Lunchtime can’t get here quick enough when a Make-Ahead Healthy Travel Salad is waiting for you. Not only is this salad bright and colorful, but it’s also loaded with healthy ingredients and texture galore! Your tastebuds will do a little happy dance with every single bite!

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A Make-Ahead Healthy Travel Salad is also naturally gluten-free. Personally, I like to make two salads at a time and store them in the refrigerator overnight. The next morning I grab one as I head out the door to work. An easy, filling, and deliciously healthy lunch option. 

The Base

First, I start with a base of organic, preservative-free, triple-washed spring mix lettuce and greens.

When it’s in season, instead of buying lettuce I make a base of fresh lettuce and spinach from the garden. It’s absolutely the best because it’s straight from the garden, tender and fresh.

Ingredients

Next, I add fresh blueberries, raspberries, chickpeas, pecans, pumpkin seeds, and craisins. Sometimes I add fresh blackberries and a touch of feta cheese, grilled chicken along with a sprinkle of walnuts and/or sunflower seeds. 

It’s easy to swap out ingredients if you aren’t a big fan of one. For example, if you don’t care for chickpeas, simply leave them out. Another option is to substitute chickpeas with black beans or pinto beans. 

Make-Ahead

It seems like I am always a fan of a great make-ahead recipe, probably because I am a planner and it makes my life easier. Since this is the case, I find that it’s nice to keep a supply of meal prep containers on hand. They come in handy and are perfect for sending leftovers home with family or guests.

Disposal meal prep containers are also fabulous for a Make-Ahead Healthy Travel Salad. No mess. No stress! 

Take-Along

Busy weekday mornings seem less hectic because I assemble a couple of salads the night before. The next morning I simply grab a salad from the refrigerator as I head out the door. 

Easy Poppy Seed Dressing 

Easy Poppy Seed Dressing is probably my all-time favorite homemade salad dressing recipe. I keep a small container of it in our compact refrigerator at work for those days when I bring a salad. 

Lunchtime

As you can see, lunchtime is always a treat whenever I have a Make-Ahead Healthy Travel Salad waiting for me! Lunch really doesn’t get much better than this! 

Personally, I think Easy Poppy Seed Dressing is the perfect companion to this yummy salad. Just look at that lush lettuce, fruits, and pecans all covered with poppy seed dressing!!! Yum! 

Yield: 1 Large Salad

Make-Ahead Healthy Travel Salad

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Make this healthy salad ahead of time, then grab and go the next day. Perfect for work, picnics, informal parties, and so much more!

Print

Ingredients

• SALAD
• 4 handfuls of fresh, organic, preservative-free spring mix
• 1/2 cup fresh blueberries
• 1/2 cup fresh raspberries
• 1/2 cup chickpeas
• 1/2 cup organic, raw pecans
• 1/4 cup organic, raw pumpkin seeds
• 1/4 cup craisins
• EASY POPPY SEED DRESSING
• 1 cup mayonnaise (I use gluten-free Spectrum Canola Mayo but feel free to use another GF brand)
• 1/3 cup sugar (or to taste)
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar (I use Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar which is naturally GF)
• pinch of salt
• 1 to 2 teaspoons poppy seeds

Instructions

1. Place lettuce into the bottom of 1 or 2 disposable meal prep salad container(s). (Depending on the size of salad you want to make.)
2. Sprinkle blueberries, raspberries, chickpeas, pecans, pumpkin seeds and craisins over lettuce.
3. Salad Dressing: Place mayonnaise, sugar, apple cider vinegar, salt and poppy seeds into a large measuring cup; whisk until smooth and creamy. To retain the best flavor, store in a sealed glass jar until ready for use. Refrigerate until ready to use.
4. Store container of salad in refrigerator. Keeps well up to 2 - 3 days.

Notes

1 recipe of Easy Poppy Seed Dressing yields approximately 1 1/4 cups.

Travel

Make-Ahead Healthy Travel Salads are also a good option for: 

• picnics
• a day trip to the zoo or park
• pool parties
• an informal luncheon 
• meals for shut-ins
• easy “new mommy” meals
• informal Mother’s Day outing 
• take along on a surprise visit to see someone special
• the possibilities are simply endless! 

What’s your favorite make-ahead meal? 

Linda

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