Spinach Salad

photo by Grundlepuck on flickr

For those of you checking in for the first time in 2010, Happy New Year! The Green household had a wonderful holiday break but, as usual, a little too much indulging on my part. From Christmas baking, chocolate fountains, Mom's turkey stuffing and the like, I am vowing to get back on track and start the New Year off in a good way.

So I will leave you with my all-time favourite salad. I usually make this for lunch during the week since the ingredients are at the ready and can be tossed together quickly. Also, apple cider vinegar has lots of benefits for weight loss and detoxification; a feel-good ingredient that subsides the festive guilt a little (just a little!). Check out more info on apple cider vinegar in this blog's 'A La Mode' sidebar.

Tracey's Quick and Easy Spinach Salad

Couple handfuls of baby spinach (prewashed; sold in containers)
Handful of Grape Tomatoes
Couple teaspoons of Pine Nuts or Walnuts
1 *Avocado; sliced
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon virgin olive oil
Crumbled blue cheese or feta cheese
Cracked black pepper

Toss everything together into one big, tasty salad!

*Although fattening, avocados are high in lipoprotein, or "good fat". This lowers the risk of heart disease. They are also high in beta-sitosterol, a natural substance that lowers blood cholesterol levels.

popeye photo by kittymiawww on flickr