This week’s recipe is darn simple…hardly a recipe even. I’ve always been a big salad eater, even from a young age, but to me a salad is very specifically lettuce based. I don’t gravitate toward fruit or nuts in my salad though from time to time I’ve tried it and liked it okay. Generally I stick to veggies, meat, and pre-NGPT lots of cheese, bacon, and other stuff I skip over at the salad bar now. However, most other people have a broader sense of the concept of salad. Take my mom. She loves salads. SaladS? Plural? There’s the cole slaw, bean salad, potato salad, macaroni salad, seafood salad, and all those other generally creamy-based conglomerations in the vicinity of my beloved lettuce and TRUE salad toppings. Ok so…a salad is basically stuff thrown together, usually served cold or at room temperature? Fine then, here goes. One day I had some veggies that needed used up but no lettuce. I give you the results!
Lettuce-Free Salad
Grab any veggies you have leftover. I had tomatoes, bell pepper, and cucumber. I added olives for a bit of fat and flavor. How about onion, celery, cooked and cut asparagus spears, etc.?
I don’t recommend mushrooms – I tried that another time and they got kind of mushy and sad! Tougher veggies seem to work best and the tomatoes help add to a dressing.
Speaking of, use just 1-2 Tbsp of Newman’s Oil and Vinegar or other all-natural, no sugar vinaigrette or mix up a little olive oil and vinegar of your choice. Sprinkle in some seasonings if you like and toss the veggies in it. That’s all there is to it!
This recipe counts as a veggie/fat, perfect for pick 2 snacks. Look to consume no more than 2 Tbsp oil, less if you add olives. Feel free to serve this with a protein and max your pick 2 or for a protein/fat meal as you can always add veggies!
Summer is a great time to stock up on fresh produce, but sometimes we overbuy or just can’t get through it fast enough. Try this cool, light option at the end of the week when you’re looking to use up what you have on hand! Feast fresh, feast summery, and as always…FEAST ON!!!
~Coach Lauren
