How to Make Sure Your Salad Is a Full Healthy Meal

Salads are touted as the ultimate healthy meal. Here’s how to make sure you’re getting enough nutrition in each bowl.

Salads are touted as the ultimate healthy meal, even though it can fall short when it comes to nutrition. Yes, vegetables are undoubtedly an excellent source of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients, however this doesn’t necessarily mean that you should be eating a bowl of veggies your main meal. Even when paired with grilled chicken and dressing, a minimal bowl of greens does not contain enough nutrition to sustain the needs of an adult for any given meal.

It’s very common practice to pair vegetables with protein in an attempt to eat healthier. As a dietitian, I see many clients who tell me that they cut out carbohydrates and fats in an attempt to improve their health or lose weight. The problem? They would be left feeling hungry and many of them would end up bingeing on the foods they had tried to restrict after their meal was done.

The good news is that if you love salads, they can absolutely be a complete meal with proper planning! Here’s how.

Meal-Size Salads Should Have Calories and Combinations

The first thing to keep in mind is whether or not your salad has enough calories. I generally don’t recommend calorie counting, however for people with a history of dieting and restriction, having some awareness about calories can be helpful to make sure you’re not undereating. I recommend that no meal be less than 500 calories. 500 calories is the bare minimum and from there you can assess how satisfied you are with the meal you’re having. Make sure you’re incorporating carbohydrates, protein and fat into every meal. Having a variety of different foods on your plate can take the guesswork out of making sure you’re getting enough nutrition.Head on over to FOOD NETWORK to read the full article! How to Make Sure Your Salad Is a Full Healthy Meal