Whole Foods once sold a type of "energy salad" (that's what they called it). It had greens, nuts, dried cranberries, edamame, and I'm not sure what else.
First question: does anyone recognize this and are you able to tell me what else was in the Whole Foods salad?
Second question: what would you add to the 4 ingredients above? More fruit (mandarin orange segments or chopped apples for example)? How about either lentils or brown rice (no quinoa please - my daughter is allergic to quinoa and I won't be using that) or orzo perhaps? I'm wondering how orzo might be in a salad like that. Or what would you suggest? I want it to be a source of healthy energy and a good lunch choice, not a side item.
Third question: I would prefer not to use all kale, so would a basic mixed greens be ok or too boring? Baby spinach?
Thanks for your suggestions in advance.
Pretty much for most salads I'd add crumbled cheese - blue or feta or parmesan.
Crumbled hard boiled eggs are good too.
E.-
Salad is like soup, in that it is wonderfully adaptable. You can add any or all of what you suggested above.
I also like the following proteins
tofu, chicken, tuna, steak, eggs, turkey
beans-
garbanzo, black, pinto, kidney,
vegetables-
tomato, cuccumber, onion, olives, corn, asparagus, mushrooms, beets
fruit-
oranges, apples, grapes, watermelon, berrys,
cheeses-
blue, feta, mozzarella, cheddar, brie, monterey jack, colby
dry goods-
slivered almonds, croutons, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, tortilla crumbles, raisens, cranberrys
noodles etc-
soba, lentils, brown rice, orzo, pasta of any shape, quinoa
No need to over think this. enjoy.
Best,
F. B.
I've never purchased that salad. I enjoy making a great salad at home and like Fanged Bunny said... salad is very adaptable.
My faves... mixed greens and baby spinach
I tend to use an assortment these ingredients based on my "craving" for the day:
artichoke hearts, kidney or black beans, sunflower seeds, slivered almonds, feta, cheddar, blue cheese, mandarian oranges, other berries, raisins, dried berries, LOVE grape tomatoes, yellow and red, olives, croutons.
Enjoy
I am so impressed that your daughter will eat that salad! I have never bought that salad from Whole Foods, so I don't know what else they put in it. But you could also add fried tofu to add protein. It has a neutral flavor, so it would go with everything else that's in the salad.
Add chicken, red beans, cranberries and a favorite nut or seed. Feta cheese.
A really good dressing is to take halved grape tomatoes and red onion and marinate in balsamic for 10 minuets with some salt. Toss with the rest. YUM!! And you can do mandarins, too.
I just add whatever I want. Per MY taste.
And being it is a salad with various elements in it, it IS an "energy" meal.
Not just because Whole Foods calls it that.
Just put whatever you want.
And whatever dressing you want.
Tofu, nuts, cheeses, fruits beets, squash, root vegetables, beans, various raw vegetables like Zucchini, and even deli meats if you want.
Just put whatever you want.
I would add another protein, liked cubed cheese or some crumbled chevre (which is excellent on a spinach/greens salad with cranberries). I don't think orzo would go well as a texture-- the wetness of it would sog down the greens. If you do lentils, I'd find a fruit which complements them (maybe raisins) instead of the cranberries. I love salads with mandarin orange and kalamata olives and feta-- like a greek salad of some sort. Those flavors are nice together. Maybe some good croutons to add in before eating? Cubed baked tofu in a flavor which works for your girl?
A Nicoise salad, made up, and chilled, would be delicious. You could have her add in the tomatoes right before she eats it, since they can slime things out a bit. That can be made with pasta (instead of the traditional new potatoes) with some greens: find a niciose salad recipe and let her pick/choose the ingredients which are most attractive to her.
I make my own salads. They are so easy to do and relatively in expensive, IF you do it yourself.
I use grape tomatoes out of my garden. I grow butternut squash so I peal it and cube it and cook it briefly and add it to the salad. I also use different kinds of cheese. Then there are sliced hard boiled eggs, sunflower seeds, nuts, and dehydrated cranberries (crasins), and dehydrated cherries. You are only limited by your imagination.
Sometimes, I'll smoke a pork roast and make a smoked pork salad. Its wonderful with Italian dressing. Or make a taco salad. For a taco salad you can use chicken, beef or pork.
Good luck to you and yours.
Definitely leave the mandarin oranges out if you are going for healthy. Add in chicken for protein.
PErsnally, I like romaine.
Apples, thinly sliced Spanish onion, and sprinkle with chia seeds.
Maybe some blue cheese and green apples? Also chicken. They compliment the nuts and cranberries nicely. Use balsamic vinaigrette
I personally don't think pasta or orzo would go well in there.
Yes, baby spinach mixed in with any greens is great. Since you have received so many great options below, I'll only add one more. Soften until limp (very slowly on low heat) sliced red peppers and sliced red onions in olive oil. Whole different flavor!
