Being gluten-intolerant, salads are my form of sandwich, a versatile meal that I can dress up to my culinary mood, from Mexican to Asian to a Pacific Northwest inspired feast. Salads are packed with fiber and vitamins (A & K). Add in protein like salmon or turkey to your salad and it becomes a filling appetizer, entrée or snack. Salads complement any meal and can be tossed into thousands of combinations.
Go Organic with Salad...Organic Salad Mixes are springing up in grocery stores across the country, making it easy to access affordable wholesome salad options from romaine, to iceberg to Spring Mix and beyond for an affordable rate. Many organic mixes run from $2.99 to $5.99. You can also purchase bulk lettuce at farmer's markets from local growers. Organic mixes are free of pesticides and other irritants that particularly cause health reactions in those with allergies/autoimmune disorders/enzyme deficiencies.
My favorite Organic Salad Mixes:
- Taylor Farms:
Taylor Farms is sold at our local Co-Op and area grocery stores. They have a wide variety of salad mixes and vegetables. I highly recommend their Organic Cole Slaw and Spring Mix. I am allergic to Spinach, but my mom give high marks for their spinach and broccoli
About Taylor Farms:
"For Over 80 years we have been committed to healthy wholesome produce. Our Family is passionate about offering a collection of healthy, great tasting, fresh salads, packed with nutrients and preservative free.
All our salads are harvested at their peak of freshness and are thoroughly washed and ready to enjoy. Taylor Farms is committed to using responsible sustainable agriculture practices for everything we grow."
- Earthbound Organic:
Sold at Cost Co and a majority of national grocery stores. They have high quality organic vegetables and fruits at a great price. It costs $4.99 for 3 pounds of spring mix lettuce.
Our mission is to bring the benefits of organic food to as many people as possible and serve as a catalyst for positive change. Link to their recipes: https://www.ebfarm.com/recipes/browse
- Organics from Safeway
- Organic Girl
About OG: "we have it on good authority that mother nature is an organicgirl, and we're confident that you'll agree - mother always knows best."
Create your Salad:
The best thing about salad is that it works as a base, you can mix nearly any type of ingredient to a salad, tossing it to your flavor and taste.
Ideas of what to add: fresh strawberries, blueberries, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, walnuts, almonds, cheese (pick your favorite type - cheddar to parmesan, gouda to mozzarella...), cucumbers, pasta (penne cooked tastes great in salad), Greek yogurt as dressing, craisins, golden raisins, salsa, guacamole, chip crumbles, sweet potatoes or potatoes scooped into salad, deli meats (Applegate), chicken, pork, beef...croutons (I found Schar GF croutons are delicious)...the list is endless.
A few of my standby salads:
Classic Greek:
Italian or European salad mix with diced olives, feta cheese, heirloom tomatoes (organic - you can use large tomatoes cut to size or the small round heirloom tomatoes), red onion and balsamic vinegar and olive oil. *for olive oil, I have several favorite brands, I have been using the EVOO from Kirkland, I also like Newman's Own dressing and Spectrum Organics...
Mexican Fiesta:
A mix of Taylor's Organic Cole Slaw and Spring Mix, Mexican style cheese, 1 tablespoon guacamole, ground beef (cooked to preference), 1/4 cup pico de gallo or Salsa (Newman's salsa, SABRA salsa - mango is great, Safeway salsa); mango is a great way to have a more tropical Mexican flair; I often add a large tablespoon of Mexican rice or quinoa to add a crunch. Serve with organic chips (Food Should Taste Good, Tostitos Organic, Mission, Juanita's...)
Northwest Salad:
Spring Mix, dried cranberries, dried blueberries, walnuts, sliced almonds, cheese of choice (I typically add a pinch of mozzarella, my mom likes to add Amaltheia Organic Goat Cheese), Annie's Organic raspberry vinaigrette (I'm not a big dressing fan, so I go bare), grilled chicken strips or organic Applegate Turkey
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