To ask what you have in your massive salad

[Carinattheliqorstore1]

I’m trying to lose weight. I need to reduce sugar and carbs and increase fibre and protein. I don’t eat meat/poultry and have an egg allergy.

To make this easier on me, I have been sticking to salads for lunch, basically random stuff from the fridge. I’m just looking for some inspiration of stuff I can buy in my shopping and just add to salads. So far I have been trying.

himmus
baba ganoush
salad leaves
carrots
peppers
cucumbers
beetroot
olives
edamame beans
quorn fillets
pesto and lentils
mozerrela
cheddar
chickpeas

Mine is so basic,
Lettuce, cucumber, tomato, red onion, red cabbage, cheese, dressing + chicken/tuna/bacon

Sometimes I'll throw in sweetcorn or grated carrot, or beans, or pomegranate seeds, or pickles, but I eat more salad when I'm not making more work for myself by over complicating it.

Daft Q of the day .. but do you cook the kale first ?

No, you don't have to cook kale for a salad. I remove the stalks as they really are very tough.

OP, do you eat fish? You don't mention it, and it's one obvious way to add protein given that you don't eat meat, poultry or eggs.

Halloumi
Sweet corn
Beetroot
Pomegranate

I love a salad, especially if it’s got sausage rolls, pork pies, scotch eggs and crisps with it

What the one I’m eating while laughing alone?

https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/women-laughing-alone-with-salad

🥗🤣

Massaged Kale? Even veggies get a bloody massage, but I still bloody don't.

I do love a bit of coleslaw in salad, but some great ideas on here to make them nicer and more filling. I need some homemade dressing ideas.

If you want to lose weight I would cut the cheese / avoid nuts and have low fat humus

Try roasting your chickpeas

Roast some veg that goes well in a salad

Marinade some tofu and air fry

Tuna goes well
With capers and olives

Pomegranate
Coriander
Falafels
Feta
Halloumi
Roasted veg
Basil
Coleslaw
Cottage cheese
Butternut squash

Hummus on the bottom or cannellini beans blended with lemon, oil and garlic. Cooked lentils or beans (straight from tin). Kimchi. Tomatoes & cukes and peppers chopped up. Leftover roast veggies. Nuts and seeds. Sometimes feta or other cheese. Grated carrots and courgette. Leaves. Lemon juice. So filling

Grated cabbage and carrot ( it's cheap )
Tinned sweetcorn

Handful nuts and an apple

grated cheese ( lots of types )

Tinned fish ( tomatoe sauce instead of mayo) or prawns ( luxury version)

Mixed beans - with a splash of heat into any mayo

A salad of tuna, beansprouts, mayo, vinegar and salt is delicious.

Black beans are good to bulk up a salad. I also tend to add spring onions for flavour. Soy sauce and lime juice is not too bad for an oil free dressing.

Lettuce/salad leaves, tomatoes, red onion, salt, pepper, olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Basil leaves in the summer. Land cress and broad-leaved rocket in the winter. Every day.

Depending on what the protein is in my main meal, I might add hard-boiled eggs or avocado.

I think you've been answered by other expert MNers but no, don't cook the kale. Remove the stalks, cut quite finely, massage with oil and salt, or just add dressing and let it sit in the fridge to soften. Works well for packed lunch because the kale doesn't go slimy if it sits in the dressing, it just gets softer and easier to eat.

If you want to lose weight I would cut the cheese / avoid nuts and have low fat humus

I really wouldn’t.

You need the fat to keep your blood sugar steady and keep you full.

Fat doesn’t make you fat - overeating, carbs, sugar and UPFs do.

Also if you are looking for a change there is loads of good hearty soup recipes. I love Hungarian mushroom soup, poblana corn chowder and chickpea and lentil soup. Tortellini soup is the best although more suited to a dinner as calorie content is higher.

Chips.

Yeah, I’ve been told that I shouldn’t cut fat out completely. We’ve been sold a lie which has contributed a bit to the obesity problem

Cheese and nuts keep you satiated, contain protein and are good clean real food. Low fat humus has processed crap added to replace the oil and should be avoided.

You could also try feta cheese, chopped apple and walnuts or seeds (not necessarily all on the same salad)
Feta goes well with olives

I do olive oil and balsamic vinegar

Exactly. The NHS nutrition information is SO outdated. I think it still feels us we should choose margarine!

If you’re reducing carbs (which is the right thing to do) then you need good quality fat and protein to lose weight.

As another poster said, low fat substitutes will be full of crap.

I love a massive salad and for me it is usually what I call a 'chopped up' salad, that is all the ingredients are chopped and mixed in a big bowl which I then eat from.

Usually it is:
LOTS of lettuce (usually iceberg because that's what I like)
finely chopped onion/spring onion
finely chopped red pepper
Sweetcorn
chopped apple or grapes (whole apple)
small amount of grated cheese
sometimes sultanas
sometimes crispy onions
sometimes bacon flavour crispy bits
Occasionally croutons
Occasionally quartered cherry tomatoes
Occasionally some toasted sunflower or pumpkin seeds
Occasionally some chopped satsuma segments

I don't use a dressing, and I stick to grated cheese because it can be mixed in with everything else and 'seasons' it. I just sit down with my massive bowl of salad and a fork and work my way through it. It is full of salad vegetables, has sufficient protein and carbohydrates and I find it delicious and filling! It is really massive though - think a family sized Christmas pudding bowlful. The 8 portion size. I use a small glass mixing bowl.

You could do similar with other leaves, although it is best with crunchy leaves rather than soft ones. Grated carrot or beetroot could be added. You could use chopped chicken or other meat but I would suggest it is 'solid' rather than mushy, or maybe use nuts?. I particularly like the freshness and sweetness of the fruit in it but if you don't like it leave it out. I don't like a dressing but you could add a very small amount of a non-creamy dressing.