The Truth about Salads

Everyone thinks that salads are healthy, but the truth is that not all salads are created equal. Salads have become extremely popular with healthy eaters with the rise of salad bars because of their nutritional value. Salads can be one of the best ways for a healthy individual to consume but only when they are made the right way.

Sadly, in an effort to meet the demand, a lot of restaurants and manufacturers of processed foods are supplying ‘healthier versions’ of their meals and like most of these meals, the salads available are completely missing the mark.

Healthy and unhealthy salads

People think of salads as being the best choice simply because they contain a lot of veggies that are low calorie and high in nutrients, minerals and needed fiber. However, when you order a salad at a salad bar, restaurant or fast food joint, it more than likely contains a lot more than just veggies.  At the very least, in order for their salads to be tasty and enticing, a lot of restaurants include dried fruit, bacon, cheese, and dressing, all of which can add unnecessary fat and calories to healthy salads.

What makes a salad unhealthy?

Portions

A lot of restaurants have a delectable selection of mouth-watering salads that are meal or jumbo sized so that you can eat them without ordering sides and still feel full. There is a wide array to pick from BBQ Chicken Taco salads to Moroccan Spiced Chicken that weighs in at an alarming 1300 plus calories. Meal-sized salads are intended to make you fuller but they only lead to weight gain instead because of the ridiculous portion sizes.

The salad dressing

Healthy sounding salad dressings are found all over but they are some of the unhealthiest things that you can include in your salads if you are trying to live healthily. Anything that claims to be low fat or creamy should be scrutinized closely because they contain piles of oils and sugar that would rival even the most processed foods. Any dressing that exceeds 100 calories per serving should be avoided. It is very easy to make your own salad dressing at home using flavorful vinegar like balsamic and a range of herbs.

Toppings

Although adding toppings to your salad every now and then is not a crime, some salad toppers such as toasted bread, croutons, and bacon bits are full of calories that can make your salad unhealthy. If you want to change the flavor of your salad, you should go for healthy toppings such as nuts, seeds,and olives.