Wellness Mama®
Simple Answers for Healthier Families
My favorite healthy, real food salad recipes for busy families can be found below. All recipes are grain-free, dairy optional and kid-approved. Need help meal planning? Check out my meal planning service!
My family enjoys hitting the local taco truck once in a while for a fun dinner idea and a break from cooking. We especially love their chicken tacos which come with a delicious taco slaw on top. You probably know how much I love recreating restaurant (or food truck!) favorites at home, and this one …
I love oregano for its medicinal qualities as well as its amazing flavor. So whenever I can use it in a recipe, I’m happy to. This Greek salad is a simple way to use oregano and other Greek flavors in a tasty dish that satisfies the whole family. We love making this when the tomatoes and cucumbers …
When summer is finally in full swing and cucumbers are growing, this cucumber salad is a great simple “salad.” Also, if you already grow dill with your cucumbers to help control garden pests, you’ll have two of the ingredients right in your backyard! All you need is cucumber, red onion, and a few kitchen staples you’re sure to …
I love the time of year when gardens are starting to produce and farmer’s markets have fresh greens for salads. Big salads are my go-to lunch and often my go-to dinner with a glass of kombucha or iced herbal tea on the side. And guess what… adding berries is a sure way to get my kids excited …
I recently posted a simple recipe for making roasted garlic. It is amazing! I just can’t get enough. I probably give off a garlicky enough aura to protect my whole household from vampires. Anyway, I promised in that post to share my recipe for roasted garlic salad dressing… and here it is! Garlic: The New Kitchen …
Entree salads are one of my favorite things to serve for dinner. I can usually serve all the components of the meal in one dish with only a small amount of cooking. (The leftovers are fantastic for lunch the next day… always a bonus!) A classic French Nicoise salad has a lot of elements that require …
On vacation one year, we ate at a great seafood restaurant that had fish tacos on the menu. At that point I’d never had fish tacos and they sounded intriguing! At the time I was grain-free for my thyroid condition (and still do very limited grains), so I asked if they could convert it into a …
Variety is the spice of life they say, and I’m the first to admit salads can get boring! When I start to feel this way I know it’s time to make this chicken fiesta salad. Crunchy colorful peppers, creamy guacamole, and zesty homemade salsa (if it’s the season!) make this one of my favorite meals. …
You guys know I love my salad, and one of my favorite salad dressing recipes is a copycat of the ginger dressing at a local Japanese restaurant we love. They make a version of this Asian color burst salad, which tastes as beautiful as it looks! I had to try making the recipe on my own. …
Eating out can be fun (or necessary) sometimes and Chipotle is one of the few places we will occasionally eat out. We love Mexican food (I even make my own taco seasoning) and it is relatively easy to find healthy food options there. Unfortunately, with a large family it is also pricey to go out …
We eat a lot of salads at our house since it’s an easy way to get healthy greens into our diet. I’m really loving this roasted beet and arugula salad lately, especially since both are growing in our garden right now. If you’re afraid of beets, don’t be… when roasted they are sweet and tender …
During the hot days of summer a cool, fresh salad hits the spot. It’s the perfect time for it too since the gardens and farmer’s markets are bursting with produce. We don’t do a lot of bread around here, so I wanted to recreate the classic BLT flavors in veggie-packed salad form. Salad greens topped with …
I’m constantly on the lookout for more ways to get the all-important vegetables in our diet. Don’t get me wrong, I love a salad, but in the fall/winter a warm and savory way to enjoy veggies is especially nice. This roasted vegetable salad is quick to make and easy on the eyes. Add some chicken …
Everyone knows that kale is nutritious, but it can be a little hard to swallow sometimes. Prepare it right though, and kale is a nutritious and delicious dish! This shaved apple and kale salad recipe has crisp yet tender kale and a sweet and tangy taste that appeals even to young taste buds. My kids are …
Salads are one of my favorite summer foods since there are so many delicious ingredients in season and they don’t have to be heated to prepare. I’ve always had a thing for Mexican food, and while I love the restaurant fajita salads, they aren’t usually the healthiest or most frugal option. This salad is a …
One of my favorite things about spring is the fresh lettuce at the farmers markets and the return of the amazing flavors of fresh vegetables and herbs. When spring finally arrives we are all excited for radishes, peas, fresh strawberries, and greens. These spring salad recipes are the perfect way to really showcase spring produce and …
I present to you my favorite salad ever! While our garden is (somehow) still producing strawberries, I’ve been eating this salad as much as I can! I’ve even eaten this for breakfast with eggs on the side. Sometimes, I add grilled chicken and it is an entire meal. Strawberry Feta Salad Recipe This strawberry and …
A light and fruity chicken salad that can be made on the go, this salad is a reminder of summer, even when there is snow on the ground. I often make a salad like this for lunch at least a few times a week. A bed of leafy greens topped with citrus chicken, cucumber, apple, …
If you enjoy steak (who doesn’t?) and peppers (hopefully you do!), then this light seasonal steak and sweet pepper salad is for you. It takes only seconds to make with leftover steak and can be easily packed for an on-the-go lunch. If your kids aren’t big on salad, just serve them the ingredients individually and …
After much trial and error, I present to you my perfect chicken salad recipe. Why is it perfect, you ask? Besides tasting great, it is gluten free, mayo free, low carb, and packed with nutrients. It uses probiotic rich yogurt in place of mayo for a unique twist. Healthy Chicken Salad Recipe… The only chicken salad …
I love salads, and my apple and walnut tuna salad is one of my favorites! Tuna Salad Tip I like making this ahead of time and storing it in the bottom of a quart size mason jar. Then, I fill the jar with lettuce or spinach and cap tightly. When stored in the fridge, this will last …
This is one of my favorite simple salad recipes. My husband is Italian, and therefore likes all food that comes from “The Boot”. This tomato, basil, and mozzarella Caprese salad is an easy summer favorite that he loves (and the kids do to!). We make this often when our tomatoes are in season. This classic …
I’m always trying to find ways to add more vegetables to meals. I also try to replace the unhealthy or nutrient-lacking parts of a traditional recipe with a healthier and fresher option if possible. Some of my favorite ways to do this are: Using cabbage for “noodles” in recipes like spaghetti Using spiral cut parsnips …
One of my earliest childhood memories was peeling broccoli stems. Strange early memory, huh? My dad preferred the stems of broccoli, so my mom would always peel them and chop them and steam with the broccoli crowns whenever we made fresh broccoli. Once I got married, I couldn’t shake the habit of peeling the broccoli, …
