This is a quick, easy, nutritious and delicious salad I’ve lived on this summer. The recipe below is for a smaller side salad, but you can easily scale up. I regularly make a double portion and have it as a main. And as you can read below, it’s actually super healthy for you.
Nourishing health benefits
Flax seed oil is high in Omega-3 fatty acids, low in saturated fat, and has been shown in laboratory studies to reduce risk of certain cancers (1).
Spinach is rich in iron and a good source of vitamin K, vitamin A, vitamin C, folate, manganese, magnesium, and vitamin B2 (2).
Strawberries are a good source of potassium as well as vitamins C and K, folic acid, fibre and manganese (3) and have been shown in numerous studies to contain significant levels of protective phytochemicals and micronutrients (4).
Cottage cheese is a complete protein and rich in vitamins B2 and B12 (5).
Studies have shown balsamic vinegar can stabilise cholesterol, blood glucose levels and blood pressure, and is low in calories (6).
So basically, EVERYTHING IN THIS SALAD IS BENEFICIAL – and yet it tastes delicious, and is quick and easy to throw together.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup spinach leaves
- 50g cottage cheese (use low or nonfat for even healthier)
- About 4 medium strawberries, washed and sliced
- About 1/6 of a cucumber, chopped
- 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tsp flax seed oil
Method:
It feels a bit grandiose to refer to it as a ‘method’, but here goes: Put the spinach in a bowl, toss the cucumber and strawberries on top. Spoon on the cottage cheese and drizzle the flax seed oil and vinegar.
And boom! Your salad is ready to pack for a nutritious lunch at work or eating at the park with your kids.
(If taking out for the day and you’re eating it later, you can put the cottage cheese and oil/vinegar in smaller containers and mix when you’re ready to eat it.)
Happy Parent UK 