
    JessNess
    18

    Sometimes I just want a creamy dressing like Thousand Island so I always get a little on the side and lightly dip into it. That way I can satisfy that want and keep the fat and calories low

    My freshman year of college I use to see kids hit up the salad bar all the time and pile on every type of topping possible and the fattiest dressings at that point I think they should have just opted for a cheeseburger

    7 weeks 21 hours ago Report Comment
  • Spectra's picture
    Spectra
    19

    I usually make my own dressing with a little bit of olive oil (like 2 Tbsp) and about a 1/3 cup of vinegar and a cup of water and a packet of Italian dressing seasoning mix. Shake it really well and you get a good lowfat dressing. I also like to top my salads with nuts and sometimes grilled chicken or tuna to up the protein content. I don't get it when I see people getting salads at restaurants thinking they're healthy and dousing them in Ranch dressing and covering it with loads of cheese and croutons. That pretty much cancels out any nutritional benefit that the salad might have had in the first place.

    7 weeks 4 hours ago Report Comment
  • kia's picture
    kia
    20

    I generally make my own salad but when I go to a place like Sweet Tomatoes I make my money count with raw spinach.

    7 weeks 4 min ago Report Comment
  • makeup_love's picture
    makeup_love
    21

    love a good salad, so refreshing and you feel alot better afterwards.
    I pretty much do that stuff already which is good
    Tell me fit sugar in a Greek salad are olives and fetta bad?

    6 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • rpenner's picture
    rpenner
    22

    I love a good salad. And I must say I make a pretty mean one. Thanks for all the tips Fit.

    6 weeks 3 days ago Report Comment

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