Want to know a secret for getting non-veggie lovers to eat more greens? Fruit! Ok, so I guess that’s not really a secret but it does work. I brought this salad to a potluck recently and even with all the sweets around, I took an empty bowl home, it was a hit! Strawberries are a common addition to spinach salad, but I love how blueberries and oranges add that extra pop!

But since I’m already 2 days late in getting this recipe posted (oops), I’m going to hurry along to why this salad is so nutritious and give you the recipe.

1 – spinach, obviously vitamin A, some iron, fiber, niacin, zinc, and the list goes on – bottom line, it’s really good for you.

2 – strawberries and oranges – lots of vitamin C

3 – blueberries for antioxidants

4 – goat cheese and almonds for calcium and health fats

It’s a pretty nutrient packed meal. You can serve it as a main and even add chicken for extra protein or as your side salad.

Berry Fruit and Green Salad

Serves 4-6

Ingredients

• 6-8 c baby spinach
• 1 c sliced strawberries
• 3/4 c blueberries
• 1 small can mandarin oranges, drained/in its own juice
• 4 oz goat cheese (chevre is best)
• 3 T toasted sliced almonds

Honey Balsamic Dressing

• 1 T finely diced shallot
• 3 T balsamic vinegar
• 2 tsp honey
• 2 tsp dijon mustard
• 5 T olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Mix all dressing ingredients in a mason jar. Close tightly and shake vigorously to combine. Because of the addition of the mustard, the dressing will hold its emulsification for much longer and can be stored easily in the refrigerator for a week.
2. Place spinach in a large bowl and fluff.
3. Layer greens with strawberries, oranges, and blueberries.
4. Sprinkle with goat cheese and almonds.
5. Dressing can be kept near the salad for serving of tossed in leaves if preparing right before serving. Toss to lightly coat.

This is probably the easiest summer green salad and I am in love with the colors and all of the flavor!

Who said healthy food was bland and tasteless? You can easily scale this recipe by adding as much or as little fruit as you’d like depending on amount of greens, but I wouldn’t hold this salad for more that a few hours or half a day combines or the leaves will squish and become potentially slimy. The worst this your greens can get!

Enjoy!

What are your favorite ingredients to put on salads? Are you a fruit person or strictly veggies all the way?