Did you hear the one about the dieter who complained about salads? Oh, wait… That’s me! Seriously though, as health-minded people trying to either get rid of the excess pounds or keep them off permanently, we know that salads are one of our go-to meals of choice. But too often we find ourselves staring at a plastic bowl full of iceberg lettuce, sliced tomatoes and a few slivers of carrot. Add to that a dressing that’s neither inspired or flavorful.

But that’s old school salad speak!

Today, there are all sorts of healthy salad options. And surprise! They can taste good, too. Despite years of hating my “salad meals,” today I find myself actually looking forward to my veggie creations. And you can, too. The trick is to think outside the plastic bowl. (In fact, dump that plastic bowl once and for all and prepare your meal using nice dishes that would make Martha Stewart envious. After all, if you’re not worth a little extra effort in regard to serving style, who is?!)

As dieters, we are usually the culprits that have made our salads boring (AKA tasteless). That’s because we’ve been taught that healthy ingredients such as slivered pecans, sliced avocado or even a little extra virgin olive oil are “No-nos.” The trick is to use these very healthy ingredients in moderation — and in tandem with other ingredients. Even with add-ons it’s all about portion control, people. So get creative. But make sure you have a measuring cup handy. And for heavens sake, make sure you change out your options. Try some fennel in your salad today and some sliced apple in your salad tomorrow. It’s all about variety. And the chart below is something you can print out and keep handy (or simply refer to here) for the next time you’re playing salad chef.

You can use the chart below to choose different ingredients from the different categories. Make sure you choose several different options. Then mix them all together and be prepared for your palet to thank you (and your scale to react inkind). Need even more inspiration? Check out Williams-Sonoma’s 30 Days of Salads, where you’ll find several different ideas (and recipes) that will inspire and, perhaps, even reignite your love of all things salad. And for readers who aren’t familiar with one of my favorites, you might want to consider something I call the Best Lunch Salad Ever. (Happy munching!)

Photo Source: Williams-Sonoma