Who Needs Lettuce? 5 Salads Without Greens!

Tell someone you’re trying to lose weight, and often they’ll assume all you’re eating is lettuce―lots and lots of lettuce. While it’s important that you eat your leafy greens because they’re packed with nutrients your body needs, they don’t have to be the only thing on your plate. In fact, there are plenty of diet-friendly meals you can make that don’t include that green stuff at all. Here are 5 tasty salads that leave the lettuce behind:

1. Watermelon Strawberry Summer Salad

Total time: Fewer than 5 minutes
Number of Servings: 2
On Nutrisystem, Counts As: 1 SmartCarb and 1 PowerFuel

Ingredients:
• 1/2 cup cooked quinoa
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh watermelon
• 1/2 cup strawberries, quartered
• 2 tablespoons sliced almonds
• 1/4 cup fat-free feta cheese crumbles
• Red wine vinegar (to taste)
• Basil (to taste)

Directions:
1. Combine all ingredients, topping with basil
2. Cover and chill in fridge before enjoying (optional)

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2. Cool as a Cucumber Salad

Total time: Fewer than 5 minutes
Number of Servings: 2
On Nutrisystem, Counts As: 2 Vegetables

Ingredients:
• 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
• 2 cups peeled and thinly sliced English cucumbers
• 1 cup red onion, thinly sliced
• 1 cup white onion, thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
• Pinch of salt (optional)

Directions:
1. Blend vinegar, salt and sweetener in a large bowl
2. Combine cucumbers, onion and dill and toss in dressing mixture
3. Cover and chill in fridge before enjoying (optional)

3. Refreshing Fruit Salad

Total time: Fewer than 5 minutes
Number of Servings: 4
On Nutrisystem, Counts As: 1 SmartCarb, 1 PowerFuel and 1 Extra

Salad Ingredients:
• 1 medium banana, sliced
• 1 cup fresh blueberries
• 1 cup fresh strawberries, sliced
• 1 cup seedless green grapes, halved
• ¼ cup slivered almonds

Dressing Ingredients:
• 2 cups plain, non-fat Greek yogurt
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions:
1. Combine all dressing ingredients in a bowl and stir until blended
2. Combine salad ingredients and pour dressing mixture over top

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4. Grapefruit Scallop Salad

Total time: About 10 minutes
Number of Servings: 4
On Nutrisystem, Counts As: 1 SmartCarb, 1 Vegetable, 1 PowerFuel and 1 Extra

Ingredients:
• 2 large red grapefruits
• 4 plums, sliced
• 4 cups fennel bulb, thinly sliced
• 3/4 cup fresh parsley
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 12 ounces sea scallops
• Salt and pepper (to taste)

Directions:
1. Peel and section grapefruit, then squeeze membranes to extract 1/2 cup juice; set juice aside
2. Combine grapefruit, plums, fennel and parsley in medium bowl
3. Add 2 teaspoons of oil and toss. Add a sprinkle of salt (if desired)
4. Heat remaining 1 teaspoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat
5. Lightly sprinkle scallops with salt and freshly ground black pepper, then add to pan
6. Cook scallops for about 2 minutes on each side, then remove from pan; cover to keep warm
7. Add reserved grapefruit juice to pan; cook until reduced to 1/4 cup (about 2 minutes), then remove from heat
8. Divide fennel mixture and scallops in 4 servings; top each with 1 tablespoon reduced grapefruit juice

5. Southwestern Chicken Salad

Total time: Fewer than 5 minutes
Number of Servings: 2
On Nutrisystem, Counts As: 1 PowerFuel, 3 Vegetables, 1 SmartCarb and 2 Extras

Salad Ingredients:
• 4 ounces grilled chicken breast
• 2 cups shredded green cabbage
• 1/2 cup black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 cup chopped red bell peppers
• 2 cups diced cherry tomatoes
• 1/2 cup corn
• 1 cup diced red onions

Dressing Ingredients:
• 1 cup fresh cilantro, stems removed and roughly chopped
• 1/4 avocado
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (about 1/2 lime)
• 1-2 garlic cloves
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
• Pinch of salt (to taste)

Directions:
1. Puree all dressing ingredients in blender until smooth
2. Combine remaining ingredients and stir
3. Toss with dressing