A good salad is a low calorie meal that is full of vitamins and antioxidants. It can be used as an appetizer, or as the main meal. However, you have to be careful with what you put in the salad to avoid any unnecessary ingredients.

Leafy green vegetables are a major component of salads. There are many kinds of greens available – spinach, lettuce, watercress, or basil. A simple tip to keep in mind is that the darker the green, the more nutrition is has. For example, instead of using iceberg lettuce, use a darker variety such as leaf lettuce. Spinach is also a good alternative as it contains a good amount of iron.

Adding a variety of fruit and vegetables ensures that your salad meal contains enough vitamins and antioxidants. Bland salad taste is typically remedied by adding dressing or meats. Those additions produce their own set of complications, so it is usually better to sprinkle a healthy amounf of fruit and vegetables instead to add flavor.

Croutons and bacon add a lot of calories. Ditto for cheese. A better option would be walnuts, as it has better nutritional value compared to the former options.

As mentioned above, salad dressings are a major source of calories and fat. Make sure you avoid putting too much on your salad. Freshly squeezed lemon juice is a better alternative.

The great thing about salad is that you can tailor it to your tastes. Though it is generally a healthy dish, what you put in the salad can change all that. Just remember these few tips and you should have a healthier salad.