Cleaning out the fridge and cupboards has resulted in some easier meals and some new meals have resulted from the pantry purge. In between the insanity of moving and cleaning, we’ve been trying to stay healthy with our meals. I’ve made it a rule to have at least some greens throughout the weeks in the form of big healthy salads, even throughout the craziness.
My husband can only do salads for so long, and I find that adding a protein source helps to keep the salad feeling heavier. My favorite protein to add is quinoa. It’s a great topping or base to most any salad and a complete protein. Adding nuts and seeds is another favorite topping. I don’t go sparingly with the nut, seeds and quinoa either.
There’s been many nights I’ve wanted to order out or pick up something at the store premade, but we’ve held out, and instead I have been fixing some great salads and pasta dishes and eating off of them for a few days. Sometimes the last thing I want to do is cook after a long day.
This Strawberry Avocado Quinoa Salad has been a great change up in our diets. It’s a new taste, with an easy dressing and leaves you feeling full. I love strawberry’s on salads, and always remember my mom’s strawberry poppyseed salad. This is a cleaner version, because it doesn’t have the creamy, high fat poppyseed dressing. I used hemp seeds for a nice crunch and healthy fat, along with the avocado.
You won’t need many ingredients for this salad, but yet it’s full of flavor. The dressing combines olive oil, pepper, crushed garlic and red wine vinegar. The strawberry and avocado offer enough flavor, I personally don’t need the dressing. It’s the perfect salad going into Summer when strawberries are in season. Here in the Inland Northwest they are in season early June.
- 4 cups packed Spring MIx
- 2 cups Baby Kale, Chard & Spinach Mix (or can use 6 cups spring mix)
- 1 c cooked quinoa
- ½ avocado, sliced
- 1½ c sliced strawberries
- 2 Tbs hemp seeds
- Dressing
- 2 Tbs olive oil
- 4 tsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tsp crushed garlic or minced garlic
- pepper to taste
- In large salad bowl, add the spring mix and other greens.
- Top with the avocado, hemp seeds, quinoa and strawberries.
- In small bowl, combine the ingredients needed for the dressing and whisk together.
- Pour dressing over salad before serving and mix through.
- Enjoy
In between my packing up process, I have made sure to include time for my morning runs. It requires an early wake up call, but it’s been so worth it. I find joy in the journey when I start the day with a run. It reminds me that this soon will pass, and we’ll be in our new home before too long. It’s hard work now, but it will be worth it in the end.
It’s hard to remember to be joyful, especially when we seem to find so much to complain about. I love Momentum Jewelry’s motivation wraps and bracelets for this purpose. They remind me to find joy in the journey on a daily basis. It’s kind of like those hard runs, we have to find joy in the pain and heavy legs. I have been looking at the moving process as a long run, with ups and downs, pain and bliss.
We need to learn that in life, it’s not given to us, but we have to earn it. Kind of like I thought I had earned a nice protein bar after my long run on Saturday, but R felt she was more deserving. 😉
If you need more inspiration in your life, visit Momentum Jewelry and check out all the great wraps and bracelets. Chose from some great colors and sayings, or personalize it with whatever saying keeps you motivated. Also, check out the new Sparklets. Sparklet’s are great for wearing in the hair or on your wrist.  I can’t wait to order one!! Also, don’t forget to try the Strawberry Avocado Quinoa Salad. 😉Â
Disclaimer: I am a brand ambassador for Momentum Jewelry. I was not compensated monetarily for this post, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.Â
Until Next Time Be Whole and Be Fit
What keeps you motivated? What’s your favorite salad combination?