Bringing sides and finding good healthy recipes for the Holidays can be tricky. This though is the perfect holiday salad to bring with your add to your lineup! Most recipes contain sugar of some kind and often other inflammatory foods and oils that for those wanting something healthier or needing something healthier it can really be a struggle. This salad has the flavors of fall and it’s packed with healthy nutrients. You’ll know you’ll have at least the turkey and the salad that will be easy to add plenty of to your plate!

The Perfect Holiday Salad

With flavors of fall and warmth, this is an easy salad to bring and add in to any holiday meal.

• 1 Bunch Lacinato Kale – remove the ribs and chop into bite sized pieces
• 3 Cups Mixed Greens
• 1 Green Apple cored and diced
• 1 Cup Black Rice
• 1/2 Cup Walnuts chopped
• 1/4 Cup Pomegranate Seeds
• 1/4 Cup Red Wine Vinegar
• 1 Tbsp Honey
• 2 Tsp Dijon Mustard
• 1/4 Cup Olive Oil (organic, extra virgin)
• Salt and Pepper

Black Rice

1. In a large saucepan add 1 cup of rice and 2-3 cups of water (you can also follow the instructions on the back of the package to make sure you get the ratios correct with the type of rice you chose), and a dash of salt. Bring to a boil over high heat and then reduce to simmer for 20-30 minutes (again, follow instructions on package). Set aside and allow to cool. This can also be done ahead! The cooked rice will store for 2-4 days.

Dressing

1. Combine the vinegar, oil, salt, pepper, dijon mustard and honey into a shaker bottle or into a dressing container and shake to combine. You can make this ahead! Make sure it's tightly covered and it will store for about 2-4 days.

Put the Salad Together

1. Combine the Kale, Mixed Greens, Apple, Black Rice, Walnuts, Pomegranate Seeds in a large serving bowl and drizzle around 1/3 cup or so of the Dressing and toss until coated. Place the extra dressing in a serving container for guests to add more if they'd like!

   Enjoy!

Looking for more options for the day after?

The holidays are a time when we tend to over indulge and eat. And that’s okay. It’s the sugar hangover and the cravings that are immediately back that I don’t love. So, I learned that I needed to have options that I could fill my plate with so that I had less room for some of the foods that I knew I wanted, but didn’t really need to eat a whole plate of. That’s when I came up with this Holiday Salad recipe.

I always have a plan for the day after to fill my body up with nutrients and super healthy foods, plus a lot of water and exercise and it’s back to normal and thriving through the Holidays.

Check out this smoothie that I start my day with after Holiday meals! It has cinnamon and warm flavors and the creaminess comes from avocado. It’s perfection.

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