Yes. I said it.  I love hate salads.  Who doesn’t?

(If you were going to say “me,” don’t answer. )

I LOVE salads. Love love love. Especially good ones. Interesting ones. Salads that include ingredients that I would never consider pairing together.  Like kumquats and arugula.  Or roasted cauliflower with sesame seeds.  Or teriyaki tofu and mixed greens.  Or raw corn and tomatoes.  The list goes on.

I sometimes HATE making salads.  They require work.  Washing, cutting, (or dicing, as I prefer), assembling takes time.  By the time I decide I want a salad I’m already deflated at the prospect of now having to make it.  Total buzz kill.

How many other things do we have a love/hate relationship with?  Or better yet, hate/love?  Laundry. Gotta do it and love the clean clothing.  Exercise: before and after.  Large family gatherings.  (You know what I mean.  Love you, Mom!)

Today I made an arugula salad with diced cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, diced red pepper and topped with Trader Joes Sockeye Smoked salmon.  I realize that it has more sodium than I’d ever recommend, but when I use olive oil and lemon as dressing, I make it all work.  And perhaps that’s the biggest trick of all: making it work.

Ways to make salads work for you:

• Chop veggies ahead of time and keep in air tight containers.
• Wash greens in advance
• Precut protein: whether chicken or beef strips or tofu or cheese, have it ready to put on
• Invest in small dressing containers and fill them in advance

Your salad making efforts at the beginning of the week will turn your hatred of salads into love.  I promise.

Happy and healthy eating,

Emma