Salad In Mason Jars [Make Ahead Meals]

[TammyWright]

Perfect to help you eat right for the new year!

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As I mentioned in an earlier post, I am on a mission to get back to bathing suit shape and am trying to eat more salads. I actually LOVE homemade salads but they can be a little time consuming to put together.  I have tried to clean and chop all the ingredients at the beginning of the week to make my salads but found some of the ingredients got slimy and unappetizing.

It took me about an hour to get all the ingredients cleaned and chopped but you do not have to have as many ingredients.  I happen to like lots of yummies in my salad.

Look at what I got from the Farmer’s Market:

 

So here is how I make my Salad in a Jar.

1. Wash and thoroughly dry mason jars.  I like the wide mouth jars.

2. While jars are drying get your ingredients cleaned, chopped, etc. for assembly.

3. Start assembling your salad in a jar.

The assembly “line”:

 

I like to put them in this order:

1. 2-3 TB salad dressing at the bottom of the jar.  I like to use a Meyer Lemon Dijon Salad Dressing.

2. Then I add pickled, canned or jar items like olives, cornichons, capers, marinated artichoke hears, beans,  etc.

3. Then I add cooked foods like leftover meat, hard-boiled eggs, tuna, roasted beets etc.

4. Then I like to add the fresh vegetable and I put carrots last as a buffer for the lettuce to keep it from getting soggy.   tip: if using fresh tomatoes, I prefer cherry tomatoes because they are not as watery.  If using large tomatoes, cut and let them drain a bit before adding to your jar.

5. Then I put the lettuce, greens.

5. I top with nuts or croutons.

Suggestions for things to put in your salad:

• beans (be sure to rinse and drain them well.  They have a slime on them which you do not want in your salad)


• hard-boiled eggs


• leftover dinner meat (chicken, ham, steak, fish)


• tofu (firm, baked)


• fruit and berries


• nuts (pinenuts, almonds, pecans)


• sunflower seeds


• roasted beets


• capers

[Rainmaker]

Yum!

[CurlyKristen]

OMG! I love this idea! I have seen it on pinterest will have to try it for an easy lunch at work

[nicofio22]

What a great idea!  I am normally rushing in the morning, so my lunch @ works consists of a cereal bar & a piece of fruit! Not so very good for you!

[EmmaBrown]

Looks great- how long before they start going slimy, though?