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Easy, Healthy, & Delicious Summer Salad

Megan Cooper nutritionrecipiehealth and fitness

Veggie Quinoa Salad

This healthy quinoa salad is delicious, and a great way to get more vegetables into your diet. It’s also easy to adapt to your taste, just leave out what you don’t like and add in more of what you do.

If you haven’t had quinoa before, I definitely recommend it as it’s a tasty and healthy grain. It’s rich in fiber, minerals, antioxidants and contains a small amount of all nine essential amino acids which are vital for muscle growth and development (1, 2, 3). It’s also naturally gluten free!

You will get an extra dose of nutrients such as vitamin C, vitamin A, fiber, folate and iron when you add in the tomatoes (4), bell peppers (5) and spinach (6). These vitamins and minerals are important for proper immune function, digestion, and a healthy immune system.

I love to serve this salad as a side dish or top it with chicken or fish to make it more of a complete meal. It’s also easy to make ahead during your weekly meal prep and can be served chilled or at room temperature.

However you choose to serve it, enjoy a salad is not only bursting with flavor, but bursting with healthy nutrients as well!

Veggie Quinoa Salad

Yield: 4 servings You will need: mixing bowl, measuring cups and spoons, knife, cutting board* Key:* T=Tablespoon; tsp=teaspoon

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups cooked quinoa
  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped
  • 1/2 cup red onion, chopped
  • 1 cup spinach
  • 12 cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 2 T olive oil
  • 2 tsp honey
  • sea salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

  1. Combine the quinoa and veggies in a bowl. Whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, honey, salt and pepper.
  2. Toss the dressing with the quinoa and veggies and refrigerate several hours

Enjoy!!!

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