Think of a salad as a great opportunity to meet the recommendations of the Food Guide Pyramid. For example, you should be eating three to five servings of vegetables daily, which translates to a half-cup each of such foods as broccoli, carrots, kale or red bell pepper slices. Most people have a hard time eating enough vegetables. Nibbling on raw veggies or having a serving of plain steamed ones may not be appealing. However, a salad with sauteed or steamed vegetables can be interesting.
Whole grains are another category in which people fall short.
You may have no trouble eating six or more servings of white bread or pasta or breakfast cereal, but grains, such as oats, whole wheat and barley, are another story. Whole grains have a much livelier flavor when dressed and served in a salad. The following recipe for Asian-Style Noodle Salad is delicious and satisfying. The piquant dressing is low in fat, as the Food Guide Pyramid suggests. Intensely flavored sesame oil mixed with rice vinegar, ginger and soy sauce provide plenty of punch for the noodle, chicken and vegetable combination.