How to Create a Super Salad

The 2015-2020 edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that the average person consume 2 cup equivalents of fruit per day and 2 ½ cup equivalents of vegetables per day. That may seem like a pile of produce, but there is a simple way to add fruits and vegetables into your eating patterns to maintain a healthy lifestyle.The Super Salad is an easy way to incorporate multiple portions of produce, and it also has the ability to include all of the food groups – making the Super Salad the perfect nutrient-dense meal or snack.There are an infinite number of flavor combinations, so no two salads ever have to be the same.To start, choose a leafy green such as baby spinach, romaine or butter lettuce as your base, then add your favorite vegetables — think carrots, tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers. From there, the possibilities are endless! Check out this handy chart to help you build your perfect Super Salad.By Beth Rosen, MS, RD, CDN