I don’t really believe in new year’s resolutions. Instead I like to call it a new year’s evolution.
Great phrase, right? I wish I’d thought of it. I heard Shailene Woodley (from the movie Divergent) say it the other day. Speaking of Divergent, I still have yet to see it and I want to. Has anyone seen it or read the books?
If I want to make a change I’ll do it on March 23rd, or June 14th, or October 9th. Meaning that I don’t wait around for the new year to make a change and I’ll make the change (or try) right away. Instead, when January 1st comes rolling around I like to evaluate what I’m doing well and keep it moving forward. You may not know it from the variety of recipes that I share with you, but I tend to eat a lot of salads, especially at lunch time. Continue to eat healthy salads. Check. The truth is that I find them boring and boring things aren’t t really blog worthy, but this salad is an exception. I’m good at this game. 🙂 However, it may be worth noting that I followed up this salad with some cookies and cream ice cream. I’m far from perfect. 😉
Why is this salad called a “power” salad? Honestly, no particular reason. It was just something that came to mind when I was trying to explain the salad to my husband. I told him that this salad is awesome and all power-y (yes, that’s a technical term).
This is not your typical bowl of lettuce, carrots, and cucumbers. Let’s face it, those kinds of salads keep you full for 15 minutes. Instead, this salad sticks to your ribs because it’s packed with protein. Since I’m a vegetarian 90% of that time, that’s important. My husband is always telling me that I need more protein in my diet (especially because I tend to avoid meat) and he’s right. That means I threw in all things non-meat and yet protein-y that I could think of. Well, at least those things that made sense and I figured would taste good together anyway.
I even made the salad dressing here. It’s got a hint of orange flavor (like not in your face orange) and it’s delicious. In fact, it would really be great on many other salads too. I don’t tend to make dressings for myself because it’s time consuming. However, I was really going for 100% healthy here and I didn’t want any of the preservatives that come in the convenient bottled stuff. Yes, that’s a lemon press in the photo below. It’s not exactly designed to handle oranges, but it does the job. 😉
I don’t like soggy salads. I might have some texture issues. One of the great things about this salad is that I can throw the dressing on it in the morning and it won’t be soggy at lunch time. Yes, I don’t need a separate container for the dressing! Yup, I really do that.
I’m not thinking that I’ll gain super powers from eating this salad, but I am thinking that it will give me more energy and I’ll hit the bag harder at my kick boxing class. Oh yea!
Power Salad Recipe
(about 4 servings)
Ingredients for Salad:
- 1 cup quinoa, uncooked
- 4 cups fresh spinach
- 1 cup edamame beans
- 1 cup chick peas (aka garbanzo beans)
- 1 cup carrots, sliced
- 1/4 cup craisins
- 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
Ingredients for Orange Vinaigrette:
- 2 oranges
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 teaspoon pepper
- 3/4 cup oil (I use olive oil)
Directions for Salad:
- Cook the quinoa according to the directions on the package. I highly recommend using vegetable broth instead of water because it tastes better, but it is not required.
- In a large bowl, mix together the spinach, edamame beans, chick peas, carrots, craisins, and sunflower seeds.
- Once the quinoa is done cooking, add the quinoa.
- Place a serving of the mixed salad onto a plate and add the vinaigrette.
Directions for Orange Vinaigrette:
- Zest 2 oranges.
- Juice the same 2 oranges.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the orange zest, orange juice, balsamic vinegar, honey, minced garlic, salt, pepper, and oil.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Any leftover dressing should be whisked again before using.
Salad source: Tina’s Chic Corner
Orange Vinaigrette slightly adapted from: Giada De Laurentiis
Here are some other sassy salads.
This looks amazing and delicious.
Thanks!
Ooo I love the sound of that orange vinaigrette! Looks wonderful!
And I’m with you – I like to re-evaluate and set goals at the beginning of the year … but not like resolutions resolutions! haha if that makes sense at all…
Makes total sense!
Yum! I love your philosophy and I love this salad! Chickpeas + orange vinaigrette looks and sounds awesome.
Thanks Medha!!
I could most definitely eat this salad for lunch at work all the time! My family used to call a particular salad we made a “power salad” because it had walnuts in it haha I love the sound of this orange vinaigrette, too!
Hehe…love that!
This looks like a Power Salad! Which I really need to do more of. Unlike you, I don’t eat nearly enough salads. Gah! I need to change that. And for New Year’s Resolutions? I don’t believe in them, because quite frankly I’m not good at them. 🙂 If I need to change something, it can happen any time of the year!
Eating enough veggies can be challenging for me too so I’m always looking for good salads. 🙂
Love this power salad and it looks like a great salad to bring to work or school. I did not know know that you were vegetarian 90% of the time. I will have to check out the rest of your salads.
Yeah… I’ll eat meat and I go throw spurts. Often I’m in the “I’m not in the mood for meat” mood.
Looks tasty and healthy!! Would love to see this on WholeYum.com!!
Thank you!
Haha, I love that new take on new year resolutions.
Divergent!!! You HAVE to see the movie at the least. I’ve read all the books and I couldn’t put them down. I am a bog book worm, so I always like the books better, but the movie is actully very well made 🙂 Watch it – it is great!
This salad looks amazing. Nothing better than power salads
Definitely going to watch it as soon as possible!
I call them New Year Intentions. I list all the things I wish to achieve, and like you, add to it as I find things I’d like to do. No point saving everything up for the first month of the year right?! Now, to your gorgeous salad. I love it, I could go a bowl of that yummy right now. One of my intentions is to menu plan, not leave my eating as a last thought, was finding I would go quick and maybe not the best over actually preparing a decent feed. I will be adding this to my lunch menu. I love it! Thanks Tina. 🙂
I like the way you think!