4 Healthy Salad Recipes for Busy Professionals on the Go

When you work long hours, you may not feel like you have time or energy to keep up a healthy lifestyle, to cook, or eat healthily every single day of the week. A salad is a great meal alternative that can be healthy and quick to make while filling you up.

Making healthy salads does not have to be complicated or take a long time. This guide will detail some of the quickest and healthiest salads you can prepare as a busy working woman. 

Healthy Salads You Can Easily Make

1 – Farro Salad

Although you might be used to preparing pasta salad for your lunch breaks, eating too much pasta is not always good for you. This is because pasta is high in carbs, which can put you at risk of diabetes and obesity. So rather than eat pasta every day of the week or for every meal, you should consider swapping your pasta salad for a farro salad.

Organic farro is an ancient grain similar to wheat, and it has a rich, nutty flavor that can make a great base for salads, regardless of the other ingredients that you love to fill your salad with. 

2 – Fruit Salad

If you want to opt for a salad that is a little bit sweeter or if you do not like greens, you should consider choosing a fruit salad. Although not traditionally included in the perfect salads for your workday, fruit salads can both make a quick and simple breakfast or can keep you going as a snack, or can complement your lunch.

These types of salads are perfect for fruit lovers as they can contain as many different types of fruit as you want, with many people adding basics like apples alongside citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruits, and berries, such as grapes and strawberries.

Fruit salads can also be a great way to use up all the excess fruit you have in your home that may be quickly going past its sell-by date. These salads are also an excellent way to incorporate seasonal fruits into your diet (for instance, mangoes). You may also consider adding nuts and dried fruits to the mix. It’ll balance out the sweetness of the fruit and help you stay fuller, longer (plus all the healthy fats from the nuts!)

3 – Greek Salad

Another option is the popular Greek salad. Mediterranean diets are known for being incredibly healthy, and Greek salad is no different.

To make a Greek Salad, all you need are tomatoes, feta cheese, olives, onions, and cucumbers, which you can then dress with oregano and olive oil. You might also want to add lemons or vinegar to sharpen the flavor. These salads can be tantalizingly refreshing and help you keep the hunger pangs away with their many flavor-filled ingredients. 

What I like about these ingredients is that they go well with just about anything. If you’re tired of mixing these with greens, consider using quinoa or another whole grain. In addition, you can always add some grilled chicken or falafel to the mix to help make it more filling and increase your protein intake!

4 – Potato Salad

This recipe is, I think, a guilty pleasure. Potatoes? Carbs? Yum.

A potato salad combines potatoes with mayonnaise and sour cream, and you can use many different types of meat and other ingredients for a topping, such as bacon. You can make this recipe healthier by substituting these rich ingredients with low-fat or “lite” versions.

Potato salad is also an excellent option when combined with other lunch foods, especially cooked ones. It is a versatile salad that can be cooked the night before and left in the fridge until you need it the next morning. 

Wrapping Up

Of course, there are tons more healthy salads and options out there. This post was meant to present some non-leafy green options that are also filling and satisfying.

For all busy professionals on the go, consider giving these ideas a try. Hopefully, they help support a busy AND healthy lifestyle while helping you use all those delicious ingredients you have stocked in your home!

One Last Note

When it comes to traditional healthy salads, we are often cognizant of the ingredients and portions, but we also need to remember the dressing. Usually, the salad dressings (should your recipe call for one) are the unhealthiest part of the entire recipe.

Pay attention to the nutrition label and purchase only those with organic ingredients, low fat, and low sodium. Alternatively, you can make your own dressing at home with olive oil, lemon juice, and herbs. There are tons of options out there as well. It takes a little research, but once you get the recipe down, it’ll be quick and easy to do!

Happy Cooking! (and eating)