6 Healthy Salads Ideal for Summer
Salad itself (when it’s just a basic one without excess dressing and extras like a bunch of crotons and bacon bits or cheese) is healthy. However, some salads are a bit too filling or hearty for summer lunches, dinners, or snacks. Fortunately, there are plenty of salads perfect for summer (light and healthy) that can be made fairly quickly — and they should satisfy your hunger, too if you prefer a salad as a snack before dinner). Six suggestions are presented below. Just be careful with dressing if you want to keep all of the salads below healthy. The dressing should lightly coat the ingredients, not drown them.
1. Chef Salad
A chef salad is about as basic as you can get. It’s a go-to salad for any time of the year, and it’s especially tasty in summer when you can get fresh veggies. A basic chef salad is made with lettuce and:
- Mixed salad greens
- Protein (ham, beef, chicken, eggs, turkey, or bacon)
- Cheese — cheddar is a common choice, although any cheese can be used
- Dressing — try a homemade vinaigrette
2. Cucumber Tomato Salad
Tomatoes and cucumbers are two classic summer veggies. And they are both perfect for a summer salad. Ingredients are:
- Tomatoes
- Cucumbers
- Lemon
- Apple cider vinaigrette
3. Tropical Fruit Salad
A tropical fruit salad is a refreshing treat for summer. You can use any fruits, although one popular recipe includes:
- Pineapples
- Mangoes
- Kiwis
- Melons
- A splash of lime juice
4. Summer Panzanella Salad
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A panzanella salad is incredibly delicious and nutritious. (I tried it the other day and loved every bite!). Make this salad with the following tasty ingredients:
- Grilled zucchini
- Eggplant
- Cherry tomatoes
- Crusty bread
- A zesty vinaigrette
5. Shrimp Avocado Salad
Shrimp is healthy because it contains an assortment of vitamins and nutrients when it’s fresh and not overly processed. Avocados contain nutrients that help with eye, liver, brain, and heart health. For this salad, you’ll need:
- Spicy shrimp — buy it prepared or make your own with spices you prefer like rosemary, basil, oregano, ginger, or onion salt
- Spinach
- Cucumber
- Creamy avocados
- Miso or citrus dressing for a protein-packed option
6. Mediterranean Bean Salad
With this salad, you use simple foods you would normally find in the Mediterranean area (although the ingredients are available here, too — they just originate or grow naturally in that part of the world). For this salad you need:
- Garbanzo, kidney, and cannellini beans
- Cucumbers
- Tomatoes
- Italian vinaigrette
