Have you jumped on the “Salad in a Jar” bandwagon yet? I don’t know who started this craze, but it’s pure genius. Once you try it, I guarantee it will become a welcome addition to your lunch-packing repertoire.
Why is it so cool? You can fill five jars on Sunday night, refrigerate, and then enjoy healthy lunches all week long no matter how busy your schedule gets; just grab and go. The veggies stay fresh and happy stored this way in tightly capped, glass jars. No worries about BPA or other plastic chemicals. And there’s no fretting about how to pack the dressing because it’s cleverly layered at the bottom of the jar away from the greens.
STEP ONE:
Start by adding your favorite dressing to the bottom of the jar. My “go to” dressing is simple and healthy:
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
• Scant 1/8 tsp of each: pink Himalayan sea salt, garlic powder, dried basil and oregano (you can also wait on the salt and add later, so it doesn’t draw moisture out of the veggies)
Place the dressing ingredients in jar and move on to Step Two.
STEP TWO:
Next add your favorite salad veggies, such as red cabbage, red pepper, cucumbers, olives — include whatever veggies you love and have on hand.
STEP THREE:
Fill with greens, sprouts, chopped fresh herbs. Sprinkle with hemp seeds, sunflower seeds, etc. if desired.
This salad featured our garden arugula and parsley. Both were tucked under row covers this winter and are making an early Spring come back. I also added dandelion greens, cilantro and spinach.
STEP FOUR:
When you’re ready for lunch, simply turn the jar over and let the dressing seep downwards. Shake and either eat right from the jar, or pour into a bowl. Enjoy!
Judy DeLorenzo is a holistic health practitioner, garden foodie, and daycare founder. She completed a 3-year course in Transformational Energy Healing, studied homeopathy, earned a certificate from eCornell in Whole Foods, Plant-Based Nutrition, and is currently studying herbalism through Sage Mountain. Her approach as a holistic health practitioner is to carefully look at the complete picture and suggest solutions that promote the person’s innate ability to self-heal and maintain vibrant health. You can learn more about Judy DeLorenzo and her healing practice at Biofield Healing and find Judy’s blog at A Life Well Planted. Her child care center is called Room To Growin Litchfield, CT. Read all of her MOTHER EARTH NEWS posts here.
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