I love salads, but I’ll be the first to admit that they can get a bit boring after a while!
Recently, I have challenged myself to have one salad a day because they are such a great way to pack in a lot of veggie servings and I tend to slack on my veggie consumption in the Winter time. We don’t have our CSA share brimming with veggies and the grocery store stock can look a bit worse for wear this time of the year. (Last week, I bought some romaine that looked so weak and frail I almost shed a tear.)
Sadly, in the Winter it is often: veggie consumption down, carb consumption UP.
But…..I do feel (and look) my best when I’m eating lots of vegetables, so I decided to make an effort to pack more into my day. The only downfall with my salad challenge is that salads can become boring pretty fast if I don’t get creative!
The other day I was eating a rather boring salad and I thought to myself, Wouldn’t it be fun if I could make a high-protein salad topper that would be easy to sprinkle on my salads? Then the wheels got turning and I started to think of different flavour combinations and I pretty much ran to the kitchen to try it out.
These salad toppers are high in protein, fibre, healthy fats, and pack in a ton of nutrients. They will give your salads (or bowls of cereal!) some extra staying power too. Have fun mixing up the flavours and making different salad combos. 
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Pump It Up Customizable Salad Toppers
Chewy, flavourful, and super addicting these high-protein salad and cereal toppers will give those boring bowls a boost. Have fun making all kinds of fun flavours! I have included the nutritional info below.
Yield: ~1.5-1.75 cups (6 servings)
Base recipe:
- 2 tbsp regular oats
- 2 tbsp flour (I used whole wheat flour)
- 1/4 cup hemp seeds
- 2 tbsp sunflower seeds
- 2 tbsp chia seeds
- 2 tbsp sesame seeds
- 2 flax eggs (2 tbsp ground flax + 6 tbsp water)
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
Directions: Preheat oven to 350F and line a baking sheet with parchment or a non stick mat. Mix the flax egg in a small bowl and set aside. After 5 minutes, Mix all of the above ingredients together in a bowl. Now add in your desired ‘flavours’ by selecting one of the options below or by creating your own flavour!
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Savoury Flavour: (Garlic Herb) |
Sweet Flavour: (Cinnamon Sugar) |
YOUR FLAVOUR? |
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Directions (continued): After mixing in your seasonings, spread the mixture onto your prepared baking sheet as flat as you can by using slightly wet hands or a spatula. You want it as thin as you can get it so it cooks faster. You can now sprinkle on additional herbs if making the savoury flavour or you can sprinkle on sugar if making the sweet flavour. Bake at 350F for 15 minutes. Remove from oven, flip, and break up the pieces with a spatula and bake for another 5 minutes. Allow to cool completely on the baking sheet. Makes about 1.5 cups or a bit more.
I served my salad with my Better than Balsamic dressing.
Nutritional info (per serving, serves 6): 160kcals, 11 grams fat (1 gram sat fat, 5082mg Omega-6, 1972 Omega-3 fatty acids), 10 grams carbs, 5 grams fibre, 7 grams protein, 0 grams sugar. (Note: This info includes the base ingredients only).
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This recipe really could not be any easier! I was just shocked at how quickly it came together. The great thing about this recipe is that it is completely customizable too. The flavour combinations are endless. :)
I’m sure you can mix up the seeds too depending on what you have!
Now you pick what flavours you want to use. I made Savoury and Sweet versions that were both so good.
Mix together and then spread the mixture onto a pan as thin as possible. The thinner you spread it, the faster it will cook.
Sprinkle on additional herbs, or if making the sweet version, sprinkle with cinnamon and coarse sugar. Mmmmm.
Bake for 15 minutes at 350F and then remove from oven. Flip the large piece and then break up up with a metal spoon. Bake for another 5 minutes and then cool completely on the pan.
In under 30 minutes, you have the most amazingly delicious healthy salad or cereal topping.
I baked mine up chewy, but if you wanted them crispy you could bake them longer. It is totally up to you. They do firm up slightly when cooling, so keep that in mind.
I’m going to warn you, they are SUPER addicting! I loved eating them like a ‘cracker’ too. They would be amazing with hummus (what wouldn’t though?).
This morning, I discovered that the Sweet cinnamon sugar flavour is also incredible on cereal! It is chewy and really amps up a bowl of cereal in a flash. I’m sure it would also rock in a bowl of hot oatmeal or VOO.
Anyone want to join in the salad challenge with me? I’m curious to see what other flavours you guys can come up with! If you have any ideas or make any other versions, leave me a comment below!
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Yesterday, I got some exciting news. 
I have been selected as a finalist in Best Health Magazine’s Health Blog Awards in the Eat Well category.
Voting is now open and I would greatly appreciate your vote! All you do is enter your name and email address and then click to vote. You can vote daily if you’d like to. Voting is open until March 21 and winner’s are announced on March 31st. When you vote you are entered to win a chance at a free subscription to the magazine. :) Thank you so much for your support! 
Have a great day. It appears I have a long day of bakery work ahead of me today. ;)
We have been making all of our salads this winter with kale, and I am totally addicted! My favorite so far is an Asian inspired one with avocado, tomato, red onion, and pumpkin seeds! The lettuce here is looking too sad for me to bear as well, and I HATE buying the pre washed stuff in the plastic tubs. They always go bad within a few days! The recipe for the kale salad can be found on my blog www.consciousearthveg.blogspot.com. Thanks for the great recipe!
Definitely joining in on the salad challenge (even tho I eat one practically everyday already)! Trying to shed the holiday EL-BEEZ and i’ve got 8.5 to lose (yowza christmas cookies!). My favorite salad combo right now is arugula, spinach, lettuce, avocado, chickpeas, and hummus mixed w/ nutritional yeast, ground up walnuts, sea salt, & honey mustard dressing. IT’ MAKES FOR ONE CREAMY SALAD! Holds me for hours! I recommend trying it! <3
What a fab idea.
I’d love to make these wheat free and dehydrate them!
A flavor suggestion: curry, ginger, dulse, and nooch
Looks like a great salad topper. Much better than croutons.
Reminds me of a recipe Averie (Love Veggies and Yoga) came up with for crackers.
I voted for you.
Ohhhh those salad toppers are genius! I eat a salad almost everyday for lunch and could really use something to spice it up!
Goodluck in the healthy blog contest!
You are such an inspiration girl!
I love the salad toppers, I find salad boring without a “crunch”
Congrats on the award!! I will vote :)
xxoo
Those look tasty! I’ll definitely be voting, you deserve it. :)
Congratulations on being a finalist! I will definitely be voting! :D
I’m not all too creative with salads but these look like a great way to mix it up! With my salads, if I have leftover beans (or lentils as was the case today), I’ll put it on top of a salad. :)
I would make a Mexican-inspired topper with dried cumin/coriander/garlic. Maybe some smoked paprika or chipotle chili powder if I’m feeling cheeky.
What a good idea to dress up a salad. They do look like they’d be great to munch on like crackers too. Mmm.
I’ve been lamenting the same thing – our fresh produce options are less desirable in the winter. Where oh where can I find a decent cucumber? During CSA season, I literally plan my week’s meals around our CSA box. At the end of the season, I have to adjust. And it’s kind of painful.
Thank you, once again, for sharing such a great recipe idea. :)
Congrats on being selected as a finalist!! I will definitely vote for you everyday :)
Great idea! I have some dehydrated seed crackers (sesame, chia and flax) that are too dense to eat on their own. Salad, that’s what I’ll use them for! Great idea!
Count me in for the salad challenge!
Also can’t wait to try your salad and cereal toppers (though I think I might just want to eat them as cereal itself, rather than on top!)
Another good salad topper is trail mix- countless options and can add staying power!
I think I could probably eat couscous 10 times a day, everyday, I’m not going to lie haha So to add punch to my salads I usually add 1/2 cup of cooked couscous (plain or flavoured). I tend to favour spinach, red onion, red pepper, cucumber, shredded carrots, avacado, jalapenos and sometimes I’ll add black beans too. Toss with whatever homemade dressing I have on hand and I have a great lunch that I can store in the fridge for whenever I need some veggies!
Those look delightful! I like something crunchy in my salad, so I would probably bake them longer.
I knew that I would be driving to work when your glo bars went on sale this morning, so I called my boyfriend and made him get his butt out of bed (at 7am! …evil laugh…) to order some for me. Turns out he accidentally ordered 20 bars instead of 10! Haha…oops! I am perfectly okay with that though. ;-)
Oh….and I am going to join you in the salad challenge too!
I have challenged myself to almost the same thing, but mine was to eat a medium to large size serving of dark leafy greens everyday. I don’t always do salad, sometimes I make a green juice or green smoothie, or I’ll put a large amount of spinach in a wrap with hummus&veggies.
I have one salad I am absolutely hooked on & have been almost eating everyday since December. It is simply organic spring mix, organic spinach (some spring mix packages don’t contain spinach so I always like to add some) sliced strawberries, sliced almonds and hemp seeds. It is so yummy that it doesn’t need any dressing!
This looks lovely! I think I’d go for some sweet and spicy flavor: orange cest, tarragon, chili, ginger. :)
Congrats on becoming a finalist, Angie, that’s wonderful. Off to vote for you after I comment…
Regarding the toppers, love the idea! About 6 months or so I posted my recipe for what I call Sweet Seeds Crackers. They are Raw, Vegan, GF crackers that only use seeds b/c too often in raw un-baking, nuts and heavy grains were used and I wanted to keep these lighter and so did them grain and nut free.
http://www.loveveggiesandyoga.com/2010/06/gf-vegan-sweet-seed-crackers-happy.html
Sorry for the link drop and just delete my comment if it’s not cool.
You can take that recipe in any direction, savory, with nooch, garlic, other spices, etc…
And your recipe…I love it! I love all the ingredients you used and I WILL be trying these. Thank you for the inspiration! And yes, salads are wayyyy better and more jazzed up with things like this sprinkled on!
That is so exciting news! Do you contact them and enter this stuff – or do they find you? Incredible.
Also I think I asked before – I apologize – but is your bakery within your home – you work from home all day? Or do have a separate store?
Angela, I just love, love, LOVE your blog :) Thank you for your inspiring posts, and I voted for you in the contest! Best wishes.
Oh, those look amazing- almost like the seed crackers you made a while back, yes?
I voted for you too! I really enjoy reading your blog : )
As for salads, yeah, you can get into a rut easy. My favorite salad is pretty simple. I like a 50/50 blend of spinach and arugula. I add chopped up green onions, thin sliced and cut up radishes, red and green pepper diced up real tiny and about 6-7 pimiento stuffed olives cut into quarters. Then I add a bit of olive oil, some lemon juice and salt & pepper. Finally I mix in some blue cheese crumbles. Mmmmmm
Definitely going to try your recipe!
Congratulations!
Also, thanks for this post! I need some more ways to include healthy fats in my diet!
You are so creative! I eat a salad every day but it’s easy because I have a salad bar with loads of options at the dining hall. Honestly, I don’t know what I would eat for lunch if it wasn’t a salad! :)
Congrats!
This looks so awesome! I love how you can mix and match to suit your tastes! =) I do this a lot with trail mix <3
actually, i just did a post on it too: Mix and Match Trail Mix
Love this post! and the recipe — i’m so making this! =)
xoxo
jenn
Of course, I’m voting for you! Just made your Strawberry Peanut Butter Oatmeal, but with Almond Butter. It was AMAZING! Going to make this recipe tomorrow…:)
WOW, these look amazing. Question: Can I use Energy Egg Replacer instead of the flax eggs?
I get in plenty of veggies without salads in the winter. I’ve become almost addicted to steamed vegetables! They are so good this time of year.
In a couple of months, I’ll probably get back into salads, though.
forgot to mention: I voted for you!!!
Love this idea! I get my veggies in during the winter with the on-campus vegetarian wrap station. They have a different one each day of the week, and they’re always filled with a protein and tons of veggies, and awesome flavors!
Voted for you!
omg these look amazing, what a creative salad topper. I am always looking for new ways to switch up my salads thanks for the recipe :)
These look tasty! I love your hummus-dipping idea. I am OBSESSED with hummus and ever since I began making your “the hummus that changed everything” recipe I can’t remember a day I have gone through without consuming hummus in some way, shape or form (on a carrot, on some bread, straight from my spoon…) The best part is, I have got my boyfriend hooked as well! Seeing him eat something healthy is great when I’m used to watching him inhale huge amounts of meat non-stop. =D I will definitely try this recipe soon :)
haha nice! You just reminded me to make another batch. Ive been out of hummus for over a week I think (horrors!!!)
oh these are so wonderfully creative!
Congratulations on being a finalist. I am going to vote now! :)
Ok ive made my decision, im subscribing, this is awesome, keep it comin.
Congrats!! and love this topper recipe.
Congratulations on the Best Health finals!! You have my vote. And WOW….WHERE do you come up with ideas like these salad toppers!?! Awesome!!!
Yes! A daily salad is something I started 2 weeks ago – for exactly the same reasons – and the difference it makes to the “winter lethargy” is amazing! I add either lentils, beans or chickpeas to mine, some extra virgin olive oil, fresh herbs from my indoor herb plants, and some freshly ground salt and pepper. I’ll definately be giving these a go too! Yum! Extra flavor makes salads so easy to munch on, keep it up :)
We are so on the same page…I am on day 7 of a ‘7 Days of Salad’ challenge, which I just extended through Sunday because it was such a hit. I ate 2 salads per day, and I got creative in what constituted salads and how to put them together. I’ll totally try your toppers. You should try my roasted Mediterranean veggies!
These toppers are such a great idea! On some days I find it so hard to come up with a good topper for salad that will keep me full. These are perfect since I can just pull them out of the cupboard when I want them (provided I don’t eat them before they make it onto a salad. ;))!
I’m definitely voting for ya. Have you ever read Best Health? I really love it because it’s so much more focused on overall health rather than just weight loss and looking good.
I absolutely love reading your blogs every day or at least every other day. I love them even more when you start talking about salads. Your salads always look so refreshing and make me crave them even more. YUMMY for these topping ideas too!
Those look amazing! I usually eat overnight oats for breakfast and salads for lunch so I will have to try these out soon ^_^
GENIUS! I have been trying to find something exactly like that to add the crunchy taste AND be healthy. This made my day. Thank yoooooooooooou.
I have one word for this -genius! I’ve recently been trying to eat salads more regularly and this topper will definitely have to be put into my rotation. Quick question: Eating more salads has kind of, er, messed with my digestion and made me feel bloated. Do you think that this will resolve itself over time as my body adjusts? Anyone else have this reaction?
Thanks and congratulations!!
HI Angela,
I notice you use silpat baking mats – I’ve been toying with buying one for a while now and I’m wondering if you recommend them? Do they work in place of baking paper? Are they hard to clean? I really want an alternative to having to use paper every time I bake and these seem like the way to do it, but I don’t want to waste money if they aren’t any better?
What a great recipe! I love an extra crunch to my salads. Even better when it’s not processed crackers or chips!
That shot of your salad is SO beautiful Angela ! You’re an turning into an amazing photog.
I am so excited to try this recipe! I have recently had to increase my fruit and veggie consumption due to gluten intolerance, so this will make salads so much more enjoyable! Do you think I could substitute wheat flour for a gluten free flour? Have you baked with corn, potato, or rice flour before? If so, can you taste the difference or is there a difference in texture? Congrats on being selected as a finalist! I will definitely vote for you :)
WOW! I’ve never made ANYTHING like this is my life! I’ve seen flax crackers that use dehydrators but I’m so relieved you just used an oven :)
You are so creative! I love it and I’m definitely voting for you :) Congrats on being a finalist!