Add variety to the same old salad

When I’m making dinner for my family, I’m looking primarily for something filling, quick, and healthy… sadly, more often than not, I’d go for the best 2 out of three and healthy often got the shaft.

Which is really not the best option of course.  But that’s sometimes life, right?

Now I make a concerted effort on the healthy which means something else has to give… there have been many a night that we are eating dinner at 9:00 because my healthy meal plan took considerably longer to prepare than I had planned… So, I’m always on the lookout for ways to save time without sacrificing on the health and well being of my family.

Last week as I was making the regular shopping run, I was perusing the ad insert and saw this:

I know – you are really eyeing those vine ripe tomatoes, aren’t you?  Well, look a bit lower and you can see what really caught my eye was the Dole Salad Blends.

I’m lucky.  My kids actually LIKE salad.  I don’t have to trick them into eating their vegetables.  They don’t complain really about ANYTHING I make… well, the youngest STILL has an aversion to mushrooms and the eldest detests cantaloupe, but in the grand scheme of things, that’s something we can all work around.

I know I’m fortunate, but as I was looking at the vast selection of Dole Salad Blends, It occurred to me that there is probably a little something for everyone here – even the pickiest of eaters.

So far, we’ve tried the Endless Summer Salad and I have to say that the boys ASKED FOR SECOND ON SALAD.  Now even though they like veggies, that’s not usually what they want to go back for!

“Now you can enjoy the taste and bounty of summer all year long with DOLE all-natural Endless Summer salad.  We start our recipe with a garden-fresh blend of crisp romaine lettuce and crunch shredded carrots.  Next, we toss in a savory combination of Swiss and Gruyere cheeses, oven-baked croutons, roasted sunflower kernels and fragrant dried herbs.  Dress this salad with DOLE’s Own light and refreshing Summer Vinaigrette and you have a delicious celebration of summer any time of year.”

The youngest is always my kitchen helper, but he loved being able to put this whole salad together on his own which meant we didn’t just have a healthy dinner, but we made it together as we talked about his day.

A few days later, we “tested” out the Spinach Cherry Almond Bleu Salad Kit.  I can’t say I have a favorite, but if I did, this would be up there.

“Our all-natural Spinach Cherry Almond Bleu brings together bold tastes and complementary flavors into one uniquely delicious salad.  We start with a pleasing base of tender baby spinach, then toss in a sweet and savory combination of dried cherries, sliced almonds, bleu cheese crumbles and DOLE’s Own White Balsamic Vinaigrette,  For spinach and salad lovers alike, this is one full-flavored salad that everyone will enjoy. “

I love spinach salads ANYWAY but then when you add in the sweetness of the dried cherries and the sharp salty flavor bursts of the blue cheese – it was WONDERFUL.  It paired nicely with the roast chicken I had prepared a few days earlier so that meal was SUPER quick, filling and healthy since I only had to cook up some veggies… and I used my favorite short cut for Roasted veggies!

My only complaint about the salad blends I’ve tried so far – and it’s not a huge one – is that the amount of dressing included in the kits is more than I like to use.  Easy fix though since it’s in its own pouch – add as much or as little as you want!

There are so many different varieties of Salad options from Dole that you are bound to find one for you and your family.

Need another reason to “Think Salad?” Check out the Salad’tude contest where you could win a culinary adventure for 2 to Napa Valley!

Salad is more than just a food.  It’s a form of self-expression!  Think about your favorite childhood vacation spot, your grandmother’s famous butter cookies, or the warm spring sun on your face.  Ah, What a feeling! Now, Express it through your salad – that’s Salad’tude!

What’s your favorite Salad Addition? Do you have any tricks you use to ensure your family gets their veggies?

 

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Comments

  1. WOW! those look great… I will be on the lookout for that cherry spinach thing. I’m thinking a warm bacon dressing might be just the thing…

  2. We had a baby recently and was on a Meal Train from some fabulous ladies from my mommy group and for two of the suppers they brought us the Endless Summer Salad – DELISH!!! We really enjoyed it and have bought it a few times since. I’ll have to try the Spinach next time I’m at the store. YUM!!
    -Amy

  3. I love Dole Salad blend. Just top them with a roasted chicken you pick up in the deli and you’ve got a delicious, healthy and quick dinner for your busy nights! The spinach cherry almond is my favorite. 🙂

    • I did that last week! well, it wasn’t store bought, but it was leftover roast chicken I had from the weekend. Same concept 🙂 Great Minds 🙂

  4. I love salads!! I use the kits all the time for lunch 😉

  5. I love it when sales and healthy intersect! My kids love salad too. 🙂

  6. Dole has some awesome salad blends 🙂 I need to do a tour de salad 😉

  7. Yum! These look delicious. I’m going to check them out when I go to the store this weekend.

  8. Yum! I take that bag of Dole Spinach and blend it up in my smoothies! That’s right. Call it soldier juice and my boys drink it right up. I love their Italian blend. I like to top if off with Paul Newman’s yummy salad dressing.

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