Re-naming salads to get more people to eat them
Say goodbye to salads...
And hello to Meaty Leaf Feasts!
Salad. The very name is boring. Limp. Insipid. Rubbish. And I too thought this for most of my life. Which is a shame, because actually, they're not rubbish, they're brilliant, and delicious and vibrant and tasty and all the things many people think they are not. So, in my best Mary Portas style, it's time to rebrand them as Meaty Leaf Feasts - that sounds loads better, doesn't it. Wife: "What's for dinner darling?" Husband: "Salad" *Wife rolls eyes and leaves husband for sexy gardener* Now let's try that again with the new name: Wife: "What's for dinner darling?" Husband "a Meaty Leaf Feast!" *Wife and husband instantly become more attractive to each other, sit down for a healthy, zingy, nutrient-rich meal that gives them all the good minerals, vitamins, fibre, protein, good fats (and optional carbs) they need to live bountiful and fulfilling lives* THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WILL HAPPEN. So now we're on board with the new brand of Meaty Leaf Feasts, how do you always ensure they do what I say they can? GOOD QUESTION, HERE'S HOW: - Start with your leaves: spinach, mixed leaves thingys, kale (if you're a lunatic), rocket, lollo rosso (lol indeed), and so on - Then consider your protein source: chicken breast, steak, sardines, good quality sausages and bacon, eggs, mackerel, duck breast, meat balls, smoked salmon, prawns you get the picture - Now add some other green(ish) bits: spring onion, peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes, radishes, cucumber (but please unsubscribe if you do go this route), courgettes, carrots, beetroot, green beans - Good fats: avocado, nuts, seeds - some of this can come from the dressing too - e.g. olive oil, avocado oil - Zingy: a sprinkling of dried fruit, e.g cranberries, pineapple, grapefruit, coriander, basil, the zest of citrus fruits - Dairy: a spoonful of cottage cheese, some Parmesan or Cheddar shavings - For dressings, try this: dijon mustard, olive oil, lemon juice, salt & pepper, whisk together with a fork. Or, you can pick up olive oil with loads of different flavours (garlic, truffle, basil) for not much more than the plain stuff - If you've exercised that day, feel free to add in a serving of brown rice, potatoes, sweet potatoes, quinoa or butternut squash. THEN Layer it carefully in a big bowl so all flavours go all the way through... And that's it! Have fun putting some of these together - if you don't add the dressing to all of it (ie. just put it to your serving on your place), it will keep for a few days, so you can make a few servings and have for dinner and lunch the next day. Best wishes, Matt "MLF" Boyles