When you think of salads, your mind probably conjures up an image of wilted iceberg lettuce, a couple sad tomatoes, and some sort of watery dressing.
But when done right, salads can be loaded with delicious and healthy ingredients that are proven to burn calories and rev up your metabolism to help you drop weight fast.
Here, we present 12 quick, easy, and filling salads that are full of flavorful foods that, when combined with your workout routine, will help you become the lean, mean, fat-burning machine you’ve always wanted to be. And we promise you there’s not a single iceberg lettuce leaf to be found.
1. Blood orange and roasted beet salad with walnut dressing
This easy-to-make salad provides a filling lunch without hurting your gains, thanks to superfoods like walnuts and avocado.
Key fat burners:
Blood orange: The vitamin C in citrus decreases production of cortisol, a stress hormone that plays a key role in belly fat storage.
Walnuts: These nuts are packed with polyunsaturated fats. Research has suggested that diets rich in these “good” fats may be able to “turn off” the gene that stores body fat.
Check out the full blood orange and roasted beet salad with walnut dressing recipe here…...
2. Beet and berry salad
This fruity, flavorful salad combines the natural sweetness and health benefits of fruits with the “good” fat from almonds. What’s not to like?
Key fat burners:
Blueberries: In an animal study, rats who at a diet rich in blueberries had significantly less abdominal fat, lower cholesterol, and improved insulin levels.
Almonds: Consuming 42 grams of almonds a day led to reduction in belly fat mass, according to a 2015 study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Check out the full beet and berry salad recipe here..
3. Kale Caesar salad with homemade pepper garlic croutons
Caesar salad is a beloved lunch staple, but it doesn’t exactly have a reputation for being particularly healthy. We’re here to fix that using some smart substitutions, particularly swapping romaine lettuce for kale.
Key fat burner:
Parmesan cheese: Yes, cheese can be a fat blaster! With its high protein content and low caloric value, this mature cheese will satiate hunger without adding on the pounds.
Check out the full kale Caesar salad with homemade pepper garlic coutons recipe here….
4. Strawberry arugula salad with chicken, goat cheese, almonds, and strawberry lemon vinaigrette
We’re sure you already know the positive aspects of fruit (vitamins and minerals), green veggies (nutrient-heavy), almonds (“good” fat), and chicken (lean protein). So why not combine them all into a salad? You’ll be baffled that you didn’t think of making this sooner.
Key fat burner:
Strawberries: These little red gems have been shown to boost metabolism, stabilize blood sugar, and suppress appetites.
5. Super raw power salad
This salad is basically a who’s-who of nutritional powerhouses: kale, cabbage, sunflower seeds, cherries, and more. Plus, this recipe makes enough for multiple lunches throughout the week.
Key fat-burning ingredient:
Kale: Loaded with 10 grams of fiber per serving, this uber-hip leafy green will keep you feeling full longer. Plus, it’s high in vitamin K, which helps regulate blood sugar levels.
Check out the full super raw power salad recipe here…….
6. Caprese pasta salad with hemp pesto
Pasta salad is a staple of picnics and delis, but doesn’t have a reputation for being particularly healthy thanks to high salt content and heavy carbs. With this recipe, though, we can slim down the classic dish by using whole wheat pasta and pesto dressing.
Key fat-burning ingredient:
Whole-wheat pasta: Pasta has a bad rap because it’s basically all carbs. But the truth is, consuming whole grains like pasta takes time to digest, which in turn helps regulate your blood sugar levels and prevents belly fat storage.
Check out the full caprese pasta salad with hemp pesto recipe here…….
7. 5-ingredient healthy kale and quinoa bowl
Let us count the ways quinoa will help you lose weight. One, it’s high in fiber, so you’ll feel fuller longer. Two, it’s low on the glycemic index scale, meaning your blood sugar will not spike and crash, and you won’t be craving sugary foods. Three, it’s packed with muscle-building protein. Need we say more?
Check out the full 5-ingredient healthy kale and quinoa bowl recipe here…….
8. Slow-roasted salmon salad with apples and maple mustard
Research has suggested that the omega-3s found in salmon help build muscle and burn calories. A diet rich in omega-3s may also trigger the “off button” on the fat-storing gene.
Check out the full slow-roasted salmon salad with apples and maple mustard recipe here…...
9. Asparagus, zucchini, & carrot ribbon salad
Asparagus contains asparagine, an amino acid that breaks down fat. It’s also a natural diuretic.
Check out the full asparagus, zucchini, & carrot ribbon salad recipe here…...
10. Zucchini chickpea balls with chopped Greek salad
With virtually no fat but high amounts of protein and fiber, garbanzo beans will fill you up longer and stabilize your blood sugar, curbing any sugar or carb cravings.
Check out the full zucchini chickpea balls with chopped Greek salad recipe here….
11. Wild rice salad with chicken and tart cherries
Loaded with protein and low in calories, your old friend chicken will help you build and repair muscles and burn the fat away. Tart cherries, on the other hand, have been shown to reduce belly fat, according to a study by the University of Michigan.
Check out the full wild rice salad with chicken and tart cherries recipe here...
12. Lemony kale, pasta, and pistachio salad
Pistachios are loaded with monounsaturated fatty acids, which boost the hormone that regulates your metabolism and insulin production. Controlled studies have shown that pistachio eaters have lower body mass indexes and smaller waistlines than those who do not eat pistachios.
Check out the full lemony kale, pasta, and pistachio salad recipe here..