[Beet, Apple, and Orange Salad in a Homemade Raspberry Vinaigrette]
Despite the torrential downpour we are getting this morning, fun things are going down…
It’s June 1st.
Friday.
And it’s also the kick-off of the June Salad-A-Day Challenge, also know as the month that many of us will amp up our veggie intake, crank out some amazing salads, and renew our energy during the last month of spring. I’m absolutely thrilled by your response to this challenge. I’m not sure if I would be successful doing this challenge on my own, but I know with your enthusiasm it shouldn’t be very hard.
In spirit of kicking things off, here are another 5 favourite salad recipes. The beauty of many of these recipes is that one recipe makes a few servings so you can enjoy them for a few days and save on prep time as well. Or share with your family members! Don’t feel like your salad has to be completely different and extravagant everyday, but if you want to do that you can too. How the challenge works is completely up to YOU. Most of all, have fun with it.
Don’t forget to check out 6 more salad recipes in Monday’s post. Keep your eyes peeled next week for a new salad recipe inspired by one of my favourite vegan restaurants.
1) Citrus Beet Salad with Creamy Avocado Lime Dressing (plus a trick for roasting beets)
Beets are anti-inflammatory, rich in antioxidants, support detoxification, and are high in folate, manganese, fibre, potassium, vitamin C, iron, and more. [source] A handful of reasons to dig in! Feel free to add nuts, seeds, and grains if you want to give this salad a boost.
2) Over the Rainbow Salad with Lemon-Tahini Dressing (plus an easy trick for preparing cabbage)
This salad made me feel so good…I was doing a happy dance in the kitchen. It was just the right mix of veggies, healthy fats, protein, and carbs to keep my energy buzzing along. As a former cabbage hater, this salad completely surprised me! I hope it surprises you too.
3) Back on Track Wheat berry and Bean Salad
This is my go-to healthy salad “secret weapon” that I make whenever I need a nutritional boost. Not only is
it one of the most popular salad recipes on the blog, but it’s a personal favourite as well. You can have fun changing it up too. See this version for a fun twist.
4) Avocado-Lime Black Bean Salad
I fell in love with this quick and easy black bean salad as soon as I tasted it. The hint of lime and spicy kick from the cumin makes for a delicious and healthy salad full of protein, healthy fats, and flavour. It’s great mashed up a little and thrown into a wrap too.
This is not your average potato salad drenched in mayonnaise and served cold. Instead, it’s served warm and lightly coated with an irresistible chive, dill, and green onion dressing.
It is nice alongside Our Perfect Veggie Burgers too.
How you can join in:
– Blog about the challenge and post pics & recipes of your salads throughout the month of June.
– Tweet, Pin, Facebook, and/or Instagram your salad creations using the hashtag: #saladaday
– leave me a comment and let me know how you are doing!
– encourage your friends, coworkers, and family members to take part too.
I am in love with this idea!! I made My Perfect Summer Salad to kick it off :) It’s a raspberry mango salad with a lemon olive oil & chia seed dressing. Sooo yummy and healthy! I can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with!
http://simplecravesandoliveoil.blogspot.com/2012/06/perfect-summer-salad.html
That creamy avocado lime dressing looks to die for! I need new dressing recipe ideas for this salad challenge, I started early and am already bored with my ideas :) Definitely going to try yours!
You know, sometimes I forget that salads can be things like the black bean and avocado one you’ve got going on. I like your variety and the denseness of some of these. I’m excited!
Ooh I really want to try that Citrus Beet Salad. I LOVE beets in salads – I don’t know why I’m okay with them in salads but not really anywhere else but it’s true. I stay away from them most of the time, then I see them in a salad and I’m all over ’em. Go figure!
I just made the asparagus and potato salad and it is AMAZING. In fact, the best potato salad I’ve ever eaten in my life, hands down.
Between your recipes, and Kathy Freston’s book “Veganist”, I don’t have ONE single reason to not be vegan, so as of today I’m going all the way. Thank you for your incredible recipes. You have really made me feel like I can do this and not only will I not miss a thing, but my food world will open up in wondrous ways. I am so excited!
Hey Jess, congrats on your decision! I hope you continue to enjoy the recipes :)
Posting photos of my actual salads each day: http://pinterest.com/pin/172896073165007187/
great idea :)
Kicked it off with the Detox Salad recipe. Wow!! I can never eat raw broccoli or cauliflower because of the texture but pulsing it in the food processor is pure genius! This may be my new potluck salad (a whole lot of cub scouts and their parents are about to be subject to it tomorrow!).
Oh my thank you so much for posting these salads! I’d forgotten about your outstanding Asparagus and Potato salad! I made it twice last year for picnics and couldn’t get over how amazing it was! Definitely adding it to my list of recipes to make this month.
I’m in! Had a salad for lunch and my 16 yo had one for dinner today. Will get my 17 & 19 yos on board tomorrow! Fun challenge!
awesome to hear!
I just kicked off the challenge by making a new dressing, Miso Cashew Ranch! It’s at the end of this post http://goodcleanfood.wordpress.com/2012/06/02/thin-crust-sriracha-bbq-tofu-and-moxerella-pizza/ Yeah for salads!
I actually started a salad-a-day challenge myself about a month ago! (Around the same time I was introduced to your website) As an active bulimic I have found that it has helped me stop the daily binge/purge cycles almost completely. I’m not in a place where I can cook for myself or keep food in the house but the salad-a-day routine is a simple and effective way for me to commit daily to a healthy endeavour that involves food. I love your work. Thank you for sharing!
Im glad to hear salads have helped you stay positive and feel good. goodluck with your recovery!
does an over the rainbow salad lead to an emerald city salad?
Thanks for starting this Angie! I am excited to eat more veggies this month and see how much more energized I feel! Hopefully I can put together some amazing salads like yours:)
Wow! These salads look yummy! I try to eat a salad daily but it’s usually just a typical salad. I am excited to try some of the ones you’ve posted! Do you sent out e-mails with a link to your posts? If do, I want to receive them. Thanks!
yup! you can find my RSS and email feeds on the right hand of my page near the top (where the twitter, facebook icons are)
Thanks for the fast response. i just signed up!
We made your Avocado Tahini Dressing yesterday and had a fabulous salad with dinner, loved it! I noticed that there are salads from the blog not on the Recipage, so I searched through your blog and found many others, like Taco Salad for One, Vegan Ceasar Salad, Green Goddess Dressing, Spring Has Sprung Salad, The Big Summer Salad–so many new yummy ones to try! They may not seem too exciting to you, but I love just getting more of a feel for how you eat, and really enjoy the more basic but still “so Angela” recipes.
Can’t wait to see what new salad ideas you have coming!
*Ann
I didn’t get beets this week, but I have loving them on my salads..for like this past month! I figured I needed to take a lil break so I didn’t get burned out! I am excited for this challenge!
I tried your perfect veggie burgers, and holy cow! They really are the best veggie burger I’ve ever had! Even my 200 lb., meat-eating, where’s-the-protein-in-this-salad husband loved them!
I have just been introduced to your site and I couldn’t be more grateful. I am trying to get on track with my health and my weight and your story and recipes are just what I need. I will start the salad challenge on the 11th, but take it as far as I can. Last week I perfected my vegan breakfast smoothie and this week I will tackle cooking those super-grains the right way (I’ve never tried any of them before) so they will be perfect in those salads. Thanks!
Ange, In your original post about the salad challenge, you asked if we had any ideas for a July challenge. I have been thinking about it quite a bit, and then it occurred to me — In Dr. John McDougall’s most recent publication he challenges individuals, vegan and non-vegan alike, to eat more starch (potatoes, sweet potatoes, pasta, beans, peas, lentils, rice, corn, grains, whole grain bread, etc). He calls it “The Eat More Starch” Challenge. In a study they found that males lost 14-19 pounds during an 8 week period just because they ate more starch. One of the chapter headings of his book says, “People passionate about starches are healthy and beautiful.” Vegans can eat too few veggies/salads, but they can also consume too few starches, and get a little off track with too many nuts, seeds, fruits, desserts, fats, etc. Starches provide great satiation and comfort. Anyway, I just thought I would throw that idea out there.
-Ashlee
That’s an interesting idea. My problem is the opposite though…I generally eat many more starch foods than vegetables. I guess it just depends on the individual!
That must be why you glow!
I am taking on the Salad a Day challenge for June! I made the Rainbow Salad to take for lunches to work this week. It’s sooooo good. I especially love the dressing. I have half a recipe left and can’t wait to try it on something else! Thank you so much for sharing your recipes!