After Holiday Detox and Meal Sized Salads
Is it just me, or do we all kind of go a little crazy with
food during the holidays? This year I
tried to be better than in years past. I
think the reason I was able to get away with it was because we didn’t really go
anywhere around the holidays, not that that is a bad thing!
food during the holidays? This year I
tried to be better than in years past. I
think the reason I was able to get away with it was because we didn’t really go
anywhere around the holidays, not that that is a bad thing!
I was able to cut back on the amount of sugar I ate between
Thanksgiving and Christmas, and I think that helped me to stay healthy for the
first time in 8 years!
Thanksgiving and Christmas, and I think that helped me to stay healthy for the
first time in 8 years!
However, Christmas Eve through New Year’s Day we ate poorly…very
poorly. I am ready to start detoxing and
getting back to the whole foods diet that is my favorite; lots of vegetables
and fruit with delicious beans and legumes, nuts and seeds, and a little bit of
meat once in a while.
poorly. I am ready to start detoxing and
getting back to the whole foods diet that is my favorite; lots of vegetables
and fruit with delicious beans and legumes, nuts and seeds, and a little bit of
meat once in a while.
One of my favorite ways to make my body feel better is to
incorporate a lot of salads into my family’s diet.
incorporate a lot of salads into my family’s diet.
I know what you are thinking, it is January, how can I be
making salads in January?
making salads in January?
It is difficult. I
have talked a bit before about my conflicting food philosophies. I strive to eat as much local food as
possible, but there is something about eating a salad every day that makes my
body feel better. I have become a big
proponent on eating what your body craves.
For some reason, salads are it.
It helps that my kids will eat salads every day if they are available.
have talked a bit before about my conflicting food philosophies. I strive to eat as much local food as
possible, but there is something about eating a salad every day that makes my
body feel better. I have become a big
proponent on eating what your body craves.
For some reason, salads are it.
It helps that my kids will eat salads every day if they are available.
Over the past year I
have started making meal sized salads.
have started making meal sized salads.
These meal size salads are made with a lot of greens, and
are most often eaten from a large mixing bowl.
are most often eaten from a large mixing bowl.
Even though I am eating a salad, I still try to incorporate
local food as well. And what is local in
the middle of the winter in New England?
Root vegetables. A lot of carrots and beets and onions will be included.
local food as well. And what is local in
the middle of the winter in New England?
Root vegetables. A lot of carrots and beets and onions will be included.
What else goes into making a meal size salad? Some things that we include are beans, nuts,
seeds, dried fruit, and a nutrient dense dressing – not all at once, but
usually a couple of those options with the inclusion of the dressing.
seeds, dried fruit, and a nutrient dense dressing – not all at once, but
usually a couple of those options with the inclusion of the dressing.
My favorite dressing in the winter is this recipe. It is heavy on the parsley, which has many
health benefits.
health benefits.
Parsley can help reduces the risk of cancer, and is a great
source of vitamin C and folic acid. It
helps with inflammation and boosts your immune system. Overall a wonderful herb to include in a
nutrient dense dressing – not to mention it tastes delicious!
source of vitamin C and folic acid. It
helps with inflammation and boosts your immune system. Overall a wonderful herb to include in a
nutrient dense dressing – not to mention it tastes delicious!
While most people
think of salads as a side to a main dish, we often include the salad as the
main dish.
think of salads as a side to a main dish, we often include the salad as the
main dish.
Are you still
recovering from all the rich food of the holidays? Do you try to detox in the New Year to get
your health on track? Have you tried
meal size salads?
recovering from all the rich food of the holidays? Do you try to detox in the New Year to get
your health on track? Have you tried
meal size salads?
Believe it or not, my hubby loves having salads for dinner, which I think is fantastic. It's rare to find guys who like salads lol
I love this idea – I always like salads out and I've been trying to think how I can make them more fun at home so I will want to eat them. I like to make sure the veg is chopped in the fridge so I'm more likely to eat them.
I have tried detoxing before with decent success, just on salads and fruits. But there are so many options for detoxing that I feel it's easy to go the wrong path. Important to do our due diligence researching before jumping into a detox solution. Good post!
I often eat salads as my main meal at lunch time. They make quite a nice lunch!!
I love having a salad as a meal but convincing my daughter can be more difficult.
I love having a salad as a meal. We love making buffalo chicken salads. so delicious!
I love salads, too. My daughter and I usually eat it as a main dish. We can thrive on salads, lol.
Salads are probably the one thing I eat most often as a meal. Variety, healthy and easy. Why not? It's most likely due to my love of "bowl" meals.
Great idea. I'm glad I'm not the only one who likes big meal sized salads, no one else in my family does. I'll definitely try that salad dressing too!
I completely agree that cutting out sugar helps keep lines at bay. Who knew? I loved the link for your salad dressing… YUM!
A large mixing bowl is the best sized bowl to mix up a healthy meal sized salad. I am glad to know that I am not the only one that eats right from the mixing bowl. 🙂
I'm trying a detox right now myself! Mostly just a lemon one because that seems to help me quite a bit. The holidays get so crazy for me that's almost impossible to eat healthy but it can be done!
I love salads as a main dish. Makes a great dinner and it's so healthy.
Salads are my absolute favorite thing to eat. I usually use an avocado based dressing so it adds a lot of heft to it. Carrots are one of my favorite things to add as well. Thanks for sharing your favorites! I'll have to check out that dressing.
Be the author of your own story,
Rebecca Kelsey Sampson
We usually eat salads as meals in the summer. For some reason this is the only time the kids will willingly eat salads.
We usually eat salads as meals in the summer. For some reason this is the only time the kids will willingly eat salads.
I love entree salads and must confess, I'm more likely to grab a take out one for myself as my kiddos are not fans.
I ate my fair share over the holidays and the eating has not stopped since. I need to get back to eating right!
I also enjoy a nice big salad as a dinner. Some protein and loaded with veggies, yum. Thank you for sharing with the Clever Chicks Blog Hop! I hope you’ll join us again next week!
Cheers,
Kathy Shea Mormino
The Chicken Chick
http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com
There are some perks to being in Summer over the holiday season, meal salads are a staple around here (and help to make up for the neverending Christmas cake and extras!)
I need to try that yummy dressing! Love delicious mealtime salads!
I love salad! It definitely makes you feel better when you balance it with fruit, veggies and protein. I am going to have to try out your dressing! Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
It is a delicious dressing, but takes a little getting used to since it isn't oil based. I hope you like it!
Hi Heather! That's awesome that you made it through the holidays a bit healthier than usual. Not me! I was on trips for the week of Thanksgiving and Christmas, and it seems like that combined with parties has kept me indulging for far too long. I've kept my workouts going strong though. I LOVE eating big salads and haven't made any at home lately. You've inspired me to get back to it this week. Have a wonderful weekend! (Stopping by to say hello from the Sverve group!)
When I am super busy in the weeks leading up to Christmas, I always get sick. It is my least favorite thing about the holidays! But, taking the time to slow down this year was such a blessing! Thanks for stopping by!
Definitely trying to recover from all the rich and unhealthy foods from the holidays. I'm not a big salad eater and when I do eat salad I have to drench it in dressing, which totally destroys the good stuff I'm trying to eat. My way of detoxing is by juicing. Following you from the FollowWho Hop!
I love juicing! Green juice is a favorite in my house. Unfortunately (or fortunately!) my kids love it so much I often don't get to drink the juice that I have made. We grow a lot of kale in the summer so that we can juice more 🙂