Ideas for Salads

[Lettuce Help]

Has anyone got any good ideas for different salads or salad dressings?  I don't mind the old basics of lettuce, tomatoes, pepper and onion in salad but I'm trying to lose weight and if I'm going to be eating salad most days, I would like a bit of variety.  Trouble is though, I don't like fruit and nuts in salad so that's kind of limiting (although I don't mind seeds) 

I have done some internet searching and found some goodies but thought I'd ask people on this site as we seem to be a bit limited here for fancy lettuce etc so I wondered how people got on with making salad from what is available in the shops. 

[Lettuce spray]

It's all in the dressings....at least initially. Experiment with different combinations of healthy oils, vinegars, citrus, mustards and herbs. Eating raw and fresh is a great way to kick start a healthy weight loss program and you may find the deal looks less boring once you've been under way for a couple of weeks.

From my own experience the old bod and mind adapts to a healthy change in diet quite quickly, and very soon starts to crave more of the good stuff. Forming good dietary habits can be as easy as just making a start. You'll become more tuned in to the different vegetable and fruit options in time, as you discover what works for you naturally.

Good luck.

[power of green]

Power of Green Salad: cut up into bite size pieces and blanch - green beans, asparagus, brocolli (make sure you boil only for 1 minute as the veg needs to retain some crunch). mix with baby spinach and rocket. add a viniagrette dressing of your choice and sprinkle with toasted sunflower seeds.

this salad is sooooo yummy and so good for you. i did it to death and OD'd on it and have not been able to eat it since!!

[EGNB]

My husband came up with a delicious salad last night.  You could modify it to suit your tastes and ingredients:

NY strip steak, seared and sliced
Rocket/arugula
Butter lettuce
Green beans, cut and blanched (until bright green and still crisp)
Bleu cheese, crumbled
Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
Cherry tomatoes, sliced in halves
Red bell pepper, sliced

Toss together, with balsamic vinegar and olive oil dressing with a bit of stone ground mustard mixed in.  Hearty enough salad to pass as dinner.

[some I like]

I know a few of my favourites include
Thai beef salad,
Green Papaya salad (even though this is a fruit its not sweet at all)
Chicken and glass noodle salad
Tandoori chicken salad with riata
Roast vegetable and chick pea salad
Salads are great, you can make them just to your liking I find something crunchy helps keep the chocolate cravings at bay.

[salad]

boiled egg, boiled beetroot, potato salad, grated carrot, sweetcorn, spring onion, lettuce, red onions, thousand island dressing yum yum

[Dressing]

Just thought I share a dressing that reminds me of Spring...

1 tbsp coarse Dijon Mustard
1 tbsp honey
2-3 tbsp Olive Oil (mix these three ingredients together first)
 
add lemon juice according to your taste (now the dressing turns really smooth and silky)

finish with salt, lemon pepper and fresh chives