It is summer time. Preparing meals is easier for me during the summer months because I like eating light and there are so many fun things a person can do in the kitchen without preparing hot meals.

Salads are one of my favorite things to eat and it is endless as to what a person can create by using their imagination. Salads are easy to prepare and most anyone can put together a fabulous salad with a little creativity. The basic ingredient is greens. There are several to choose from and it is according to the person’s own taste as to which greens they use in their salad. I have found a salad much more enjoyable if I use several different greens.

Red leaf lettuce, Boston lettuce and radicchio are three greens that I especially enjoy using in my salads. Bibb, romaine and arugula are also very delicious. Some people prefer watercress, spinach or kale in their salad and these are also great choices. A great idea is to mix and match greens as one desires to create the perfect summer salad.

Deciding what to add to your salad, after choosing the greens, is the exciting part. The options are really unlimited. Most everyone thinks of tomato and cucumber to add to a salad and this is alright if you wish to keep things simple and if you are going with what is conveniently on hand.

I like to go beyond the common when making a salad and I enjoy mushrooms, sweet onions, green onions, and bell peppers. Adding green, red and yellow bell peppers in a salad is not only healthy but they add to the beauty of the salad. Broccoli will not only add a healthy ingredient but it is also more added crunch to your salad.

Fruit is a great option for adding to a vegetable salad and I personally prefer avocado and pears, though not necessarily at the same time. Strawberries are also a delightful fruit to add to some salads. I never use croutons or bacon bits in my salads, as there are healthier options. Pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, almonds, chopped walnuts, and chopped pecans are much healthier options and much more delicious.

Many have the perfect, healthy summer salad recipe but they ruin it by adding chicken, cooked bacon or other meat. I have added a scoop of tuna to my salad in the past but I never add chicken or bacon or other meat. Adding cheese is fine but I usually only add a little shredded Cheddar cheese or a little grated Parmesan cheese as a garnish. As with adding meat, too much cheese in a salad adds to the calories.

Now that you have all the ingredients to put together the perfect healthy summer salad, the dressing is very important. Most everyone enjoys the thick, creamy salad dressings but these are also loaded with calories. I enjoy a light salad dressing that will give that knock out flavoring punch and final touch to my salad.

I enjoy simply olive oil and the juice from a freshly squeezed lemon or lime as my dressing. If I have a taste for vinegar, I will omit the lemon or lime juice and add vinegar with the olive oil. I prefer white vinegar rather than red vinegar when I am making my perfect summer salad.

Eating salad during summer is not only beneficial to our health, but it is also refreshing on a hot summer day. Making a fabulous summer salad can almost be as enjoyable as eating it.