Think salads are a foolproof lunch plan if you’re on a diet?
Not so fast. Just because it’s green does not mean it’s healthy. While salads
are a great way to get more essential vitamins and nutrients that most of us
don’t eat often enough, it’s easy to load up on ingredients that make a good
salad go bad. Here are seven things you shouldn’t even think about putting in
your salad if you’re trying to lose weight.
CRISPY CHICKEN, SHRIMP, OR TOFU
Crispy chicken, coconut shrimp, fried tofu, or any other coated protein
that add unnecessary calories and, often, a dose of sugar—making your salad not
so diet-friendly. “But you always want to add a lean source of protein to your
salad to help satisfy and fill you up,” says New York City-based
nutritionist Brigitte Zeitlin, R.D. Instead, opt for grilled chicken,
shrimp, salmon, canned tuna (minus the mayo), hard-boiled eggs, steamed tofu,
or edamame.
CRUNCHY NOODLES, WONTONS, AND TORTILLA
STRIPS
“Crunchy noodles are like eating chips,” says Bonnie Taub-Dix, R.D.N.,
creator of BetterThanDieting.com and author of Read It Before
You Eat It. All they add to your salad are calories (around 120 per half
cup) and fat (half of those calories, at around 60 grams). Same goes for
tortilla strips or wontons. Instead, toss in half a cup of dried chickpeas for
crunch: Part of the superfood bean family, they have protein to fill you up as
well as soluble fiber, which may lower cholesterol levels. Zeitlin
suggests adding one to two tablespoons almonds, walnuts, pistachios, hemp
seeds, or pumpkin seeds. “These guys add heart-healthy fats that help
fill you up so that you feel satisfied and don’t look for unnecessary snacks
between meals,” she says.
Related: Can Eating Avocados Help You Lose Weight?
Related: Can Eating Avocados Help You Lose Weight?
