Did you know that the salad you eat can be bad for you? Why? It depends on what you put in it or on it of course!
A salad in general is a pretty healthy meal. If it’s prepared at home where you’re not likely to add all the ‘stuff’ that can go onto it, it will be a lot more healthy than if you go out to eat one.
At home you can add all the other “stuff” too. When I make my salads at home I try to make it interesting. Who needs to eat a boring salad right?! I mean if it’s going to be boring, I might as well go outside and eat the grass on the lawn or the leaves off of the trees!
When I make my salads I use lettuce, sometimes a different variety to make it interesting, and cucumber, shredded carrots or baby carrots, and tomatoes, sliced not baby ones – dislike those). Then I usually put a little black pepper and sprinkle some garlic powder (just a dash) and add no fat croutons. Then finally I use a fat free vinaigrette dressing. Yummy!
According to writer Fiona Haynes who writes a guide to Low Fat Cooking on About.com at lowfatcooking.about.com, some salads and the dressings you use is not good for you.
Here’s a list:
Chef salads – too much meat and cheese
Cobb salad – bacon, eggs, blue cheese, avocado and of course a creamy dressing.
Caesar salad – croutons and cheese and usually has a egg-based dressing
Taco salad – cheese, refried beans, guacamole, ground beef, sour cream and deep fried shell – definitely loaded
Greek salad – too much oil and feta cheese
Asian salad – fried noodles and too much nuts
These salads are usually accompanied with creamy dressings, blue cheese, thousand island, or too oily vinaigrettes. Dressings that are usually loaded with and too high in saturated fat.
Now what’s a girl (or guy) to do when she (he) likes to eat any of these salads? I sometime like to eat the Greek and Chef salads myself, although I haven’t eaten one in a while. But if you like them, what are the alternatives?
Well you can add beans, garbanzo, black, kidney, any kind; if you like meat in your salad you can add the lean variety or grilled kind; you can also use low sodium deli meats; nuts is good for you but should be used sparingly; fat free cheese and fat free croutons; and you can add fruits such as oranges, grapes, mangoes or apple slices, basically any fruit you want, just add it!
These days’ salads have been much improved upon and there are the different bagged varieties to choose from at the supermarket these days!
To be on the safe side if you have to eat out and order a salad, order the dressing on the side. In fact order everything that will be added to it on the side. This way you can put your own stuff in it and will use them sparingly. Plus you can order the fat free vinagairette or ranch dressing also on the side.
All this makes eating salad just too much work doesn't it?! But it's really worth it because it's good for you too.
Here's another tip, make a large bowl that will keep fresh in your refridgerator for at least two to three days. This makes for healthy snacking!