Salads
..........For me salads are a healthy addition to our diet. Normally a Green salad is low in calories, low in fats and nutritionally very rich but the addition of wrong ingredients can make it unhealthy. Salads are often neglected in our diets,they should be an integral part of our meals,. A salad can even make a healthy low calorie meal by itself with the combination of proper ingredients.
These are some ways you can make your salads nutritionally rich:
Instead of using canned and frozen vegetables,use fresh fruits and vegetables (including green leafy vegetables).
Instead of the adding too much salad dressings which are high in calories and fat , ust squeeze a fresh lime juice and put in some herbs like basil which improve the flavour of the salad.
Avoid adding croutons and other extra toppings, instead add some nuts or flax seeds which make a better nutritional choice.
Cheese are a rich source of Calcium and Protein,so just take care on how much cheese you are using. Adding too much of cheese adds many extra calories.
(Source: About.com)
You can make a variety of salads, try adding a different healthy ingredients every time you make a salad.
Here's a salad recipe for you.
Carrot Salad
Ingredients
- Grated carrot- 2 cups
- Olive oil- 1 tsp
- Green chillies- 2, cut into small pieces
- Cilantro/Coriander, finely chopped- 1 tbsp
- Curry leaves- 3-4
- Lime juice- 2 tsp
- Mustard seeds- 1-2 tsp
- Turmeric powder- 1 tsp
- Salt to taste
- Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds.Once they splutter add curry leaves and green chillies.
- Then add grated carrot,turmeric powder and salt (add very little).Cook for about a minute not much.
- Put off the flame and add lime juice. Mix again.
- Garnish it with cilantro and serve.
- See, its so easy.Salad is ready.
** Carrots are an excellent source of antioxidant compounds, and the richest vegetable source of the pro-vitamin A carotenes. Carrots' antioxidant compounds help protect against cardiovascular disease and cancer and also promote good vision, especially night vision.
(Source WHFoods.org)
I am sending this yummy carrot salad recipe to JFI - Carrots hosted by The Cooker.