Mixed Greens Salad

Who says a mixed greens recipe has to be boring? Not me!

Well, at least not me anymore. I used to cringe at mixed greens... yet I realized not all salads are created equal. Take this gem for instance. This mixed greens recipe is filled with a nutrient-rich leafy green base, tangy green apple, creamy avocado, and crunchy almonds. Seriously, this salad is the perfect way to fuel your body with tons of plant based goodness!

What to do with mixed greens

Making a salad that actually tastes good only takes a few key elements: fresh greens, toppings and a good dressing. As a result, the days of ranch on iceberg are over for good! Hallelujah!

Why are leafy greens good for you?

Did you know you can get not only nutrients, but also water, minerals and fiber from an awesome salad of mixed greens like this one? Obviously these are some pretty powerful plants!

According to a study done by Harvard, greens like kale, spinach and arugula are powerhouses when it comes to providing you with nutrients like Vitamin A, folate and Vitamin C - plus fiber, water and magnesium to help your digestion. Meanwhile, you just thought you were enjoying a yummy bowl of mixed greens topped with your fav homemade dressing. Go you!

To wash or not to wash?

There is a great deal of debate on whether or not you should wash greens before using. Haven't we all been there? You show up to a friend's house for dinner, excited to get in the kitchen to help - only to be mortified to see her dump a plastic box of greens into a bowl for tonight's salad. If it's pre-washed, then is it okay? What about organic?

Turns out, if your packaging states those lovely mixed greens have been pre-washed by a company that uses GMP or "good manufacturing processes", you're good to go.

That's according to most sources, including an article published by the University of Minnesota. On the other hand, a recent study done by Consumer Reports says that we should all be washing any produce that comes into our cooking spaces, whether "pre-washed", organic or otherwise. This is because even those mixed greens carefully washed by well meaning producers can still contain contaminants from ewwwie poo-ies (E. coli, etc.), chemicals and more.

After reading that, um...would you excuse me one sec while I wash up some leafy stuff for this mixed greens recipe?

How to take your salads on the go

Now, back to the reason we're here. On with the salad! The strawberry herb dressing included in the recipe below is ah-mazing. Seriously, I could drink it.

If you want these greens to travel, then you can prep your salad ahead of time in a mason jar. It's seriously so easy! Simply layer the ingredients in the mason jar, but store the (yummy, strawberry) dressing in a separate container. When you're ready to eat, pour the dressing on, give the mason jar a good shake, and enjoy!

More simple salad recipes

Does this recipe have you jonesing for more fresh ways to use those mixed greens in your fridge? Yeah, me too. If you're ready more crunch and more yummy homemade dressings, here's a list of my favs for you!

• Pear Salad with Pomegranate
• Hearty Mason Jar Salad
• Healthy Taco Salad
• Vegan Salad with Spiralized Sweet Potatoes
• Strawberry Arugula Salad
• Berry Salad

If you give one of these or the recipe below a taste, then let me know by rating and commenting below!