How to up Your Plant-Based Salad Game

1. Add something chewy

The key to a good salad, more often than not, is texture. If it’s all the same wet salad texture, or it’s all just soft, it isn’t nearly as enjoyable as it could be. Our advice is to add some fruit: dried cranberries or dried apricots are our favorites – not only do they add chewiness, they add a little sweetness as well.

2. Get fruity

Continuing with the sweetness train – fruit, in general, is a great way to make your salads a little more interesting. We like adding berries; strawberries and blueberries for sweetness; raspberries and blackberries for something a little more tart, or if you want a crunchier texture you can opt for slices of apples or pears. Peaches also tend to be overlooked in salads, but they are a great addition!

3. To cheese or not to cheese?

Cheese is an amazing way to add texture and flavor, but if you’re going completely plant-based, it’s not just meat that’s no longer an option, but all animal byproducts. That means no cheese. Thankfully, there’s something known as nutritional yeast. Packed full of healthy protein, this stuff isn’t cheese but tastes just like it, so it’d be the perfect addition to a plant-based salad.

4. Go nuts

Protein and healthy fat are the main things we praise nuts for. They keep you full, add some good texture, and are all-around delicious. Our favorite salad nuts are walnuts and almonds, but you can pretty much add any nuts you want.

5. Dress it up

If you want to level up on a salad, you can never forget dressing. You can make your own simple dressings with olive oil and lemon juice, red, white, or balsamic vinegar, or blend up nuts with a little oil for creamier homemade dressing.

Enjoy eating more plant-based with these healthy (and tasty) salad tips!