Salads are the easiest way to up your vegetable intake.  I always keep ingredients for a salad on hand and I eat one EVERY single day.  Sometimes I prepare a big salad in advance so that I can dish up a small amount as needed.  The following two salads are some of my favorites and they are oh so simple to prepare.  If you skip the store bought dressing you are doing yourself an even bigger favor.  It might take some time but your taste buds will grow to like it.

Berry Good Salad

Ingredients:

• Spinach
• Red Onion
• Pecans
• Blue Cheese
• Blueberries
• Raspberries

*I keep frozen raspberries on hand to use in a pinch.  Prepare it a few minutes before consuming to give the raspberries time to thaw.

Top this salad with a blood orange olive oil.  If you want a special treat, add a splash of coconut white balsamic.  The combination is amazing!  These items can be found at most specialty olive oil stores.

Benefits

• This salad is packed with fruits and veggies that are all high in antioxidants
• The red onion adds many nutrients including chromium and quercetin
• Pecans are full of vitamins and minerals.  They add protein and “good fat” to keep you feeling full and give you energy.
• Blue cheese has the probiotic Lactobacillus

Greek Salad  

Ingredients

• Spinach/Spring Lettuce Mix
• Tomatoes
• Cucumber
• Feta

Top with olive oil (I like an herb infused one) and a splash of apple cider vinegar.

Apple cider vinegar is full of health benefits and may help control your blood sugar.  Be sure to buy one “with mother.”  Mother refers to the blob you see floating in it.  It will look cloudy, but it is supposed to.  Gross, I know, but don’t let that scare you away.  The blob is full of probiotics and other helpful bacteria.  The benefits outweigh the grossness.