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The summer months often consist of high temps and days packed with activities.\u00a0 Rather than cooking over a hot stove or turning on the oven, I personally prefer to keep my meals quick, easy and cool!\u00a0 My go-to meal tends to be some variation of a summer salad using quality, seasonal produce.\u00a0 That being said, I place a big focus on making sure that my salads are <\/span>substantial <\/span><\/i>and nutrient dense<\/span>.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0 While your typical salad veggies offer a ton of nutrients, they won\u2019t quite fill you up and definitely won\u2019t offer you the nutrient profile found in quality protein and fiber-rich carbohydrates.\u00a0 If your salad serves as your main meal, make sure it\u2019s going to give you the energy you need by bulking it up with some of the add-ins below!<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n This is key in any meal, but especially salads!\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adding a carb is a great way to be sure that you\u2019re getting in a good source of energy to get you through the long summer days!<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Including fats will ensure that you\u2019re able to absorb all the fat-soluble vitamins you\u2019re getting in your salad!<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n My goal when making salads is that they\u2019re flavorful enough that I don\u2019t need to rely on dressing!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you\u2019re a cheese person, this is important.\u00a0 I personally prefer goat cheese or fresh mozzarella, but any cheese will do.\u00a0 Aim for grass-fed and organic, if possible!<\/span><\/p>\n Most people season their food with herbs and spices, but don\u2019t think to do the same for their salads.\u00a0 This can be a game changer flavor-wise!<\/span><\/p>\n Adding some type of crunch to salads just feels right.\u00a0 If you\u2019ve gone down the list, you might have already checked this box.\u00a0 Things like nuts, seeds, and crisp fruit like apples will do the trick!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you\u2019re not a salad person, I would argue that maybe your salads just need a little boost.\u00a0 So, whether you\u2019re packing lunches for work\/camp, or you\u2019re opting for an easy summertime dinner, don\u2019t settle for a skimpy salad!<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\nProtein.<\/b><\/h2>\n
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Carbohydrate<\/b>.<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Fats.\u00a0 <\/b><\/h2>\n
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Burst of flavor. <\/b><\/h2>\n
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Cheese<\/span>.\u00a0 <\/b><\/h2>\n
Herbs\/spices.<\/b><\/h2>\n
Crunch.<\/b>\u00a0 <\/span><\/h2>\n