Guys. I love salty things - perhaps OVERLY salty sometimes, but that’s just me! Chips, crackers, salami... Whatever it is, chances are I like it.
Did you notice that I’ve mentioned things that aren’t necessarily considered “health” foods? They're all fine in moderation, sure - but I’ve been working on sticking as closely to certain foods as I can (whole, fresh, unprocessed) during the last couple of weeks before my vacation so I can feel refreshed and lean while I’m away.
Is anyone out there like me who might crave treats MORE when they’re trying to let them go for awhile? I’d bet good money that you’re out there, so I wanted to share one of my favorite recipes with you when I’m wishing for a salty snack that I don’t feel like I have room for in my diet that day.
Side note - I know I’ve mentioned this before, but when I’m trying to find a healthier substitute for something I’m craving, I think about the things that make it so tasty and then I try to figure out how to replicate that with healthier options.
When I crave chips or crackers for example, I like that they’re salty and crunchy - this salad I invented hits those marks and then some! I'll share the recipe with you below so that you can enjoy it in the place of processed snacks, too :)
I made this when I was really wishing I could crush a box of crackers or a big bag of chips, but I didn't want to cave in and sabotage my day. I took crunchy veggies and paired them with salty, low-calorie add-ons to achieve a similar effect! The protein from the chicken as well as the fiber and volume from the veggies knocked my hunger and desire for macro-unfriendly snacks right out!
Here’s what I used to make this tasty salad:
Shredded romaine lettuce
Shredded kale
Grilled chicken
Lots of Persian cucumbers
Orange bell pepper
Fat-free feta cheese
Capers (packed in brine)
A couple of Kalamata olives (packed in brine)
Light vinaigrette
I mixed all of these crunchy, salty ingredients together for a satisfying and guilt-free meal - pretty big win, for me! I didn't include amounts so that you can decide on your own proportions of ingredients to suit your taste, and make this recipe your own :)
Warning - this is a VERY salty meal! If you have some reason that you’re trying to avoid lots of salt in your diet, or don't care for salt quite as much as I do, feel free to omit one or more of the salty additions to take it down a notch.
For me though, I say bring it on!
Let me know if you make this, or if it works as well for you as it does for me to destroy your cravings and keep you on track!
And make sure to follow it up with lots of water - always a good call!
Please feel free to comment, upvote, or resteem if you’d like :)