3 Mason Jar Salads That Are Perfect for Lunch

3 Mason Jar Salads That Are Perfect for Lunch

Some days seem like they are made for salad (especially during warm spring and hot summer days)! Salads are light, tasty and energizing, without weighing you down or making you feel sluggish. But some days, prepping a great salad may seem daunting! One of the easiest ways to eat your greens is to prepare Mason jar salads ahead of time, so theyre ready to go when you are. When youve got a busy schedule, it can be tough to get the essential nutrition your body needs to function optimally. Thankfully, with Mason jar salads, you can have fast food on the go, without all the empty calories, refined carbs, and saturated fat! The real beauty of Mason jar salads is in the technique. They are layered in such a way that your greens stay fresh and crisp without getting soggy. When you empty the salad onto your plate, the greens come out first and the toppings last, making a perfectly composed salad. Just make sure youre packing your Mason jar tightly to prevent your ingredients from moving around too much. You dont want everything to mix and blend until youre ready to eat it. Here are three recipe ideas to get you started: make them over the weekend and store them in your fridge to keep you fueled up for the busy week ahead.

Quinoa and Kale Mason Jar Salad

Quinoa and Kale Mason Jar Salad by www.picklesnhoney.comThis quinoa and kale Mason jar salad is delicious and packed full of nutrients. Loaded up with goodies like parsley, chives, and baby kale, as well as chickpeas and organic tricolor quinoa, this jar supplies an impressive amount of protein for all of you workout junkies. Its also packed with healthy fats and a nice bit of crunch from the olive oil and toasted almond slivers. Salt, pepper, and minced garlic give the dressing an extra kick to complement the lemon juice, with a hint of maple syrup to balance it all out. Dried cranberries complete this dish and add extra texture and sweetness, making it a winner in our book.

Pesto Chicken and Lentil Mason Jar Salad

[caption id="attachment_1168923" align="aligncenter" width="755"]3 Mason Jar Salads That Are Perfect for Lunch | Bob's Red Mill Pesto Chicken and Lentil Mason Jar Salad by www.thekitcheneer.com[/caption] This salad is beautiful perfection. The layers make it look, well . . . good enough to eat! Chunks of chicken are tossed in a yummy homemade pesto sauce created with avocado oil, salt, garlic, lemon juice, and basil, and layered at the bottom of the jar. When stored in the refrigerator, the chicken will marinate overnight and will be bursting with flavor by the time youre ready to eat. This recipe uses cooked lentils tossed in salt and lemon juice for fiber, protein, and nutrients, then layers in veggies like cherry tomatoes and red onion. The final Mason jar topper is fresh spinach. Once you have your salad made, seal it and store it in the fridge for an energizing lunch on a busy day. You can actually make a couple of Mason jar salads at a time, as long as they are sealed and stored well.

Mason Jar Carrot Noodle Salad with Sweet Chili Vinaigrette

If you like Asian seasonings in your salad, than youll love this one. Ingredients like sesame oil, garlic powder, rice vinegar, soy sauce, sweet red chili, maple syrup and sesame seeds give this salad loads of Asian flavor, while spiralized or julienned carrots, roasted red bell pepper, hulled hemp seeds, spinach, and cashews give it tons of texture and nutritional goodness. Hemp seeds are high in protein, plus they are low-carb and rich in vitamin E. Theyre also highly versatile, which is part of what makes them so attractive for salads--we do enjoy the crunch they bring to a good Mason jar salad. You can also blend them into smoothies or use them as oatmeal toppers. The best thing to do is try making all three of these amazing Mason jar salads and pick your favorite for future reference. They store beautifully and make life so much easier, especially for those of you trying to fit in healthier eating options when youre too busy to cook every day. Do you have a favorite Mason jar salad--or a salad youd like to convert to a Mason jar recipe? Post it below!  
Bob's Red Mill
June 18 2018

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