Get those MUFAs into your diet to help with your weight loss ! Avocado is a great way to achieve this.

Simple Avocado Salad

1 serving
165 calories per serving

½ c sliced avocado
1 T low fat Zesty Italian Dressing

Mix it all up and serve next to soup or a light sandwich.

Whether you’re slicing avocados for sandwiches, salads or snacks, it’s nice to have pretty slices rather than gouged out chunks. Avocados are not the easiest things to work with – but they are well worth the work! Nothing tastes quite like an avocado. And there is now a kitchen tool out there that takes all the hard work out of it. Just slice your avocado in half, remove the pit, and then use the tool to do the rest. I made a quick video so you can see how they work.

And here is a link to buy one on Amazon !

The saltiness of the kalamata olives makes this salad very tasty !

Tomato Salad with Olives

6 servings
60 calories per serving

2 lb. grape tomatoes, halved
1/4 c mixed olives (I use a mixture of black and kalamata)
Zest of one lemon
2 T olive oil
Kosher salt
Pepper

Mix all the ingredients and let sit ½ hour for the flavors to mingle.

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.

Just one more, just one more ! That’s what you’ll be saying after you have a few bites of this warm potato salad. The flavors were outstanding and it’s a nice dish next to fish or chicken.

Roasted Garlic Potato Salad

8 servings
173 calories per serving

2 lb. small new potatoes, quartered (about 20)
2 T oil
1 bulb garlic
1 t oil
½ c sliced green onions
2 T white balsamic vinegar
¼ t salt
¼ t pepper
2 T oil
¼ c sliced olives
¼ c sun dried tomatoes, drained and cut into thin strips

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Put potatoes in a baking dish and drizzle with 2 T oil and toss then roast 10 minutes and stir. Cut the top off the bulb of garlic (DO VIDEO) and remove any loose paper skin and then cut side up in a baking cup and drizzle with 1 t oil. Cover with foil and place in oven and continue roasting 10 minutes. Stir potatoes and add onions and continue baking another 15 minutes or until potatoes and garlic are tender. Let stand until garlic is cool enough to handle. Squeeze out garlic cloves and mash with vinegar, salt and pepper then whisk in 1 T oil. Mix in the olives and tomatoes with the potatoes and then add the dressing and toss to coat.

Serve next to just about anything !

Korean Bean Sprout Salad

6 servings
68 calories per serving

1 lb. fresh bean sprouts
1 T sesame seeds, toasted
1 T sesame oil
2 T soy sauce
1 1/2 T finely chopped scallions
1 1/2 T sugar
1 small clove garlic, finely minced
1 t salt

Place sprouts in boiling salt water for 3 minutes. Drain and run under cold water to stop the cooking process. Add all other ingredients and mix well. Chill at least ½ hour.

To toast sesame seeds, just stir fry them for a few minutes in a hot skillet.

Using just citrus means the dressing on this salad is nice and light. So even though you have higher cal avocados and corn, the salad is still a good side dish coming in at just 133 calories per serving. The avocado is what really makes this special – the creaminess blends so nicely with the corn and tomato !

Corn and Avocado Salad

4 servings
133 calories per serving

1 small 8.5 ounce can corn
2 pints grape tomatoes, halved
1 avocado, diced
1 T fresh lemon juice
1 T fresh lime juice
1 T oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients. Serve alongside many different dishes to bring a little spark and flavor – This is great next to chicken, fish, sandwiches, etc.

This is another one of those really versatile salads – you can add into this bits of pieces of all the little leftover bits of veggies in your frig without really changing the calorie count all that much. This is great next to a sandwich or sometimes I have it all on its own with a few Triscuits next to it and call it a meal !

Chickpea Salad

4 servings
286 calories per serving

2 14 oz. cans chick peas, drained and rinsed
1 stalk celery, thinly sliced
4 radishes diced small
1 green pepper diced small
½ c chopped parsley
1 T lemon juice
1 T vinegar
1 T oil
Salt and pepper to taste
½ t garlic powder
½ t onion powder
¼ t celery salt

Combine beans and all veggies and then add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.

The avocado is unexpected and that makes it twice as good ! Mixed with the lemon and yogurt, this makes a very light yet creamy dressing.

Mixed Greens with Avocado Dressing

4 servings
106 calories per serving

1 avocado, cut into chunks
¼ c plain low fat yogurt
½ t grated lemon zest
1 T lemon juice
1 T water
½ t salt
4 c sliced romaine lettuce
4 c watercress or endive

In a blender mix the avocado chunks, yogurt, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt and 1 T water until smooth. Put dressing in a bowl and add greens and mix well.

Often times the best thing about a salad is not the lettuce, but all the other stuff ! And this salad agrees No lettuce – - just all the good veggies in a great lemony dressing. If you have extra broccoli, throw it in. If you are out of celery, don’t’ sweat it ! Make this salad anything you want

Veggie Salad

4 servings
82 calories per serving

1 yellow bell pepper thinly sliced
1 large cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced
2 stalks celery, diced
2 large carrots, shredded or sliced
6 radishes, sliced
1 T chopped parsley
2 T lemon juice
1 T oil
½ t garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste

Toss tomato, cucumber, celery, carrots, radishes and parsley. Combine juice, oil, salt, pepper and garlic and mix well and then pour over salad and serve immediately.