Salad in Five ... Minutes

FOR SALAD BASICS:

bagged salad of your choice (spinach, arugula, spring mix, chopped, etc.)

salad bar "guts" (olives, corn, cut-up vegetables, cucumber, red onions, cherry tomatoes, hearts of palm, etc.)

FOR SALAD FINISHING:

cut-up protein (ham steak, cold cuts, turkey, chicken, steak, chopped egg, Mexican spiced meat filling [see recipe])

non-dairy cheese (Violife, So Delicious, Follow Your Heart, etc.)

dressing of choice (homemade or bottled)

FOR SALAD TOPPINGS:

crunchies (Gluten Free tortilla strips, crushed chips, nuts, seeds, etc.)

sliced avocado

fruit: diced apples, pears, orange slices, fresh berries, or fruit-juice-sweetened non-sulfite dried fruit

FOR THE BASIC SALAD

Obtain at least six 3- to 6-cup containers (glass or metal is best but you also can use plastic ones with recycle numbers 2,4 and 5 [NOT 3,6, or 7] as those are BPA-free). Open bagged salad and place amount of your choice in each container.

Sprinkle salad bar "guts" over bagged salad. Fold six full-size paper towel squares into quarters and tuck each into container. Put on lid and TURN UPSIDE DOWN. The paper towel will absorb whatever moisture there is in the vegetables and keep the salad crisp. Store in refrigerator upside down.

FOR DAY-OF:

Remove one container of salad from the refrigerator and add chopped or sliced meat (or Mexican spiced meat filling [wrap in plastic as in the illustration above to keep moisture from the salad]), Dairy Free cheese, a cup of dressing (or two), and crunchies in a plastic bag to keep them crisp. Keep the original paper towel in the container but, if it's moist ... replace it.

To eat ... remove the paper towel ... combining all the ingredients, unwrap the meat filling (if using), pour the dressing over, sprinkle with the crunchies, and enjoy!

NOTE:

Want an ever faster salad? Buy bagged salad kits.

They make two good-size salads. Separate the greens into two containers, put the crunchies provided in two snack bags and place into containers, and add some protein and Dairy Free cheese to one. Then separate the dressing provided into two cups ... it will fill two completely; place in containers.

Pack up one salad (you don't need a paper towel for these unless you store them for more than a day) and enjoy! Then add some protein and cheese and take the other one the next day. Time spent ... about 2 to 3 minutes ... and even less the second day.

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Salad in Five … Minutes