Experts have said it before, and they’ll say it again: Eating a big, colourful salad for one meal a day, especially dinner, is one of the best things you can do for your health — and your waistline.
Salad leaves are especially low in calories because they mostly contain water; at the same time, thanks to their volume, they help most people feel full — ideal for those who are trying to keep tabs on their weight, according to the German Centre for Nutrition.
Some good advice to follow is that the more colourful the salad, the better it is for you, as the different vegetables and salad greens offer correspondingly diverse nutritional values. These could include everything from vitamin B and folic acid to calcium and magnesium.
Salads that make use of chicory, radicchio or endive are especially nutritious, though these greens generally taste a little bitter and are not to everyone’s liking. It’s possible to reduce the unpleasant notes by removing the core and thicker leaves, as well as using the right dressing — something with yogurt or a strong vinaigrette. – dpa
