Kayla Itsines is the Australian workout guru who shot to fame through her daily Instagram posts. Having become a fully fledged member of the fitness pack in recent years, Kayla launched her own website to bring you workout plans and nutrition tips. In this article taken from KaylaItsines.com Kayla advises how to construct the perfect salad. With temperatures hotting up this Easter weekend you can enjoy alfresco!

Salads are an easy, tasty way to add vital nutrients to your diet. They’re so versatile and quick to make, plus they are an awesome addition to your meal prepping routine. If you’re hosting a family dinner or get together with friends, putting a little extra effort into your salads can make them a real crowd pleaser!

Another benefit of regularly incorporating salads into your eating plan? You have the chance to take advantage of in-season fruits and veggies and you might find it’s really easy to eat healthy, even on a tight budget.

So, want to know how to build the BEST salad? Follow the steps below!

Pick your base

If you can, try to stick to leafy, dark greens, such as spinach, rocket, watercress or kale, rather than iceberg or cos lettuce varieties. Choosing darker greens can maximise your intake of nutrients, such as vitamins A, C and K and more. Adding these to your salad mix means you are well on your way to meeting your daily recommended intake for these nutrients.

Choose your grains 

As a source of carbohydrates, adding grains to your salad can give your energy supply a little boost. We all know what it’s like to eat a delicious fresh salad and then feel like snacking a few hours later! Adding a healthier grain option, such as couscous or quinoa, provides your body with fibre, which can be filling, as well as a number key nutrients. Grains also add an earthy flavour that balances tangy dressings.

Add three vegetables

There is no such thing as a right or wrong combination when selecting vegetables for your salad! I suggest using both cooked or raw vegetables to test out the textures and flavours you like best. Some great vegetable combinations to try are tomato, onion and mushroom or carrot, cucumber and capsicum. You can also play around with preparation techniques (such as dicing, chopping, Julienne or grating) if you’re feeling creative! To add extra colour, look for different varieties of your regular salad ingredients, such as yellow tomatoes or purple carrots.

Pick your protein

Adding grilled chicken to your salad is a simple and flexible way to get your protein fix, which can help you feel fuller for longer. Some other great protein options are grilled salmon or tofu. Salmon is a great source of Omega 3, which helps your body to fight inflammation and promotes healthy skin.

If you eat salads regularly, you can mix up the flavours of your protein source by using different herbs and spices. You’ll be surprised at how much of a difference this can make!

Add your dressing

When it comes to salad dressings, I always think that fresh is best! I’d much rather make my own salad dressing rather than relying on store-bought ones that often contain preservatives or artificial flavours. I recommend using fresh ingredients or healthy oils in the salad dressing instead. Try to pick a dressing that doesn’t detract from the vegetables, but complements them. A tasty vinaigrette is always a great addition.

For an easy to make salad dressing that is much healthier than the store bought options, check out some of these homemade healthy salad dressings. 

Add some healthy fats 

Your body needs fat (the good ones!) to help regulate your moods and keep your blood sugar in check. Foods such as walnuts, chia seeds and flaxseeds contain Omega 3, which can also help to lower blood pressure as well. It’s really easy to incorporate healthy fats into your salad - just sprinkle over some chopped walnuts, toss some pepitas in for extra crunch or add some diced avocado, which is one of my favourites!

Now that you’ve built the perfect salad, all that’s left to do is serve it up and enjoy!

Read more of Kayla’s health and fitness tips at www.kaylaitsines.com or workout with Kayla below.