With the warmer weather (and the smaller clothes that follow suit), cool, refreshing salads have become a staple of my diet. They are inexpensive, super simple, filling, and by getting creative with ingredients, you can satisfy every craving from Italian to Mexican with minimal calories and optimal nutrition. I’m a definite sucker for a Primavera-type salad with omega-3 rich walnuts, garbanzo beans, roasted beets, butter lettuce, and a plethora of other colorful veggies. Today, though, say goodbye to Taco Tuesday and hello to a Spicy ‘Some’day Salad!

This recipe has just the right amount of slimming monosaturated and polyunsaturated fats found in avocado, mega protein, and lots of fiber to keep you full and fueled for hours. Major bonus, it is topped with a Balsamic Citrus Dressing that burns fat!

Salad Ingredients

½ cup black or vegetarian refried beans

Chopped scallions

1 tbsp corn

Chopped tomato

Salsa

1-2 cups shredded iceberg or romaine lettuce

1 tbsp light sour cream

¼ avocado

1 tbsp sliced almonds

Salad Preparation

Combine lettuce, tomato, corn, avocado, beans, and scallions. Toss with dressing (see recipe below) and top with light sour cream, almonds, and salsa.

Dressing

½ cup balsamic vinegar

2 tbsp olive oil

½ fresh lemon squeezed

½ fresh lime squeezed

1 tsp sea salt

 

-Emily Freeman