Tropical Salad with a Honey Balsamic Vinagarette

I absolutely love a great summer salad! Summer salads are light yet filling, colorful, and just freakin awesome! But not all salads are created equal and I think it is about time that people realize that. I’ve been with friends at a restaurant where they inform me on their goals to a cleaner lifestyle and how they are just going to “get the salad.” Great mindset to have but, it’s important to be equipped with the facts. For example, the nutritional value of Iceberg lettuce is low in comparison to other leafy greens. That bacon you add for flavor? No bueno. That cream-based dressing? Probably not the best choice. So what can you eat?! Salads do not have to be “BLAH” - they can be full of beneficial ingredients that can help you stay energized and not leave you feeling unfulfilled. This recipe is proof of that. Enjoy!

Tropical Salad

1 cup of grilled chicken or shrimp

3-4 cups of spring mix greens

2-3 strawberries sliced

⅓ cup of fresh pineapple chunks

⅓ cup of fresh mango chunks

¼ cup of unsalted sunflower seeds

Directions: In a bowl throw in all of the ingredients mentioned above. Like, literally - there is absolutely no science to this. Make sure your bowl has a lid. Place lid on bowl and shake it up. I usually grill about 5-7 chicken breasts every Sunday so that I can have some on hand for any recipe I am prepping for the week. This is also a good practice because if you do not feel like cooking, you can always heat up some veggies and you already have a meal ready to go.