When it comes to eating healthy, it’s the meal preparation that kills your healthy diet plan. Especially for moms and working ladies. We don’t have the luxury of creating salads every day.

And there go our plans of contributing much to the healthy fit Facebook group, right?

Prepping your salad jar beforehand is a great idea. When you have your salad jar waiting to be opened, you’re more likely to follow your track.

To be honest, it’s not too difficult. You can create your entire week’s Mason Jar Salad’s with just a little knowledge and my favorite 5 Mason Jar Salad recipes.

Mason Jar Salad Basics

Choose your mason jar

Mason Jars are perfect for your salads as they keep your salad fresher and healthier compared to plastic jars. Plus, they are Instagram-friendly. Select a size appropriate to your food portions. There are a lot of sizes available on the market right now. If you choose a bigger one, you might end up overeating. If the jar’s too small, your stomach won’t be full and you probably indulge in snacks later on. For the first time, prepare your salad in your usual salad bowl and transfer it into the Mason jar to find the best size for your Mason Jar Salad.

 

Layering is the key

Getting your layering wrong is a deal breaker for your Mason Jar Salad. Since you’re preparing your salad to eat later on, you don’t want your salad to get soggy if the dressing is absorbed earlier. Start with the dressing. Putting the dressing first means that it comes right on top when you dump it into your salad bowl. Then add in the non-absorbent hard veggies like cucumbers, cauliflowers, bell peppers, carrots etc. Soft veggies like tomatoes, avocados, corn, and onions come in next. Time to add in the proteins: hard-boiled eggs, chicken, bacon, beans, cheese etc. The last part is the leafy greens. Sprinkle in slivered almonds, walnuts, pecans and seeds for added measure.

 

Buy Fresh and Organic

The secret of keeping your Mason Jar Salad fresh even a week later is buying the freshest veggies. Skip the marked down vegetables and go for the premium ones. If you can spend the extra dollar, buy organic. Organic vegetables are free from pesticides that can be harmful to your body. Also, organic food contains more minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants. The added benefits of organic easily justify the cost.

 

Keep Your Jars Straight

After you have placed your ingredients in the jar, place it upright in your refrigerator; if you want to enjoy the fresh salad taste. Tilting the jar can get the dressing to touch your greens. You’ll be disappointed with a soggy salad when you take it out.

 

5 Easy Mason Jar Salad Recipes

 

Grilled Chicken Mason Jar Salad Recipe

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon Italian Dressing (or any dressing of choice)

100 gm chicken

¼ cup sliced onions

8 cherry tomatoes halved

½ avocado diced

1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce

Method:

Start with your dressing. Add in the tomatoes, followed by the onions and avocado. Place the chicken. Top it with the iceberg lettuce.

 

Veggie Mason Jar Salad Recipe

Ingredients

3 tablespoon Greek Yogurt  Dressing

4 cucumber slices cut lengthwise

2 carrot slices cut lengthwise

4 celery slices cut lengthwise

Method

Pour the dressing into the Mason Salad Jar. Place the vegetables standing in the mason jar.

 

Burrito Mason Jar Salad Recipe

Ingredients

2 tablespoon lemon juice

1 cloves of chopped garlic

2 tablespoon chopped cilantro

1/4 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 chopped jalapeno

½ cup thinly sliced radishes

1/2 cup onions

5 cherry tomatoes halved

4 cups romaine lettuce

100 gm chicken breast

1/2 cup black beans

1/2 cup cooked quinoa

Method

Blend cilantro, garlic, and jalapeno in a blender. Add lemon juice and oil. Add the dressing to the Mason Jar. Follow up with sliced radishes. Continue with onions and tomatoes. Place in the chicken, black beans, and quinoa. End the jar with romaine lettuce.

 

Turkey Salad Mason Jar Recipe

Ingredients

2 tablespoon Parmesan vinaigrette dressing

1 cup turkey slices

1 hard-boiled eggs

¼ cup sliced cucumber

1/2 cup diced tomato

4 cup iceberg lettuce

Method

Start with the dressing. Place the sliced cucumbers over the dressing. Follow up with the diced tomatoes. Continue with the turkey slices and the hard-boiled eggs. End with iceberg lettuce.

 

Mediterranean Salad Mason Jar Recipe

Ingredients

2 tablespoon Greek Dressing

½ cup chopped cucumbers

½ cup thinly sliced red and yellow bell peppers

6 halved cherry tomatoes

½ cup chopped onions

½ cup feta cheese

6 pitted olives

Method:

Start with the Greek Dressing. Put the cucumbers, red and yellow bell peppers. Add the tomatoes and the onions. Follow up with the olives and the feta cheese.

 

Tip for Newbie Salad Mason Jar Makers:  Double or even triple the portions to make your mason jar salad ahead of time. You can even make them over the weekend to take to lunch next week.

Remain on track of your healthy eating goals, like Selbanna Wellness on Facebook.

 

About Safaa Elbanna

Safaa Elbanna is a certified Homeopath and Skincare Practitioner. Safaa  helps busy working ladies to avoid the aging effect of physical and mental stress, especially on the skin through natural homeopathy medicines and techniques