Recipe: Super Salad

As you may know, I eat a giant salad everyday for lunch. My salad is often the highlight of my day at work (other than the entertainment Brokeback Will provides). It changes from time to time, but I haven't blogged about it since last year. So I thought an update was in order. This is how I'm making it these days:

Ingredients shown here:

• 1 head(?) of Romaine Lettuce (Note: Since sizes vary, I sometimes use more than that- enough to fill my giant bowl about 3/4 of the way)
• Grape Tomatoes, 10, cut in half
  
• Red Onion, chopped (approx 2 Tbsp)
• Almond Cheese, 2 oz, cut into tiny cubes (shown here is Jalapeno); 2 points
• Beans, 1/2 cup; 1 point (I use chick peas, black eyed peas or small red beans)
  
• Tomatillo, half, diced
  
• Granny Smith Apple, 1/4, cut small
  
• Sesame Oil, 1 tsp; 1 point
• Lemon Juice (approx 2 Tbsp)
• Rice Vinegar (approx 2 Tbsp)
• Fresh Lime Juice, 1/2 lime, squeezed
  

After everything is washed, I slice the lettuce first and add it to my bowl. Then I chop everything else and add the items in whatever order I chop them.

Here are some of the add ins on the cutting board:

On some days, I add 1/4 avocado for an additional 2 points. But on this particular day I did not. Either because I was going to toast a slice of whole wheat bread and spread the avocado on there as a side to my salad; or because I was saving points for some other reason (bigger breakfast than usual, going out that night, etc).

After all the solid ingredients have been added, I add the liquid ingredients:

Then I put the lid on the container and shake to mix everything up.

The finished salad looks like this. Isn't it gorgeous?

Since those photos were taken, I've also started adding salt and some crushed red pepper. And instead of Granny Smith apples, I've been using Braeburn apples. As I mentioned, this salad changes pretty often. I think that's why I have not gotten tired of it yet.

Also, I get asked fairly often about the containers I use - The containers you see above were not purchased. I acquired them as a result of buying salads at a shop by my job a long time ago. Their salads are great and made to order, but about 8 bucks a piece. Obviously, I could not afford to spend 200 dollars a month on salads, which is why I make my own. However, I did find a perfect container last week at Target. It's made by Sterlite and cost $3.49-

It holds about 6 cups - which is *exactly* how much the salad bowl you see above holds, but it's much more portable thanks to the snapping lid. The one I use at work doesn't fasten securely, so it's not portable. So if you've been looking for an equivalently sized container, check Target or your local housewares store for that container or a similar one that holds 6 cups.

And remember, this is just to give you ideas for your own super salad. If you don't like romaine lettuce, add different types of lettuces, or baby spinach leaves. Try different textured vegetables and add lots of color. Use a different type of oil or no oil. Make it as big or small as you like. You'll get several - if not all - of your servings of produce and lots of vitamins and nutrients all in one meal. Have fun with it. There's no rules. Tailor it to your tastes and enjoy your salad. :)