Asian Pear Spinach Salad

This colorful, high-fiber winter salad is vegan, gluten-free, and diabetes-friendly. Salads are versatile, fun and delicious. Salads provide tons of nutrients at a very low calorie. They can be served as an appetizer or a main course!

I tend to change up my salads ingredients every season. I love incorporating seasonal fruits and vegetables into my salads. My go to winter salad is an Asian Pear Spinach Salad. Not only is this salad easy to make and delicious, it boosts the immune system, protects the heart and fights cancer!

Colorful salads are packed with tons of different vitamins and phytochemicals! Different colored vegetables provide different nutritional benefits. This salad contains vegetables from the red, orange and green family. Orange peppers are typically high in the antioxidant beta-carotene, which is important for vision and immune function. Red tomatoes are very high in the cancer fighting antioxidant, lycopene and spinach is a great source of the immune boosting vitamin, vitamin C.

Spinach is a great base for any salad because it is so adaptable; it’s low in calories and it’s high in nutrients! One cup of spinach contains only 7 calories and 100% of the RDA’s for Vitamins A and K! Spinach is also high in folate, magnesium, iron, calcium, potassium, copper, and vitamins B2, B6 and E. The nutrients in spinach strengthen bones, protect eyesight, maintain blood pressure, and prevent heart disease and cancer. The nutrients in spinach also strengthen the immune system and encourage healthy skin tones!

Almonds supply the protein source and the crunch factor to the salad. Almonds are high in healthy fats, fiber, magnesium, vitamin E and protein. They are heart healthy and protect against coronary heart disease by lowering LDL cholesterol. If you’re having this salad as your main, feel free to top it with grilled chicken, salmon, or quinoa for some added protein.

The ginger dressing acts as an anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant. Ginger has been proven to reduce muscle pain, lower blood sugar and improve digestion. Ginger is an antioxidant, protecting against cancer. It also improves brain function and cognition. You can make the dressing ahead of time and store in your refrigerator for up to a week.

Ingredients:

• Spinach
• Asian pear, thinly sliced
• Orange or red peppers
• Red onion
• Cherry tomatoes
• 3 tbsp slivered almonds
• 3 tbsp craisins
• Black and white sesame seeds

Ginger Dressing (Yields ½ cup)

• ¼ cup orange juice
• 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• ¼ cup rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• ¼ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp pepper
• 1 tbsp turmeric
• ½ tsp dried ginger

Directions:

1. Feel free to also add in any roasted veggies such as sweet potato, zucchini, beets, or fennel, for more fiber!
2. Place all salad dressing ingredients into a bowl. Whisk together so that the wet and dry ingredients are thoroughly mixed. Pour over salad and serve.