Salads are a great option when trying to eat healthily and get adequate servings of the nutrients your body needs, especially vegetables. They can be simple to make, catered to meet your taste preferences, and a great meal to pack for lunch. In this article, we’ll be sharing tips on how to meal prep salads so you can always have a healthy diet even on the go.
How to Meal Prep Salads so They Don’t Get Soggy
Often, salads are not thought of as something that you can plan and pack ahead of time because it can be difficult to keep them fresh and crisp.
If you’re asking, ‘why does my salad get soggy,’ it’s typically because of the dressing. The best way to meal prep salad is to pack the salad dressing on the side. Much of the sogginess comes from the salad dressing sitting on the vegetables.
Another way to keep salads fresh is by choosing your containers wisely. It is best to use airtight, leak-proof containers. Some people opt for using mason jars, which can be a cheaper choice.
It can also be helpful to create the salad in layers with the greens at the top. If you choose to add the dressing to the salad ahead of time, it should be the bottom layer.
Try Using Fun Salad Toppings
Salads can get boring if you are using the same ingredients every day. To keep it unique, try a variety of salad recipes. You can use different toppings other than croutons.
For example, good salad toppings include Tostitos or pita chips. Nuts, seeds, and dried fruit are also healthy options. Meats (such as shredded chicken and tuna), seafood, boiled eggs, beans, and cheeses can add protein to your salad.
It can be fun to try different things and give your taste buds a surprise.
For Lettuce Haters
Not everyone likes lettuce and often shies away from salads because of this. However, not all salads need lettuce. There are many salad recipes that call for noodles to substitute for lettuce.
Pasta salad can be healthy if you use whole wheat pasta or create noodles out of vegetables.
For example, spaghetti squash can replace regular noodles for any pasta salad recipe. There are also salads that call for beans as the main ingredient. Of course, there is also taco salad, which can be created to meet your taste preferences.
Final Tips
If you want to integrate salads into your weekly diet, here are some extra tips on how to meal prep salads and keep them fresh:
Use a salad spinner
This is going to remove excess water from your lettuce after you wash it, so it doesn’t make everything extra soggy.
Get small containers for dressing
If you’re packing a salad for lunch, keep your dressing separate in little containers that are easy to use when it’s time to eat your salad.
Eat it fresh
Know how long your salads last by identifying your ingredients.
If left outside, tomatoes and hard-boiled eggs can go bad quicker than other ingredients. Look for molds or slime on your greens. If any of these are present, dispose of them. Remember to store it in your fridge to lengthen shelf life.