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 great I’m stoked! I’m actually eating a kale, nut, and berry salad right now! (I know it’s only 11 but I ate breakfast at 6am) :-)
I’m in!
Love this! Perfect way to start using my veggies/fruits from the farmers markets :)
I eat salad everyday! I am so excited to get some new ideas so I can start mixing them up a bit. It’s been a long winter of roasted veggie salads. I’m ready for some freshness!
I feel like I already started your salad challenge a few months ago. I’ve really enjoyed your detox salad and chop salad in many variations. Thanks so much for your blogs and recipes, I’m loving them all.
Glad to hear that Jane!
These salads look beautiful! I am already eating a ton of salads as I am just finishing the last two weeks of an elimination type diet, but I’m so excited to try all of these combinations. I’m in for the June challenge and I’ll be blogging about it, too!
Glad to have you join in!
Love the idea of this challenge! I tend to eat a lot of salad, but it’s always the same old, same old. What better way to get myself out of my current rut than by taking part in this challenge?!
You always have the best, most colorful, and just most delicious looking salads! Great idea on the challenge. It would not be a challenge to eat any of these :)
Thank you Averie!
Ooo! I love a really good salad, but am so intimidated when it comes to making my own?
I dont think you can go wrong with just throwing whatever is in your crisper and topping it with a fav dressing. :)
I’m in!! I am purchasing my first food processor this week, I have a Vita Mix blender and am ready to go to the next level. Any advice or is there already a blog? I’m looking at the (Cuisinart Elite Collection FP-14DC – Food processor – 1000 W) it’s $200.00 but I think it is probably important to buy a good quality. Any input would be appreciated. I Love Your Blog!! I have been a vegetarian for 45 years and have been Vegan only 1 year. Thank you so much for all the wonderful healthy Vegan recipes, and your inspiration!!
Hey Lynn! It’s a pleasure to meet you….and thanks for reading! I have a 14cup Cuisinart processor. I’m fairly happy with it. The only things I don’t like about it are the crumbs get stuck in the lid (although apparently this can be prevented by covering with saran wrap). The processing power is great though. Im not sure I needed the 14cup model (maybe 11 or 12 would be fine) as it’s pretty big to clean. I would also recommend reading processor reviews on Amazon to get others opinions. here is a short review I did on my processor: http://ohsheglows.com/2012/04/27/kitchen-sink-nut-butter-cuisinart-food-processor-review/
Hi Angela,
I really love your website, I’ve been vegetarian for about 10 years, but I’m slowly moving to eating mainly vegan…slowly :)
One thing I was wondering about was storing storing cooked beans (chickpeas, black beans….) once they are cooked. I really want to cut down on using canned food and do really prefer the taste of freshly cooked beans. Though I would prefer to cook them in batches (just save time and also remembering to soak them!!), do you know if they freeze well or how long they may last in the fridge once cooked?
thank you for your website, I am looking forward to having some of it in book form :)
Joanne
Hey Joanne,
I’ve been meaning to do a post on this exact thing actually! Thanks for the reminder. Yes you can certainly freeze beans. Here is a brief article on it: http://missvickie.com/howto/beans/howtostorebeans.html
That’s brilliant Angela, thank you :)
I’m all in… but taking a week break to go to Argentina. When in Rome… ;)
Love the salads in a jar. The layers are so pretty!
Enjoy Argentina!!!
Great idea–I’m in. :)
A great challenge just as my CSA starts! I’m in :)
Great idea for a challenge! I’ll try to participate as much as possible – but it’s hard to always eat what I want when I’m living at home for the summer and eating family dinners every night. :P
I, like you, wanted a summer challenge, so I am going to change my 50/50 raw-cooked diet to all raw for the summer. I will begin June 1 and appreciate the salads you posted. They look so very good!
Debi
Thanks Debi, goodluck with your raw challenge in June!
I am in! I love a big salad. :)
What a great challenge, I’m in :)
I’m in! I get so many greens from my CSA this time of year, it’ll be good to have some inspiration to eat them & make them a little more exciting in salad form. YUM!!!
I’m in! What a great idea, and your salad recipes are always amazing!