Characteristics
This is a sweet, tangy and very juicy salad that tastes as beautiful as it looks. It is packed with many vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytonutrients, as well as fiber. It is naturally low in sodium and cholesterol free. The unique blend of ingredients make for a very refreshing and light, yet filling meal idea. You can watch the video recipe of this salad, or proceed with the written version below.
TYPE: Salad, Meal, Appetizer
PREPARATION: < 15 mins
SERVING: Makes 1 meal sized salad
- Raw
- Vegan
- Wheat-free
- Gluten-free
- Peanut-free
- Nut-free
- Soy-free
- Corn-free
- Refined sugar-free
Goodies Needed
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 large handfuls of mixed baby greens (organic)
- 1 Avocado (organic)
- 1/6 - 1/8 English Cucumber (organic)
- 1/2 cup (handful) Grape, Cherry or Candy Tomatoes (organic)
- 1/2 cup (handful) Cranberries (organic, fresh)
- 3 - 4 TBS Pomegranate Arils (organic)
- 1 - 2 TBS Shredded Coconut (organic, unsweetened)
Optional:
- 2 - 4 TBS Hemp Seeds
TOOLS:
- cutting board and knife
- optional - salad spinner
- salad dish and utensils
Preparation Steps
- Place about 2 handfuls of greens on your cutting board, and roughly chop into smaller pieces. Transfer to salad bowl.
- Wash and peel your avocado. Remove the pit and cut into four quarters, then dice into smaller chunks. Transfer to salad bowl. (Watch video on how to work with avocado if you need.)
- Wash your cucumber, cut off adequate piece and dice into small chunks. Transfer to salad bowl.
- Wash the tomatoes, cut into halves and then into quarters. Transfer to salad bowl.
- Wash the cranberries, cut into halves and then into quarters. Transfer to salad bowl.
- Wash the pomegranate, and prepare by removing the arils. Transfer the desired quantity of arils to salad bowl. (Watch video on how to work with pomegranate if you need.)
- Sprinkle the desired quantity of coconut over your salad, serve and enjoy!
- You can sprinkle in some hemp seeds for extra nutritional and caloric support if desired.
Meal Nutritional Benefits
Baby Greens:
- Excellent source of vitamins and minerals, including potassium, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin B’s, vitamin C and magnesium
- Excellent source of phytonutrients and antioxidants
- Excellent alkalizing properties
- Excellent source of fiber, along with cleansing and detoxifying properties
- Enhances overall health and wellness to promote optimal health, healing and prevention for all body systems
Avocado:
- provides the meal with healthy fatty acids
- good source of (in descending order): vitamin K, dietary fiber, potassium, folate, vitamin B6, vitamin C and copper
- help regulate healthy blood pressure, help decrease LDL cholesterol and increase HDL cholesterol and enhance overall health
- help protect against breast cancer, prostate cancer and oral cancer
- for more information, visit the avocado detailed overview from World’s Healthiest Foods
Cucumber:
- great alkaline source to decrease body’s acidic levels
- good source of (in descending order): water, vitamin C, molybdenum, vitamin A, potassium, manganese, folate, fiber and silica
- promotes healthy skin, intestinal health and blood pressure
- for more information, visit the cucumber detailed overview from World’s Healthiest Foods
Tomatoes:
- Excellent source of lycopene – an antioxidant found to decrease many cancers as well as heart disease
- Good source of (in descending order): vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin K, molybdenum, potassium, manganese, fiber, chromium, vitamin B1, vitamin B6 and folate
- Aside from preventing a list of cancers, especially of the prostate, they also enhance prostate health, colon health and pancreatic health
- For more information, visit the tomatoes detailed overview from World’s Healthiest Foods
Cranberries:
- Rich in antioxidants and flavonoids which fight free radicals and lower cancer risk
- good source of: vitamin C, fiber, manganese, vitamin K and vitamin E
- provide anti-inflammatory benefits, protect against heart disease and cancer and benefit the digestive tract
- have antimicrobial action and help relieve urinary tact infections, by preventing bacteria from attaching to tissue walls
- for more information, visit the cranberry detailed overview from World’s Healthiest Foods
Pomegranate:
- excellent source of antioxidant polyphenols
- good source of (in descending order): vitamin K, vitamin C, fiber, folate, copper, potassium, manganese, vitamin B1, vitamin B6, vitamin B5, phosphorus, vitamin B2, magnesium,vitamin E, zinc, iron, vitamin B3, calcium and selenium
- helps reduce risk of various cancers, inflammation and cardiovascular disease
- protects against bad cholesterol and helps maintenance of healthy blood pressure
- supports a healthy immune system and enhances overall good health
- for more information, visit the pomegranate nutritional information from NutritionData.com
Coconut:
- provides numerous health promoting qualities in almost all areas of the body
- excellent source of numerous vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients and antioxidants
- provides antimicrobial, antiviral, and antibacterial properties
- is a source of healthy saturated fats in the form of medium chain triglycerides
- for a complete overview, read about the health benefits of coconuts
Hemp Seeds:
- Excellent source of complete and highly digestible protein
- Contain more required amino acids than milk, meat or eggs
- Provide an excellent amount and ratio of omega 3 to omega 6 fatty acids
- A source of: iron, calcium, B vitamins, vitamin D, vitamin A, vitamin E, potassium and phosphorus (Source: Healing Source Hemp)
- Promote weight loss, protective against heart disease, provide enhanced energy and stamina and enhance overall good health
- Excellent for diabetics, those needing to lose weight, athletes and people of all ages
- For more information, visit health benefits of hemp seeds