Growing up I used to think that as long as I was eating a salad, I was being healthy.
A caesar salad was always my “go-to”… “Oh, but I am just not that hungry, I’ll just get a salad” meal.
If I was feeling more hungry… I would probably add grilled chicken to the mix.
As I got older, I started to gravitate towards the speciality Cobb salads. You know, the one that every other restaurant always tries to put their own little fancy twist on? These salads usually consist of hard-boiled eggs, bacon bits, a robust cheese, avocado, and perhaps a sprinkling of red onion and grilled chicken. This is all before they add the dressing.
Truth be told, neither one of these salads should be considered, a salad, and most certainly not a “light” appetizer.
The purpose of enjoying a salad prior to a meal (or ideally, as a meal) is to provide our body with live enzymes, that a cooked meal is lacking, or without. These naturally occurring enzymes found in raw foods, enable our body to more readily break down our food.
The pancreas produces enzymes for the purpose of digestion (and for other reasons) but… because we live in a society where meat, cooked and processed foods are coming out of our ears, it is vital that we EAT these enzymes too. Without sufficient enzymes, our digestive system cannot break down food. When this occurs, we will have digestive issues (i.e. heartburn, indigestion, gas, constipation, bloat…).
Having a raw salad before our cooked meal will help prepare our digestive system for the digestion of foods that are without enzymes themselves. (Fruit and vegetables are rich in enzymes until they are heated to temperature of over 118+ degrees. This increase in temperature destroys enzymes).
Now we understand the real purpose and health benefits of having a salad before a meal, now let’s get back to our old companion, Caesar.
Besides the lettuce leaves that accompany it, I have no kind words for Caesar, as he is unfit for digestion.
Generally, Caesar dressing is a compilation of some (if not all) of the following ingredients: eggs yolks, mayonnaise, anchovies, oil, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, lemon, vinegar and parmesan cheese. I am not going to mention brand names, but I just looked at the ingredients in a popular brand’s “light” Caesar dressing. It consists of similar ingredients, soybean oil, yeast extract, and artificial colors and flavors. “But don’t worry!” The bottle exclaims, “it is half the fat!”
Like any complex organism, our body understands simplicity over complication. No matter how you look at it, Caesar dressing is a compilation of indigestible ingredients, which, even eaten alone, are bound to compromise our digestion (i.e. mayo, dense cheese, soybean oil…).
Cobb salads are a whole entity in themselves. They are extraordinarily dense with a variety of proteins that each require different enzymes for proper digestion. It will weigh you down, regardless of the dressing you choose.
Tips for choosing salads when dining out:
- A balsamic vinegar and olive oil is always your safest bet.
- Ask for the olive oil and vinegar in separate containers and drizzle it over your greens, yourself. Often times, a restaurant’s own balsamic vinaigrette contains sugar and other hidden ingredients… but if you are at a “real” restaurant, they will be happy to bring out the oil and vinegar for you. If they only have their own dressing, ask for it on the side.
- Load up on the raw veggies and ask for fresh grated parmesan cheese if you need to add extra oomph.
- If you are not adding a protein to the mix (see “My Philosophy”), avocado, or fresh guacamole, is a deliciously satisfying addition to any raw salad.
- Ask for a salad sans croutons. Typically made with white flour and baked in butter, croutons are not easy to digest.
- If you want to add a protein to your salad… stick with one. i.e. Hard-boiled eggs, or chicken, or cheese, or fish. I do not suggest bacon and I do not suggest adding them all together.
- During the colder months, I love adding warm sauteed vegetables to my salad.
- During the summer, you may wish to decorate your salad with dried unsweetened fruit and nuts or seeds.
Dining in? Impress your guests and tantalize your taste buds with this creamy and sweet dressing.
Combine the following ingredients in your magic bullet or blender.
Creamy Honey Mustard Dressing
- 2 tbsp Westbrae Natural Stone Ground Mustard (or any natural stoneground mustard)
- 1 tbsp First-cold pressed olive oil
- 4 tbsp cool water
- 1 squirt agave nectar
- 1 packet NuNatural brand Stevia
Blend until creamy smooth!! Enjoy!!
this dressing makes even the most boring of salads, delicious.
What types of “healthy” salads or appetizers do you order when dining out?
What is your favorite dressing recipe?
