I love salads, so I thought I’d share my tips on how to make salads more interesting. Just to be clear, I’m not talking about a heap of lettuce with a few tomatoes, some baby carrots and some Hidden Valley Ranch dressing. I’m talking about mixed greens (lettuces and other baby greens), unique vegetables, something a little bitter or spicy, a healthy protein, some fat and a homemade dressing. But unfortunately, my impression is that few people share this love of salad because they simply don’t know how to make a good salad… a salad that easily stands alone as a meal. If this is you, try these following tips to make your salads a little more interesting and nutritious.
1. Avocado
I know this suggestion isn’t mind blowingly unique, but avocados add so much flavor to a salad. They’re also a great addition for a few extra calories if you’re trying to make a meal out of it.
2. Nuts/Seeds
Nuts or seeds of any shape or form make great additions to salads. They’re full of healthy fats, proteins and fiber, and don’t forget that nuts and seeds add good texture.
3. Shredded Purple Cabbage
Purple cabbage is one of my all time favorite additions because of the visual impact it has on a salad. A visually pleasing meal is more appetizing, which means you’ll be more likely to enjoy the taste. Not only that, but raw cabbage (and other cruciferous vegetables) can help prevent cancer as long as you chew thoroughly. So, don’t forget to savor that meal and chew!
4. It’s All About the Knife Work
If your carrot technique involves dumping a bag of baby carrots into a salad, please stop and don’t ever do this again. You want your veggie pieces to be small enough that a fork full of salad has a selection of vegetables. Shredding veggies such as carrots and other root vegetables can be a great way to get variety in every bite, not just a big chunk that barely fits in your mouth.
5. Add Fresh Herbs
Adding chopped basil, dill, thyme, tarragon, chives, or any other herb that’s seasonally available adds a ton of flavor and a variety of nutrients.
6. Think Medicinally
I like to add medicinal herbs such as dandelion and plantain leaves to my salads to add a unique pungent, bitter flavor along with some chemically active compounds to help maintain a healthy body. Medicinal herbs were a traditional part of our diet, but our modern culture has shied away from their everyday use. Adding simple medicinal herbs to salads is a great way to build a healthy balance point. In general, I use the same quantity of medicinal herbs as I would use any other fresh herb. 
7. Sprouts
Sprouts add wonderful flavor and texture to salads and are extremely inexpensive when you grow your own using a sprouter. You can add some spice with radish sprouts or just go with something a little more plain jane like alfalfa. Personally, I like to use a mix that includes broccoli, radish, alfalfa and a few others. Sprouts are little power houses of concentrated nutrition and help to detox the body. So, the flavor, texture and health benefits of adding sprouts is hard to match.
8. Olives
Olives are a quick and easy way to add healthy fats and flavor. Just be sure to check the ingredient list for unwanted preservatives or sugar. I buy Divina Organic Olives from Thrive Market. It’s the least expensive olive I’ve found without added ingredients and it just so happens to be organic as well.
9. Sauerkraut
Or any fermented vegetable adds a unique taste to any salad, which instantly upgrades the nutritional value. Fermented vegetables are packed full of healthy probiotics and the fermentation process helps to make nutrients more available for absorption.
10. Edible Flowers
If you have a garden try growing flowers such as nasturtiums, clover, chives or basil, and adding these delicious morsels to salads for a flavorful punch that also upgrades your salad’s visual appeal.
11. Beets
I blogged about the health benefits of beets in an early post, but have since begun including beets in almost every salad. Sometimes I grate raw beets into the salad, while other times I add beets that have been boiled, peeled, diced and cooled. Either one makes for a beautifully healthy addition.
12. Protein
You can add almost any type of protein to your salad – nuts, beans, leftover hamburger, grilled chicken, etc. My personal favorites are tuna or egg salad made with Primal Kitchen Avocado Oil Mayo. This is the only mayo I have found that I actually feel good about eating, because of the limited, healthy ingredients.
13. Homemade Dressings
This is a must for a number of reasons. First off, store bought dressings are full of junk – soybean oil, hydrogenated vegetable oils, sugar, and a whole slew of ingredients I prefer not to eat. One of the absolute easiest dressings is to combine equal parts organic olive oil and a good balsamic vinegar (I buy Napa Valley Naturals brand for both ingredients). Throw in some chopped garlic, a bit of salt, shake the heck out of it and you’re done. This dressing compliments a salad with basil especially well.
I hope you enjoy these tips and I’d love to hear from you in the comments section about your own tips for making salads more interesting!
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