Oh how I love salads!

I love a good salad. I love salads for many reasons, but I will limit my gushing to three reasons.

1) Salads are so versatile! You could literally have a different salad every night for a week and because there are about 5000 (Ok-slight exaggeration) different delectable vegetable combinations you could mix up and yeild a new and exciting flavor combo easily.

2) Salads are quick and easy to throw together. It doesnt take a master chef to put together a salad, you just have to be able to chop up some veggies, fruits, some protein, maybe shake up your own dressing if you are feeling fancy and voila!

3) Salads are beautiful. The bright colors all nicely arranged are so aesthetically pleasing, and you know that the more colors (natural colors of course) our your plate the better the chance that you are about to enjoy a smorgasboard of vitamins and nutrients.

I love a simple green salad prior to a meal (its a great idea to eat one first because the fiber and water content fills you up so that you are apt to eat less of the main course). But I also love a salad as my mail course. 

Here are two salads I whipped up in less than 20 minutes tonight for dinner for my husband and I:

Very veggie greek salad (this is Darren's favorite currently)...use spinach as a base and top with cucumbers, tomato, garbanzo beans, black olives, and some fat free feta cheese. Then drizzle your favorite greek dressing.

 

Very Veggie Greek Salad

Our favorite greek dressing!

 Or if you are on a strawberry food jag like I seem to be lately, try the Strawberry Spinach salad. Start with a bed of spinach and fresh strawberries with a dollop of chicken salad (I just bought some chicken salad at the deli counter with grapes and pecans) and a sprinkling of pecans on top! No need for dressing on this salad, the chicken salad with a mayo base adds a creamy texture and taste.

Strawberry Spinach Salad

Next time you are in the grocery store or at the farmers market stock your basket with fruits and veggies to create a delicious produce menagerie of your own!