10 Ways To Make Your Salad Healthier

If you decide to have a salad for lunch or dinner today, you're already making a healthy eating choice. A hearty salad can easily be a substitute for heavier entrees, while providing all the necessary nutrients you need to sustain a happy and active lifestyle. But not all salads are the same. What you add or don't add to your salad can be a deciding factor in its healthiness. Click on the slideshow below for simple ways to make your salad work for you.

10 Ways to Make Your Salad Healthier (Slideshow)

To start, your choice of greens can play a big role in maximizing the healthiness of your salad. Adding dark leafy greens such as kale or spinach to a salad will provide nutrients such as vitamin K, which according to Dr. Andrew Weil "Is an essential nutrient necessary for responding to injuries." Adding lean meats such as salmon to your salad can cut back on calories while contributing much needed protein to your diet.

There are easy techniques you can use that give flavor without adding unnecessary fats; substitutions you may never have considered can turn a dull salad into something you will be excited about come lunch and dinnertime. Adding more vegetables can bulk up a salad without adding unwanted calories.

If you're looking for healthier ways to season a salad, try replacing your go-to dressing with lemon and olive oil. Give your salad a spicy touch without adding calories by adding sliced radishes. A healthy salad doesn't have to be boring. With just a few changes, you'll be surprised at how healthy, and delicious your next salad can be. 

Jonathan Hirsch is the Cook Editor at The Daily Meal. Follow him on Twitter @jonathanihirsch.