You can vary the ingredients on this any way you want, but this is just one of my all time favorites. I call it the Perfect Summer Salad because most of the ingredients are more available during the summer months. Note that this salad includes fruit and vegetables. Don't be hesitant to add the two together, they really provide a delicious dish.

Servings for four people:

Ingredients:

½ head of iceberg lettuce, chopped

1 cup fresh baby spinach leaves

1 large tomato diced or 10 cherry tomatoes cut in half

¼ canteloupe peeled and diced

½ purple onion diced

½ cup black olives sliced

3 or 4 large fresh mushrooms diced

1 green pepper diced ( you can use red or yellow peppers instead of or with the green pepper)

1 fresh carrots, peeled and diced

½ brick of monterey jack, colby, munster or mozzarella cheese, cut in small cubes

½ basket fresh strawberries, sliced

1 cup fresh green or red seedless grapes, cut in half

Directions:

please be sure to wash all of your vegetables very well. Even though they are fresh, they may have been sprayed with insecticide on their journey from the field to the truck to the store. Also, since they sit in the bins at the stores, multiple hands have handled them.

Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl

For salad dressing, I find that Olive Oil Sun Dried Tomato or Olive Oil Vinegarette works well. Olive oil is very good for you, and you can find many varieties of these dressings, which are low cal and made from natural ingredients on your grocers shelves. Just make sure you read the labels. Youcan also use Ranch or Raspberry Vinegarette. You may also make your own dressings.

Other ideas for additives to this salad include mandarin oranges, sliced or cubed apples, orange slices, pear chunks or pineapple chunks. What ever you decide to add, I am sure you will find this salad not just low calorie and delicious, but a new, fresh tasty dish. It can be used as the whole meal, I do.