While a salad may be the definition of healthy food, it doesn't have to be boring by any means. There are ways to turn a simple salad into a delicious and very complete meal.

In addition to being a healthy meal, it can also result in an economical, very practical, and accessible dish, as it only takes mixing a few ingredients and voilà, you have a complete meal!

To make a good salad, you'll need some basic ingredients:

1. A green vegetable as a base: lettuce, spinach, kale.
2. A protein, either meat or fish: turkey, chicken, smoked salmon, hard-boiled egg, tuna.
3. A carbohydrate: whole grain pasta, oats, quinoa, rice.

Additionally, you can add other complements to make it more complete and delicious.

• Legumes. Chickpeas, lentils, and beans are recognized as sources of protein, starch, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. This means that adding them to our salad will give us an extra boost.
• Fruits. If you like contrasts, you can add some type of fruit to give it a sweet touch. Pineapple, peach, mango, strawberry, apple, or avocado are the best choices for salads.
• Nuts. Add a handful of walnuts, almonds, pistachios, or pine nuts to your salads for a crunchy and delicious touch. 

Your salad is practically prepared, and all that’s left is the finishing touch: the dressing. Be very careful, as the nutritional value of a salad can be ruined by excessive dressings.

What we recommend is to prepare a homemade dressing so you can control the ingredients and portions. For example, extra virgin olive oil with a touch of white or red vinegar and a pinch of salt will provide a good source of healthy fats.

Dijon mustard, a natural yogurt sauce with cilantro or mint, lemon juice, or other fruit juices, or with a teaspoon of honey, will combine perfectly with a handful of nuts.

As you can see, healthy does not have to be synonymous with boring or tasteless, and the possibilities for making a delicious and nutritious salad are endless; all you need are a few ingredients and plenty of creativity.