3 Easy Slimming Summer Salads

food and beverage

If there’s one thing I always feel good about eating, it’s a delicious salad with mouthwatering flavours that is packed with nutrients. Sometimes it takes a bit of improvising in the kitchen, but whenever I’m feeling creative I love to experiment with a distinct ethnicity in mind and then brainstorm complimentary ingredients from there. Today I’m sharing three of my favourite healthy go-to salads that are intended for easy eating at home or to take with you for the day. Always start with dressing on bottom and then layer ingredients on top if using a mason jar so it doesn’t go soggy. Shake up when ready to enjoy!

Watermelon & Feta Mediterranean salad

This first recipe is a summertime favourite. The basil and mint bring so much life to the refreshing watermelon-it really is the perfect combination! I love to top this with goat feta and my flaxseed oil honey dressing because there are so many health benefits to the combo. Just one tablespoon of flaxseed oil can meet and exceed your daily Omega-3 fatty acid needs which are linked to improved heart health, hormone regulation, radiant skin and protection for the brain against aging. Both flaxseed oil and honey have essential properties against inflammation as well, so definitely eat up!

Salad recipe

Dressing

One tablespoon Flax oil
One tablespoon R aw Organic Manuka Honey
One tablespoon lime juice
pinch of salt

Salad

half a watermelon, peeled and cut into bite-sized cubes
1 English cucumber cubed
5 mint leaves torn
5 basil leaves torn
1/2 cup crumbled goat feta (optional)

Start by peeling and chopping the watermelon into bite-sized cubes

Then chop and dice the goat feta and cucumber, and tear in your mint and basil.

For the dressing, combine your flax oil, honey, lime juice and pinch of salt.

Pour over, mix up and enjoy!

Asian Sesame Kale Salad

This next recipe is deliciously rich in oriental flavour, and each serving of kale will give you nearly 3 grams of protein, 2.5 grams of fibre (which helps manage blood sugar and makes you feel full), high in vitamins A, C, and K and rich in folate which is key for brain development. The coconut & sesame oils are a delicious heart-healthy alternative to regular oils which can also be dangerous to cook with at high heat. Bragg’s seasoning is preferred over soy sauce as it has less sodium and no additives, fillers or preservatives.

Asian Sesame Kale Salad Recipe

One bunch of organic black kale
One large clove of garlic (pressed or minced finely)
Two tablespoons co conut oil
One tablespoon se same oil
One tablespoon Bragg’s seasoning
1/2 cup shelled organic edamame beans
One serving of vermicelli noodles
Toasted sesame seeds to garnish

Wash kale thoroughly and using a sharp precision knife, carefully remove the stems from each leaf and then pile them up.

Turn the leaves lengthways and cut one-inch sections
On medium heat, simmer coconut oil with pressed or minced garlic until golden brown
Add chopped kale and simmer for 2-3 minutes
Add sesame oil and Bragg’s seasoning
Top with toasted sesame seeds

In a bowl or mason jar, layer chilled edamame beans first, then vermicelli noodles and then top with kale.

Shake up and enjoy!

Berry Chickpea Californian Salad

This final salad is a favourite because it is so easy to throw together, and contains a good amount of protein and healthy fats while still being vegetarian! I’m veg-curious these days and therefore trying to get creative with vegetable protein as often as possible. Chickpeas are high in protein and a rich source of vitamins, minerals and fibre that improve digestion. Sticking with the flax oil mentioned above as a dressing, I like to combine apple cider vinegar to reduce bloating and a bit of Non GMO organic balsamic reduction for the perfect amount of sweetness.

Berry Chickpea Californian Salad recipe

Dressing