4 Dietitian Hacks to Make Your Salad More Satisfying

Bored with salads? Registered dietitian Shannon Crocker shows us four easy ways to boost your bowl.

1. Layer on some grains – whole grains provide a slow release carbohydrate that will give you long lasting energy.

2. Add apples – with good fibre content and a high level of water, apples make a delicious addition to any salad to help fill you up

3. Add protein – from cheese, to salmon, to legumes, any of these proteins will add unique nutrients and flavour

4. Drizzle on the dressing – add a pop of flavour with some homemade salad dressing

Check out Shannon’s salad dressing recipes below and visit her website for more tasty ideas!

Garlic-y Lemon Vinaigrette

This is a basic but TASTY dressing for any salad, any day!

Ingredients

½ cup (125 mL) olive

1/4 cup (60 mL) freshly squeezed lemon juice *

1 tsp. (5 mL) grated lemon zest

1 tsp. (5 mL) dried oregano

1 small clove garlic, pressed

½ tsp. (2 mL) each salt and pepper

¼ tsp. (1 mL) chili flakes

Make it:

In a small bowl, whisk together dressing ingredients. Drizzle dressing over salad. Store extra in the fridge for 3 days to enjoy with your next salad creation.

* I love this dressing with 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice by my a couple of my reviewers thought it was a little too lemony. Is that even possible? So, if you don’t love tangy lemon, add a little less.

Hint o’ Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette

For those who love a little sweet, a little tangy, this is the dressing for you!

Ingredients

½ cup (125 mL) canola oil

¼ cup (60 mL) good quality balsamic vinegar

1 Tbsp. (15 mL) honey

1 tsp. (5 mL) Dijon mustard

1 small clove garlic, pressed

½ tsp. (2 mL) each fine sea salt and pepper

Make it:

In a small bowl, whisk together dressing ingredients. Drizzle dressing over salad. Store extra in the fridge for 3 days to enjoy with your next salad creation.

Maple Dijon Vinaigrette

With a hint of maple, this is super for all sorts of salads.

Ingredients

½ cup (125 mL) olive

3 Tbsp. (45 mL) cider vinegar

1 Tbsp. (15 mL) plus 1 tsp. maple syrup

1 tsp. (5 mL) Dijon mustard

1 small clove garlic, pressed (optional)*

½ tsp. (2 mL) each fine sea salt and pepper

Make it:

In a small bowl, whisk together dressing ingredients. Drizzle dressing over salad. Store extra in the fridge for 3 days to enjoy with your next salad creation.

*you can skip the garlic in this dressing if you prefer a garlic-free dressing option. It’s still totally tasty!