Today I am sharing with you one of my favorite summer salad recipes: Grilled Chicken Salad with Walnuts! This recipe is so simple to make, and offers up all sorts of nutrients, too. Plus it is hardy enough to eat for dinner, and fancy enough to serve guests, making it a win-win salad in my book! Part of the reason it is my favorite summer salad is that it provides protein, healthy fats and lots of taste, too. Check out what it offers up:

Grilled Chicken: This is an excellent source of low-fat protein – it has 26 grams of protein in a 3-ounce serving! And we all know that we need protein to help build and repair tissues, and it’s important when it comes to building bones, muscles, cartilage and more! You can either grill your own chicken, or use a rotisserie chicken (remove the skin first, though). Three ounces of chicken is about the size of the palm of your hand, so you know how much to add!

Mixed Greens: So, so good for you! Leafy greens are one of my favorites, as they provide all sorts of vitamins, fiber, and even iron and calcium, depending on what greens you pick. The general rule of thumb is that the darker you go (think kale and spinach), the more nutrients you will be eating up!

Tomato: There’s nothing better than a ripe tomato in summertime, and tomatoes offer up more than taste – they are a great low-calorie source of vitamin C! Plus tomatoes provide lycopene, an antioxidant that can help fight heart disease and some types of cancer, like prostate cancer. So men should be extra sure to eat tomatoes, as well as watermelon, another summertime favorite that provides lycopene.

Walnuts: One of the healthiest nuts you can add to your diet, I am a walnut fan! They are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids. These are good for your heart and your brain health, and help to tone down inflammation. They also have antioxidants and amino acids that are good for your immune system and blood pressure, making walnuts a win in my book!

Just toss the above with some balsamic vinaigrette, and you have a summer salad that is great for lunch or dinner, when eating alone or with company! And if you like this salad, you will LOVE all the recipes in my 10-Week Whole Body Plan! My eating plan can be personalized to adjust to lots of dietary restrictions, like vegetarian, gluten-free, diabetic and more! Plus it offers suggestions for all three daily meals and snacks. I use recipes from it all the time – start your 7-day free trial and see how you like my healthy recipe suggestions!

Let’s get fitter, together – inside and out,

Denise

Grilled Chicken Salad with Walnuts

Ingredients:

3 ounces grilled chicken breast

1 1/2 cups mixed greens

½ cup chopped tomato

2 tablespoons chopped walnuts

2 tablespoons balsamic vinaigrette

Instructions:

In a salad bowl combine ingredients, drizzle with dressing and toss!

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