It’s been a while since I’ve done a challenge on the blog and as I mentioned last week I’ve had an idea cooking in my mind for a while now. In spirit of some friendly inspiration and accountability, I’m challenging myself and all of you lovely readers to enjoy one salad each and every day for the month of June.
I have a tendency to fall off the salad bandwagon, so this challenge is an effort to bring salads back into my life and amp up the veggies in my diet as summer approaches. And I hope you will be on board too! If you already do enjoy a salad each day, I challenge you to mix up your go-to salads using new ingredients, toppings, and dressings all month long.
The challenge kicks off on Friday June 1st, but I’m giving you a few days notice in case you want to prepare. Or start today! Fill the crisper. Hit up the farmer’s market. Sharpen your knives. And prepare yourself for renewed energy during the last month of spring.
Below are 6 reader favourite salads to get you started. I will be posting 5 other salad recipes shortly and hopefully a recap of my favourite easy homemade dressings for those of us who want to ditch the bottled stuff and try something new. A new salad recipe will also be featured on the blog each week during the challenge.
If you want to feel energized and balanced, this is the salad to start off with! It’s inspired by the Detox Salad at Whole Foods. I love it drizzled with a touch of maple syrup and sprinkle of cinnamon just before serving. You will never look at raw broccoli and cauliflower the same way again…trust me on this one.
2) Spring Salad with Strawberry Basil Lemon Dressing
A pretty salad to honour spring and use up all of those fresh strawberries! The dressing is made up of strawberries and basil, along with fresh lemon juice, a touch of olive oil, pure maple syrup, fine grain sea salt, & black pepper. It’s healthy and light, yet creamy and indulgent tasting. Pour it on top of mixed greens, chopped strawberries, and toasted coconut and slivered almonds for a healthy yet “fancy” salad.
Mmm…one of my favs! Light, fresh, filling, and easy to throw together for any long weekend gathering. The fresh corn lends a light sweetness to the zesty lime dressing. A generous dusting of salt and pepper before serving really makes everything come together. You can also make this the day before and let the flavours develop overnight in the fridge. Just throw it into a container and you’re good to go!
4) Red Quinoa and Black Bean Vegetable Salad
Extremely light, fresh, and packed with protein and healthy fats, this tangy cilantro and lime salad will have you dreaming of Summer.
5) Layered Salad with Orange-Ginger Dressing
Just like the Whole Foods layered salad, but now made in the comfort of your own home. With some advance prep work, you can enjoy this salad all week long. You can also layer it in a big glass bowl for a party or BBQ, or even quicker, just mix it all up together and pour on the dressing!
6) High Protein Almond Quinoa Berry Salad
Use this fun fruit salad as a side dish, breakfast, or even dessert! Strawberries, blueberries, cherries, almonds, and fluffy quinoa are mixed with a lovely maple-balsamic-lime dressing. This would make a great fruit salad to bring to a summer BBQ or gathering too.
Want to join me in this challenge?
There are many different ways you can participate…
– Leave a comment below and commit to the salad challenge! woot woot
– Blog about the challenge and post pics & recipes of your salads throughout the month of June.
– Tweet, Pin, and/or Instagram your salad creations using the hashtag: #saladaday
This is such perfect timing! I was scouring my favorite blogs for some fresh salad ideas and couldn’t be happier to have found your salad challenge. :) Challenge accepted! Bring on the nuts, berries, greens, and awesomeness in a bowl.
Ok, I’m in!
I will be out of town this weekend so I may have to push my salad challenge back a bit, but I am in. I have been planning to make a Red Quinoa Tex Mex salad (similar to WF) and have all the ingredietns in hand. I love the idea of a healthy lunch layered with whole grains and fresh veggies. Hooray Challenge!
I’m in – we’ll see how long it takes the family to notice!
I’m doing this with a friend. Can’t wait!
The fiance and I are in! We started tonight. A couple extra salads won’t do any harm.
Hi Angela,
My husband and I need to get back on track by eating healthier. We are so in! :)
Glad to hear that! :)
Count me in. I love this idea although i will not be able to start until 06 June as am camping with NO fridge! Looking forward to reading salad ideas and blogging my own.
Cool have fun camping!
What a great idea! Like a lot of other people who have commented I tend to eat the same salad over and over and then get really burnt out. This will be a great challenge for me!
I am SO in!!!
I love this idea! Thanks for the challenge!
This might be silly, but can we get a shopping list? I don’t have currants, slice almonds, and all these other interesting food items readily available in my pantry lol
I would check out my vegan pantry list :) http://ohsheglows.com/2012/04/09/my-vegan-pantry/
I AM IN!!
This is just the kick in the a$$ I need to add more veggies into my day!
Thanks!
I am in! I already eat a salad a day but I am looking forward to trying different recipes. I tried your Detox Salad and loved it!
I’m in – and so are three other nutrient rich vegan types from my office!
Committed. SOOOO excited. I am one of those already-a-salad-a-day-ers, so i’ll be committing to the routine-change-up for all of june! This WILL be fun! YAY!
Ur salads look amazing.. I want to join in for a salad everyday… U should do an ebook so we wont have to wait so long for your book..(:
What an awesome idea!
Yippee, this is just the thing I need to motivate me! I’ve recently been diagnosed with fructose malabsorption and need to monitor my diet more closely so I stop feeling so sick. Salads are the PERFECT food but because we’re going into winter they’re not exactly what everyone’s talking about! I may end up posting about many a ‘warm salad’!!
I eat a salad pretty much every day so this challenge will be easy for me. I am addicted to kale, literally! I make my lacinato kale salad at least 2x a week. I also love and make often your tahini “glow” salad. I even posted it on my blog.
I also want to say that I just love your blog. You have the best “healthy” recipes and it’s always a treat visiting your site!
xo,
Jackie
Thank you Jackie! You are too kind.
Good for you for enjoying a salad every day…I wish I was the same!