How to Make an Epic Salad

Keeping up with our eat-more-greens theme this month, here's a step-by-step guide to creating epic salads at home!

Step 1 Start with a green: romaine lettuce, mixed baby greens, arugula, kale, iceberg lettuce, baby spinach, chard, collards, or cabbage.

Step 2 Pick a protein: tofu, salmon, sardines, chickpeas, beans, lentils, hard boiled eggs, seeds, nuts, quinoa, feta cheese, cubed hard cheese, feta or goat cheese, edamame, chicken, or whole grain croutons.

Step 3 Add some fruit: strawberries, blueberries, dried fruit, fresh figs, diced mango, apple slices, orange segments, chopped dates.

Step 4 Add some vegetables: carrots, avocado, olives, sun-dried or fresh tomatoes, cucumber, mushrooms, corn, celery, beets, radishes, baked sweet potatoes or squash, cauliflower, broccoli, bean sprouts, red onion, red/yellow/green peppers, endive, cilantro, or parsley.

Step 5 Finish with dressing: olive oil, flax oil, coconut oil, balsamic vinegar, bottled dressing, sesame oil mixed with soy sauce and maple syrup, spicy peanut, miso-tahini, honey mustard, or a lemon juice-based vinaigrette.