Lunch salads don’t have to be the same boring thing day in and day out. This one has marinated grilled chicken and artichokes giving it a great Italian flavor.

Chicken Salad with Artichokes

2 servings
390 calories per serving

½ c lite Italian dressing
½ lb. boneless skinless chicken breast halves
2 c torn arugula
2 c torn romaine leaves or other greens
14 oz. can quartered artichoke hearts
2 plum tomatoes, cut into wedges
½ c low fat shredded cheddar cheese
4 fresh basil leaves cut into strips

Pour ¼ c dressing over chicken and refrigerate ½ hour. Heat grill and cook chicken 6-8 minutes each side or until done then cut into strips. Combine arugula and lettuce and top with artichokes, chicken, tomatoes, cheese, basil and the rest of the dressing.

Nutritious, full of fiber, satisfying, filling, extremely portable – this is a great lunch salad.

Black Bean and Corn Salad

4 servings
350 calories per serving

1 c frozen corn
½ c French dressing
2 t chopped chipotle chiles in adobo sauce
4 c chopped romaine lettuce
2 c grape tomatoes, halved
¼ c sliced green onions
15 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed
½ c shredded low fat cheddar cheese
1 c coarsely chopped blue tortilla chips
¼ c chopped cilantro

Cook corn according to package directions then drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. Combine dressing with chipotle chilies. Combine corn, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, beans and cheese then add dressing and mix well. Garnish with chips and cilantro.

This dressing has a nice rich flavor – almost like that of the old Axelrod onion dip that I can’t find in stores any more. It’s very oniony and has just the right amount of spices. This also makes a great dip for veggies.

Creamy Herb Salad Dressing

Makes 1 ¼ cups
2 T = 19 calories – very low cal for a salad dressing !

½ c plain low fat yogurt
½ c nonfat sour cream
1 green onion, minced
2 T minced fresh parsley
1 t lemon pepper
½ t honey
¼ t garlic powder
½ t onion powder
Salt and pepper to taste

Whip together yogurt and sour cream. Stir in the rest and refrigerate to chill well.

I’m not a big salad lover. That is always a tough part of ‘dieting’ for me. But once in a while I actually crave a big bowl of greens. Adding bacon and croutons makes this one a winner.

BLT Salad

1 serving
280 calories per serving

3 c chopped romaine lettuce
6 slices turkey bacon
1 c halved grape tomatoes
1 slice 45 calorie bread
2 T dressing (70 calorie)

Toast bread and let it sit to harden (about 5 minutes) and then cut into cubes. Cook bacon according to instructions. When cool, crumble up. Put lettuce and tomatoes in a bowl. Top with bacon and croutons. Drizzle with dressing.

This tangy, savory dressing really hits the spot over field greens. And you’re certainly not going to find a bottled dressing weighing it at only 18 calories per tablespoon. So whip some up and pour it on…thick !

Homemade French Dressing

Makes 1 ¼ c
18 calories per T

¾ c water
2 t cornstarch
¼ c lemon juice
¼ c ketchup
2 T oil
1 t Worcestershire sauce
¾ t salt
¼ t paprika
¼ t pepper
¼ t dry mustard
¼ t Equal or Splenda

Mix water and cornstarch in a pan and bring to a boil over high heat then reduce heat and cook 5 minutes or until thick and clear. Remove from heat and let cool. When cool add the rest of the ingredients and beat until smooth. Cover and refrigerate. Shake well before using.

One problem with salad is that I love it SWIMMING in dressing. And even low cal and low fat dressing really pack on the calories when you put on as much as I like to. So this is the first of a series of cornstarch based salad dressings I make – the cornstarch helps thicken the dressing so you barely miss the oil. And at only 3 calories per tablespoonful, I can really pour it on

Celery Seed Dressing

Makes 1 c
3 calories per T

1 T cornstarch
1 t sugar
1 t paprika
1 t celery seed
½ t onion powder
½ t dry mustard
2 t salt
1 c water
¼ c vinegar

In a sauce pan mix the first 7 ingredients then gradually stir in the water and vinegar and quickly bring to a boil stirring constantly. Allow mix to thicken then cool and keep in the refrigerator. Shake well before using.

The brie gives a nice flavor and texture to the dressing – nothing with brie can ever be bad !

Salad with Warm Brie Dressing

4 servings
75 calories

2 heads Boston or Green Leaf lettuce, torn into small pieces
1 oz. brie or brie spread
½ c fat free Italian dressing (or any other vinegar based fat free dressing)

Place lettuce on individual plates. Cube the cheese. Microwave dressing 30 seconds or until thoroughly heated, then stir in cheese until melted and pour over lettuce.

Cobb Salads are one of my favorites – there are always lots of good substantial ingredients so you get filled up and the bacon flavor always permeates all the other ingredients. The goat cheese is a nice addition that you usually don’t find in a cobb salad.

Chicken Cobb Salad

3 servings
325 calories per serving

4 1/2 c shredded romaine lettuce
1 ¼ c cooked, shredded boneless skinless chicken (Perdue Shortcuts work great here)
2 hard boiled egg (yolks removed and whites chopped up)
1 tomato, chopped
2 T low fat crumbed goat cheese
2 slices turkey bacon, cooked, cooled and crumbled
½ avocado, diced
3 T chopped green onions
½ c fat free ranch dressing

Divide the lettuce on plates, arrange an even amount of each of the ingredients onto each plate and drizzle with dressing.

This is a crisp salad with the ultimate pairing of zesty dressing and feta cheese. The olives are just a bonus

Cucumber and Radish Salad

7 servings
90 calories per serving

4 large cucumbers
8 radishes, thinly sliced
½ c low fat crumbled feta cheese with basil and tomato
1/3 c low fat zesty Italian dressing
1/3 c pitted kalamata olives

Peel the cucs (optional) and cut into thin slices. I like to use English cucumbers as they are basically seedless. Toss cucs with the radishes, cheese and olives and dress the salad.

Simple, simple, simple – and a great side salad to just about any meal !

Artichoke and Tomato Salad

4 servings
73 calories per serving

14 oz. can artichoke hearts, rinsed and drained
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
1/34 c chopped parsley
¼ c fat free Italian dressing

Mix all ingredients and toss to coat.