Building a Better Salad

It's much more than lettuce and dressing.

Healthy Diet - Cultivating a balanced diet helps build strong cells and healthy breast tissue and plays a vital role in maintaining breasts perkiness.   (Photo: Tim Pannell/Corbis)

1 / 10

Not All Salads Are Created Equal - There seems to be this belief that eating salads are great for you — but that depends on what you put in it. Some salads can have as many calories and fat as a Big Mac. Here are some tips on how to make your next salad work for you. By Kellee Terrell  (Photo: Tim Pannell/Corbis)

The Greener, the Better - The greener the leaves, the more nutritious they are. So skip on whiter iceberg lettuce and opt for spinach, arugula or kale.  (Photo: Chalotte Observer/MCT /Landov)

2 / 10

The Greener, the Better - The greener the leaves, the more nutritious they are. So skip on whiter iceberg lettuce and opt for spinach, arugula or kale.  (Photo: Chalotte Observer/MCT /Landov)

Cheese Please - Yes, cheese is delicious and which one you choose can be the difference between 150-250 extra calories. Consider lower fat cheeses like goat cheese or feta cheese.  (Photo: Inti St Clair/Blend Images)

3 / 10

Cheese Please - Yes, cheese is delicious and which one you choose can be the difference between 150-250 extra calories. Consider lower fat cheeses like goat cheese or feta cheese.  (Photo: Inti St Clair/Blend Images)

Add More 'Good' Fats - Remember, your body needs fat...but only the good kind. Opt for adding avocados to your salads. They help burn belly fat and are good for your heart.  (Photo: Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images for Girl Behind the Camera)

4 / 10

Add More 'Good' Fats - Remember, your body needs fat...but only the good kind. Opt for adding avocados to your salads. They help burn belly fat and are good for your heart.  (Photo: Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images for Girl Behind the Camera)

172158045

5 / 10

Don’t Forget Your Veggies - Salads are a good way of getting in more servings of your veggies. So opt for cherry tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, mushrooms and bell peppers. They are low in calories, but can fill you up.  (Photo: GettyImages) 

ADVERTISEMENT
Egg-cellent - Opt for a hardboiled egg the next time you make a salad. They are high in protein and vitamin D. FYI: Only eat one to reduce the amount of cholesterol you are consuming.  (Photo: Image Source/Corbis)

6 / 10

Egg-cellent - Opt for a hardboiled egg the next time you make a salad. They are high in protein and vitamin D. FYI: Only eat one to reduce the amount of cholesterol you are consuming.  (Photo: Image Source/Corbis)

Eat Better - You really are what you eat, so if your hair hasn’t ever grown past your ears in the past five years, perhaps your diet is to blame. It’s easy: eat less crap and eat more protein, fruits and veggies. You know, real food! (Photo: David Papazian/Corbis)

7 / 10

Meat Matters - Ham, bacon bits and other meats you see at the salad bar can be high in sodium, fat and calories. If you must, pick lean meats like turkey or grilled salmon instead. (Photo: BRETT STEVENS/Corbis)

Croutons Don’t Care About You - You don’t need croutons on your salad — they are high in cholesterol and calories. Get your crunch from something else like nuts, veggies or low-sodium crackers. (Photo: BRETT STEVENS/Corbis)

8 / 10

Croutons Don’t Care About You - You don’t need croutons on your salad — they are high in cholesterol and calories. Get your crunch from something else like nuts, veggies or low-sodium crackers. (Photo: BRETT STEVENS/Corbis)

168354029,x-default

9 / 10

Nuts Can Be Your Nemesis - Nuts are good for you, but be mindful of how much you use and which ones you eat. Be easy with the almonds and stay away from candied nuts — too much sugar and too many calories. (Photo: GettyImages)

Dressing Disasters - Drowning your salads in dressing is the biggest salad faux pas you can commit. Throw the deuces to ranch and blue cheese and choose to make your own dressing with healthy oils and vinaigrettes.  (Photo: TOHRU MINOWA/a.collectionRF/amanaimages/Corbis)

10 / 10

Dressing Disasters - Drowning your salads in dressing is the biggest salad faux pas you can commit. Throw the deuces to ranch and blue cheese and choose to make your own dressing with healthy oils and vinaigrettes.  (Photo: TOHRU MINOWA/a.collectionRF/amanaimages/Corbis)