If You’re Not Eating Salads Everyday in 2018 You’re Seriously Missing Out, Here’s 5 Reasons Why

Whether it’s as a starter, side, or main, eating a bowl of salad daily is an easy way to get loads of health benefits and help you feel better every day. (Oh and read to the bottom to learn how they can be super tasty with little effort).

Salads are the real secret to flawless skin

Ditch the skin creams; the world’s top dieticians have spent their academic funds learning to craft supermodel glowing skin, and I have the secret scoop. Aside from making liberal use of hydrating vegetables and greens (essential for youthful skin tone) you should be layering your salads with 3 categories of ingredients:

Skin-strengthening omega-3 fatty acids

• Flaxseed
• Walnuts
• Chia seeds

Collagen-boosting vitamin C

• Brocolli
• Kale
• Peppers

Antioxidant-rich vitamins A and E

• Pumpkin
• Sweet potatoes
• Carrots

Want to give your salad a nutritional grain boost? Check out these 5 favourite whole grains for a healthy addition.

Improves muscle performance

Dark leafy greens such as spinach have unique nutrients that help to enhance the performance of mitochondria (which help to produce energy), and also helps to inform and power our muscles.

Helps with weight loss

Yep, that’s right, I’m sure it’s ground-breaking news that salads help to cut calories and keep you feeling with full. But now we have science to back this up: salads are high in fibre, rich in other nutrients and low in calories and the nutritional makeup helps you feel fuller so you end up eating less.

Full of fibre

As mentioned above, salads are a natural source of fibre with the addition of luscious green leaves. But it’s not only feeling full that fibre helps with – it lowers your cholesterol levels, prevents constipation, aids in the prevention of bowel diseases and even a number of cancers. Why aren’t you eating a salad right now, it’s a no-brainer?!

Smart fats

So smart they’re Einstein. Adding avocado, olive oil or nuts to your salads helps your body to absorb phytochemicals, which protect the body against heart disease), and also in general produces more energy and helps create a satiating effect that reduces cravings.

Packed with vitamins & minerals

Eating nutrient-rich salads help contribute towards your overall health. They are high in vitamins such as Vitamin A, C & K. If you eat salad daily, you will have powerful antioxidants from vitamin C, Vitamin C helps fight infection, boost iron absorption, and maintain healthy bones, gums and skin. Vitamin A helps with immunity. Vitamin K helps with healing wounds as it assists with blood clots.

So you’re now probably tempted to have a salad – here’s two of my favourite salad recipes that are super yummy and filling.

2 quick super salads you can make right now

 

Herb grilled Chicken and avocado salad

Serves 4

Ingredients

For the chicken

• 3 minced garlic clove
• 4 tbsp of olive oil
• 3 tbsp chopped fresh basil
• 3 tbsp chopped fresh thyme
• 3 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary
• ½ tbsp salt
• 3 chicken breast
• Half a lemon

For the salad

• Romaine lettuce leaves, sliced
• Rocket
• Spinach
• Handful of tomatoes, sliced
• 1 red onion, sliced
• 2 avocados, sliced

Method

1. Place garlic clove, olive oil, fresh basil, fresh thyme, fresh rosemary, salt and chicken breasts into a large bowl. Stir so that everything is coated evenly.
2. Heat another teaspoon of olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Place chicken breasts for 10 minutes.
3. Turn over the breasts, cover the pan, and lower the heat for another 10 minutes.
4. Whilst the chicken is cooking prepare the avocado, leaves, tomatoes and red onion.
5. Once the chicken is cooked, squeeze lemon juice over the chicken and leave it to rest for 5 minutes. Cut the chicken up into slides.
6. Drizzle olive oil over the finished salad and chicken and enjoy!

 

Halloumi and Roasted Chickpea salad

Serves 4

Ingredients

For the chickpeas

• 2 x 400g can of chickpeas
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp paprika
• ½ tbsp garlic salt
• ½ tbsp salt

For the halloumi

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp paprika

For the salad

• Rocket
• Spinach Romaine lettuce, sliced
• Cucumber, sliced
• ½ red onion, sliced
• Handful of tomatoes, sliced

Tzatziki

• 250g Greek Yogurt
• 1 cucumber, deseeded and grated
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 ½ tbsp lemon juice
• Salt and pepper to taste

Method

1. Drain the chickpeas and place them in a bowl. Mix them together with oil, paprika, garlic salt and salt.
2. Preheat the oven to 200 °C. Spread the chickpeas onto a baking sheet and roast for about 20 minutes.
3. Slice the halloumi into 1cm thick slices and mix with olive oil and paprika.
4. Heat a non-stick pan and fry the halloumi on one side for 1 minutes, then turn the slices and cook for 2 minutes on the other side.
5. Toss the salad ingredients together in a large bowl and combine the tzatziki ingredients in a separate bowl.
6. Add the halloumi and chickpeas on top and enjoy!