Salad that Will Keep You Warm for the Hoidays

Most of us in some point in our lives have feared the idea of eating tasteless fruits and vegetables in order to improve or maintain good health. Some of us have also been advised by our physicians to add more greens to our diet because of issues with our cholesterol or blood pressure. Well let's just say that there is a way to add greens to our diet without feeling nauseated by the site of celery and lettuce! Yes folks, there is a way to avoid the greens we are tired of seeing ruining our hunger. In fact, these greens I am referring to are Spinach and broccoli! Sure, broccoli looks funky and spinach pretty equals dull, but have they ever really tried it in the kitchen of their own home? Personally, I don't believe so, but if they took the time, they would be in for a great shock.

Personally, I believe that the worst salads come from these same fast food restaurants that serve us garbage. We never really know where these places store their "fresh" produce, but one thing I know for sure is that I have had better salads at home than at McDonalds or Burger King. Broccoli and spinach are greens that have to be carefully supervised while cooking in order for them to be sweet and healthy to eat. The spinach has to be thoroughly washed and I would deeply recommend buying spinach that is NOT from those sealed ready-to-go bags. In extremely rare cases, these bags can contain E.coli which is a specific kind of bacterium that can cause serious food poisoning (rare also). The same goes for most produce even though spinach has been the main E.coli culprit for the last three years. The spinach from my recipe has to be steamed in order to make this tangy salad. This particular salad can be a spicy salad by adding hot sauce of your choice.

The salad was a recipe that I came up with on my own while making tacos for the family. I was so surprised at the outcome because I was left with a strong craving for more. It's really all about creativity when it comes to making a delicious healthy meal for the family. The salad contains a hint of lime, small chunks of tuna and Tabasco sauce to give it a nice kick. This is an also an excellent salad for those who are under the weather during this flu season. The hot sauce is optional, but I highly recommend it if you like spicy salads. This green tangy salad has rich source of ingredients that fall under the super food category. Super foods are foods that provide you with a significant source of antioxidants and iron.

The Ingredients

Limes: Limes are basically the main ingredient to make the salad tangy. When picking out limes, try to pick out limes that are ripe because the ones that are not tend to be squishy and taste like dish washing soap. If you are pregnant, limes are safe to consume because they are rich in vitamin C, but try not to consume too many because the acid from them can cause problems with your esophagus and tooth enamel. Half of one lime is enough for one tangy salad bowl or plate. Lemons on the other are ok, but I would truly recommend limes because they go well with the tuna fish chunks and croutons.

Spinach: Some people consider spinach a dull, but this green is possibly the most beneficial of all green fruits and vegetables to the human body. Unlike many greens, spinach is considered a super food. As previously mentioned, spinach tastes best steamed and it is important to wash before dropping it in a pot. Spinach is filled with antioxidants which are excellent for the skin and provides nice tone to it as well. It is also the healthiest and most nutritious ingredient of this meal.

Broccoli: Although broccoli is widely known for its funky look, it is actually a delicious green that actually tastes like food. Some prefer broccoli with just salt, but others love it with ranch dressing. Like most of these recipes in this salad, broccoli is a super food. You now know why your parents always told you to finish your broccoli.

Grape Tomatoes: Grape tomatoes are highly recommended compared to regular sized tomatoes because they provide more of a sweet taste because the smaller they are, the more taste they pack. These particular tomatoes can be pretty expensive at the grocery isle at a whopping four dollars for 25. Sometimes it is best to grow them yourself, but if you cannot wait that long, you only other alternative is buying them in those disposable containers. Tomatoes will give you a high dose of vitamin C and can help prevent prostate cancer. The chances of developing prostate cancer are greatly reduced if you consume at least a dozen tomatoes a week. Did I mention that they are super foods as well?

Tuna: Most salads recipes have chicken as their primary source of protein, but tuna fish chunks actually complement this type of salad since it is somewhat spicy. Tuna goes oh so well with limes and hot sauce and when you add croutons to the mix. Tuna has very high levels of both protein and omega-3 fatty acids, making it a super food. Not only are Omega-3 fatty acids crucial in the battle of lowering heart disease, but they can relieve symptoms from Alzheimer's disease. Most people who the gym to lift weights and bulk add red meat to their diet, but if you are more interested in having a lean muscular body, you cannot go wrong with tuna.

Cucumbers: Judging from my tastes, I consider cucumbers the tastiest fruit/vegetable in this salad recipe. The problem with cucumbers is that sometimes they are difficult to find ripe in supermarkets because so many tend to be soft. If you pick out a decent looking cucumber, you run the risk of picking one that has a perfume like taste which is very odd coming from a fruit. Soft limes on the other hand tend to taste like dish washing soap, but it is very easy finding one that doesn't. Rinsing dozens of cucumbers with lime and dipping them in hot sauce gives them an incredible taste. Along with croutons and broccoli, cucumbers give this salad the crunchy taste people want.

Garlic Croutons: Croutons aren't greens, but if you buy garlic flavored croutons you also add more nutrition to your meal since again, garlic falls under the super food category. Garlic is also good for the heart and has been known to prevent colds and the flu!

Setting up the salad

This is the easiest and most enjoying part of creating this salad. Setting it up doesn't require much effort if you eat it from a bowl since the ingredients blend together, but if you use a plate, you may need to become a little creative on how you set it up. Tooth picks would be a nice touch and I strongly recommend adding hot sauce to it!