Are there certain recipes and foods you enjoy more during the summer months? As the warm weather is fast approaching, our bodies will start to naturally crave clean food to keep us energized during the long summer days. The extra heat and added activities that come along with the season is best accompanied by cool and refreshing foods to lower your body temperature and leave you feeling good. Clean foods give your body the nutrients it needs to recharge and enjoy longer days. Fruits and vegetables are among some of our favorite foods to eat as the weather warms up, so why not share some of our favorite salad toppings to make the ultimate summer salad? Let’s dive in.
In a world where most food is available only a short distance away, why are salads a prime choice for clean eating? Simply put, because they require minimal effort, they are packed with whole foods, and best of all, if desired, they require no cooking time. While other recipes may boast that they are “quick” and “on the go”, a cold salad will always win in our book.
Salads never have to be boring. We bet if you looked in your fridge and pantry right now, you could make an incredible salad! Which brings us to our next FAQ, “What foods should I add to my salad?” We could easily say anything. However, we will hone in on some of our favorite clean ingredients below.
Some say, the more color on a salad, the tastier it will be. Between the lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, the color and the flavor of raw vegetables in a salad not only tastes good, but makes you feel good too. Our favorite clean vegetables to add to a salad include raw leafy greens, cucumbers, celery, broccoli, arugula, spinach and kale. All these ingredients can be easily found at local grocery stores and farmer’s markets near you.
Berries in their purest form have a high amount of fiber, water, and antioxidants. Other clean options we like to include in our salads are strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries. If you’re worried about waste, consider buying frozen fruits! They provide the same nutrients as fresh fruit!
Seeds and Nuts
Nuts and seeds are full of healthy fats and oils. Walnuts, almonds, chia seeds, and pistachios are our favorite!.
If it were up to us, we would eat avocados every. single. day. It is truly a superfood in its own right and extremely accessible. Avocados can be mixed with fruit for a more savory salad, mixed with eggs and spinach for a more filling cold salad, or even into a guacamole spread with onions, garlic, cilantro, and lime juice.
Our Favorite Recipe: Summer Berry Salad
We promise this recipe will be a crowd pleaser this summer. The best part? It’s so easy AND clean to leave your guests feeling great.
Ingredients:
2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
2 tsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp Himalayan sea salt
1/4 cup blueberries
1/4 cup strawberries, sliced
1/4 cup cucumber, sliced
3/4 cup cooked chicken
1–2 cups mixed greens, arugula, or other green of your choice
Directions:
In a small bowl, whisk the olive oil and balsamic vinegar together until emulsified. In a salad bowl, add your greens, cucumber, strawberries, blueberries, and cooked chicken. Sprinkle Himalayan sea salt over the salad. Pour the olive oil and balsamic vinegar over the salad and gently toss together until well mixed.
Salads Don't Have to Be Boring!
Overall, a salad does not have to be a chore, nor should it be viewed as a diet-only food. Combining multiple raw and clean foods, and topping it off with various spreads and unprocessed oils will have your salad tasting great and feeling alive in no time. Get creative, find some combinations that are right for you, and check out Wake Up And Read The Labels on Instagram for some fun and clean salad recipes.