Salads are a great way to increase your consumption of vegetables and even fruit.  Unfortunately, many of us top our salads with dressings that are full not so good for you ingredients.  You can spend your time reading labels in the grocery aisle searching for a “good for you” alternative or, you can give this super easy dressing a try.

Plain and simple, this salad dressing is only oil and vinegar.  By choosing your oil and vinegar wisely you are amping up your salad with more good stuff rather than the yucky unnecessary ingredients that are often found in dressing.

I simply mix equal parts apple cider vinegar with a good extra virgin olive oil.  If I have fresh basil on hand I tear or chop a little of that and add it as well.  (Dried basil leaves work but the taste you get from the fresh basil is hard to beat!)  Mix these three ingredients together in a clean glass jar.  Seriously, this could NOT be any easier!

Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar (Look for one that contains the “mother”)

• IT contains antioxidants to help keep your body healthy and running smoothly.
• The acetic acid in it can increase your body’s absorption of important minerals.  Bonus, the acetic acid may also help suppress your appetite.
• Studies have shown that apple cider vinegar has strong anti-glycemic properties that support a healthy blood sugar level.

Benefits of Extra Virgin Olive Oil (From Dr. Axe’s website Olive Oil Benefits for Your Heart and Brain)

• Olive oil is mainly made up of mostly monounsaturated fatty acids, the most important of which is called oleic acid. Oleic acid is known to be extremely heart-healthy and capable of fighting free radical damage (or oxidative stress), which has numerous health implications. This is especially true when compared to compounds found in more refined vegetable oils, trans fats or hydrogenated fats.

 

While this “salad dressing” may not initially knock your socks off.  Give it a try for a few weeks and you might find that you actually like it.  The health benefits alone make it worth it grabbing it over your traditional dressing.