Winters can make one lazy. Cold weather makes people crave comfort food but cooking might seem a bit tedious on a cold night. Salads are perfect for such scenarios where you just want to snuggle in bed with a delicious bowl of food with minimum effort. Salads are not only delicious but healthy as well.
Salads are a big source of vitamins and minerals. They have been associated with weight loss as they are low on carbohydrates. They can provide antioxidants that are necessary for fresh skin. Salads can also help in reducing cholesterol levels. Top dieticians in Pakistan believe that a diet containing vegetables and fruits is good for overall health.
Here are five salads that are both healthy and delicious
Table of Contents
1- Caesar’s Salad:
This salad has got it all. It is made with lots of lettuce, some croutons, and pieces of steamed chicken and is dressed with olive oil, pepper, mustard and cheese. Carbohydrates from croutons, protein from the chicken and vitamins from the lettuce, this salad is packed with all the essential nutrients.
Lettuce is the main ingredient of Caesar’s salad. Lettuce has high water content and can keep one hydrated. It also has a lot of nutrients such as vitamin K, A, C, calcium and folate. Vitamin A and C act as powerful antioxidants while calcium and vitamin K are important for strong bones.
2- Thai beef salad:
Made with fried beef, coriander leaves, cucumbers, peanuts and tomatoes, this salad is a star when it comes to taste and nutrition. Red meat is often frowned upon because of high fat content but this salad includes a healthy portion size of the meat. Red meat if taken in controlled portions can provide many health benefits.
Red meat is high in iron which is important to make hemoglobin. Vitamin B12 found in beef keeps the red blood cells and nerves healthy. It also has zinc which is crucial for a strong immune system.
3- Simple vegetable salad:
Simple vegetable salad is simply a combination of staple vegetables such as onions, cucumbers and tomatoes dressed with lemon juice. This salad is packed with a lot of vitamins and minerals and has high water content. It can help replenish electrolytes and keep one hydrated on dry winter days.
4- Crunchy chickpea salad:
Make a vegetable salad and add some boiled chickpeas to it and you will have a proper lunch. Chick peas have many minerals but the main benefit that they provide is their richness in fiber. Fiber plays a crucial role in digestion thus chickpeas can help people with constipation or irritable bowel syndrome.
Chickpeas are also a big source of protein and are a very good alternative for vegan people. For people allergic to gluten, chickpeas can also act as a source of carbohydrates.
5- Bean salad:
Another spin on the vegetable salad is to add boiled beans to it. Beans have tremendous nutritional benefits. They are low in saturated fat and can help improve cholesterol levels. Beans are packed with complex carbohydrates which take longer to digest and thus do not raise blood sugar.
People with diabetes type 2 can really benefit from replacing simple carbohydrates with complex ones. Bean salad is thus perfect for people with diabetes and people who are trying to lose weight.
If you are thinking of incorporating these salads regularly in your diet, you should do so under the supervision of a dietitian. You can also visit our website at oladoc.com and look for top dietitians in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. You can also call our helpline at 042-3890-0939 to get directed to the specialists that are suitable for your specific concerns.
Meta description: Salads are not only delicious, they are healthy, quick and easy to make. Here are five salads that are healthy and are as filling as a proper meal.
