Let’s play a little game right now. When I say the words “lose weight”, what’s the first thing that comes to your mind? All you can eat buffets and chocolate desserts….wrong!

You’re thinking carrots and celery sticks and tears of deprivation aren’t you?

How about if I said the word “diet”? What are you thinking now? The fast food drive through or your local ice cream shop? Wrong again (Geez Isabel, you’re so bad at this game).

Chances are you had visions of bare lettuce leaves sprinkled with a few measly boring cucumbers and tomatoes on top. Salad dressing? Yeah, forget the salad dressing. We’re going to make everything dry and boring until you drop the pounds. Got that?

Yes, Jeff, I am kidding and the point I’m trying to make here is that none of your meals (and I mean NONE) have to be boring or tasteless in order to see permanent weight loss and NOT be hungry.

Today I want to specifically talk about salads. Long gone are the days of salads that only consist of a few measly lettuce leaves with maybe 1 or 2 more vegetables on top. My favorite salads are those that look like I dumped half of my refrigerator in there. It’s like a party in a bowl (and then a party in my mouth), filled with a variety of healthy ingredients and delicious flavors that all blend together to make one yummy meal.

Before I share some of my very own favorite salad recipes, I want you to tell me your favorite salad recipe. Here’s what I mean.

I know salads can be such a wonderful part of the Diet Solution Program, but I don’t want any of my readers to think for even one second that boring lettuce is the only way to go. I want to give them a whole book filled with just delicious salad recipes.

A whole book of only salad recipes? Is that even possible?

Of course it is. There are really that many out there.

Here’s the deal. If you send us your favorite Diet Solution approved salad and salad dressing recipes (and that means all the ingredients are Diet Solution friendly), we are going to take all the recipes and put them together in a book. We are going to add the book to one of our packages, but we will send you our new salad recipe book completely free! That’s right. It will be yours at no cost at all and you will even see your name under your own recipe!

Here’s what I need you to do:

1. Make sure your recipe includes only Diet Solution friendly ingredients. You may want to look through your manual again for a quick reference to be sure.

2. Make your delicious salad and take a picture. Your recipe must come along with a picture!

3. Email your picture and your recipe to salad@thedietsolutionprogram.com

4. Let us know your name and where you are from (city, state/province, country). You can also let us know if you would like to include only your first name.

I am so excited to read and try all of your recipes!

Here is one of my own favorites…

Fruity and Nutty Chicken Salad

Ingredients:

3 cups diced boneless, roasted chicken breast

1/2 cup finely diced celery

1/3 cup chopped green onions (the white and part of the green)

1 firm apple, sliced and diced

1/3 cup dried cranberries or cherries

1 cup seedless green or red grapes, cut in half

1/2 cup pecan pieces

1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon curry powder

5 tablespoons homemade mayo (recipe below)

1/2 tablespoons Greek yogurt (optional, salad is just as good without it)

Preparation:

1. Add chicken, celery, green onion, apple, dried cranberries or cherries, grapes, and pecans to large serving bowl and toss.

2. Add pepper, curry powder, mayonnaise, and yogurt to small bowl and whisk together until smooth. Spoon over chicken mixture and toss together to blend well.

3. You can serve this salad immediately, or you can cover the salad, chill in the refrigerator, and serve the next day.

Makes approximately 8 servings

Homemade Mayonnaise

Ingredients

1 cup olive oil

1 egg

Juice of 1 lemon, or vinegar

A pinch of salt (and pepper, if desired)

Water to thin the mayonnaise

Preparation

1. Separate the eggs in your recipe. Reserve the whites for other recipes.

2. Combine the egg and lemon (or vinegar) in the bowl, whisking to mix. Continue to whisk constantly, adding the oil in a slow, steady stream. (You can make mayonnaise in a food processor or by hand, with a mixing bowl and whisk. The key for either method is to add oil very slowly, in a steady stream, while the processor is running or you’re whisking vigorously.)

3. Continue to whisk constantly, adding the oil in a slow, steady stream. If the mayonnaise starts looking too thick, add enough water to thin it to the consistency you desire. Add about a teaspoon of water at a time.

4. When the oil is all mixed in, the mayonnaise should be thick and fluffy, with your whisk forming ribbons through the mixture.

5. If it never thickened and you’re stirring a puddle, chances are you will need to start over. (Or, if you’re still partway through the process, you can save the emulsion by adding another egg yolk, whisking vigorously. Add in remaining oil, plus extra for a double recipe.)

6. Adjust the seasoning with the salt and pepper and more lemon juice, if desired.

7. Store fresh mayonnaise in the refrigerator and use within five days.

I can’t wait to read and try your favorite salad recipe. Send it to salad@thedietsolutionprogram.com and you’ll be receiving a free copy of our new salad book with your recipe right in it!

Filed under:
Health, Weight Loss by Isabel