In the winter, we often lean into comfort foods. Sometimes we pick less healthy options because it’s cold and we want a treat. But our bodies can feel sluggish and start to crave more nutritious things even as we reach for more processed things.
It can feel unrealistic to eat fresh produce in the winter. So much of the country is under snow! But, as much as we complain about it being cold here in San Diego, we haven’t had a hard frost this winter. It’s colder than we’re used to, but our farms are still producing crops that are getting shipped across America. The wonderful thing about a country as large as America is that there is always something in season! Here are four excellent winter salads.
The stars of this hearty salad actually come from jars, so no matter where you live. You can make it all year round. It’s also great if you plan ahead before a snowstorm. This is a good recipe to have in your back pocket the next time another winter storm hits. The canned artichoke hearts and sun-dried tomatoes shine in a tangy dressing. While the almonds and kale add a great crunch. A serving has 293 calories, nine grams of carbs, three grams of fiber and 26 grams of fat. Get the recipe.
Yes, the name implies that the time to enjoy this salad has passed. But it’s named for the fact that it’s fit for a celebration and stuffed with winter veggies. Instead of having this as a holiday side, you can enjoy this as a meal. The recipe calls for candied pecans or normal nuts. You can pick if you want a pop of sweetness or if you want to get your protein in a more sedate way! Because the recipe suggests dressing it to taste, the nutrition facts don’t include the dressing. Without the dressing, a serving has 141 calories, 16 grams of carbs, three grams of fiber and seven grams of fat. Get the recipe.
This salad really is more than the sum of its parts. Every ingredient is delicious. Citrus fruit, cheese and avocado all come together wonderfully as the sharpness of the fruit cuts through the fattiness of the cheese and avocado. But the dressing, where lemon juice replaces vinegar, pushes it way over the top. You may worry about the honey in the salad dressing. It’s only half a teaspoon. However, if that is too much for your health plan, you can use a sugar-free alternative. A serving, as written, has 313 calories, 19.8 grams of carbs, 7.4 grams of fiber and 25.4 grams of fat. Get the recipe.
This is the perfect salad for someone who thinks eating salad is hard or messy. Some people hate chasing leafy greens around a plate and find making a neat bite overly complicated. We get it! Salad isn’t always the easiest to eat. But a chopped salad is great because everything is cut into such small pieces that it takes the effort out of eating it, and it makes sure that the tasty dressing gets everywhere! Unlike the last recipe, where we said the honey didn’t matter, this recipe calls for a whole tablespoon of honey or maple syrup. That’s quite a lot! The recipe wasn’t written to be low-carb, but it can fit into a low-carb lifestyle. You can swap that for the liquid sweetener of your choice. As written, a serving has 243 calories, 25 grams of carbs, eight grams of fiber and 12 grams of fat. Get the recipe.
We hope that these salads put a bounce in your step. Veggies might not always be the thing that calls to us the loudest, but they make your body feel great.
