Heart-Healthy Summer Recipe: Pear and Walnut Salad
Packed with antioxidants and fiber, this heart-healthy salad is as satisfying as it is guilt-free! Light, refreshing, and low in sodium, it’s the perfect summer meal to enjoy any time.
Summer salads hit different. The veggies are ripe. The fruits are juicy. The leaves are crunchy. There's something to be said about taking a crisp, cool, refreshing bite on a hot summer day. It's simply next level.
This salad right here though, is an absolute powerhouse. The pears are rich in antioxidants like vitamin C, which helps reduce inflammation and improve blood vessel function. The walnuts are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, which have been shown to reduce blood pressure, improve cholesterol levels, and protect against inflammation. And the spinach is exceptionally high in vitamin K, which promotes arterial health, and nitrates, which can help lower blood pressure.
Not to mention, it's super tasty. And that's the most important part, right?
Ingredients:
- 3 cups spinach
- 1 sliced pear
- ½ cup walnuts
- ¼ cup goat cheese
- ¼ cup red onion
- 1 tablespoon fresh-squeezed lemon juice
- ½ cup of your favorite dressing
- 1 chicken breast (optional)
Directions:
- Place your spinach in a bowl big enough to mix all the ingredients into. Slice your pear into thin pieces and chop walnuts and red onion into small pieces.
- Mix sliced pear and walnuts in with the spinach to build the base of the salad.
- Gather a tablespoon of lemon juice and add it into the salad bowl. Additionally, crumble goat cheese on top of the salad.
- Add in any of your favorite dressings and mix the salad together.
- If desired, season and cook 1 chicken breast and add it on top of the salad for a source of protein.
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