MyPlate Salad

MyPlate Salad

Download Handout Spanish Handout
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients:
  • ½ bunch dark green leafy lettuce, gently rubbed under cold running water
  • 1 tomato, gently rubbed under cold running water, chopped
  • 1 carrot, scrubbed with clean vegetable brush under running water, chopped or shredded
  • 1 cucumber, scrubbed with clean vegetable brush under running water, chopped
  • ¼ cup raisins
  • 1 apple, gently rubbed under cold running water, cored and chopped
  • ½ cup cooked ham or turkey, cubed
  • ½ cup cheese, shredded
  • low-fat salad dressing (optional)

Directions:

  1. Wash hands with soap and water.
  2. Tear lettuce into bite-sized pieces. Place in a large bowl.
  3. Add remaining ingredients and mix.
  4. Gently mix with your favorite dressing, if desired.
  5. Serve with whole grain bread and you have all 5 food groups!
  6. Store leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to four days.

Nutrition Information:

  • Serving Size (1/4 of recipe):
  • Calories: 120
  • Total Fat: 5g
  • Saturated Fat: 3g
  • Cholesterol: 15mg
  • Sodium: 140mg
  • Total Carbohydrates: 14g
  • Fiber: 2g
  • Protein: 5g
  • Vitamin A: 45%
  • Vitamin C: 15%
  • Calcium: 10%
Beet, Walnut and Goat Cheese Salad
Photo by Marusa Jonas

Beet, Walnut and Goat Cheese Salad

Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients:
  • 6 medium or 3 large beets
  • 1 cup walnuts, chopped
  • ¼ pound salad greens
  • 4 ounces goat cheese
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 Tablespoon finely chopped sweet onion, finely chopped
  • Dash of salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions:

  1. Wash hands with soap and water.
  2. Cut off all but 1 to 2 inches of the beet stems and leave the root on the bottom. This helps retain the flavor and minimizes the amount of color that bleeds out during cooking.
  3. Gently wash the beets, trying not to break the skin. Place beets in a large saucepan and cover with cold water. Cover saucepan, and bring water to a boil. Then, reduce heat and simmer until beets are tender. Small beets may cook in as little as 20 minutes
  4. Plunge beets into cold water to cool. Rub the skins off with your hands — it may work best to do this under running water. Wearing clean, kitchen gloves will prevent your hands from becoming stained.
  5. Toast the walnuts in a dry skillet at medium heat for 3 - 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove them immediately when they become fragrant and just begin to darken.
  6. Gently wash salad greens under cool running water. If salad greens are marked "pre-washed" or "ready-to-eat", use without further washing.
  7. Combine the salad greens and the walnuts. Make the salad dressing by combining the olive oil, vinegar, mustard, onion, salt and pepper. Shake in a small jar with a tightly closed lid or mixing with a wire whip until the dressing becomes thick and creamy.
  8. Reserve about 2 tablespoons of the salad dressing. Mix the rest of the dressing with the salad greens and walnuts. In a separate bowl, combine the reserved dressing with the beets.
  9. Arrange the salad greens on 4 to 6 salad plates. Top with the beets. Crumble the goat cheese on top. Serve soon after plating.
Notes:

Beet salads often command a fairly high price in restaurants. However, they are easy to make and many of the steps can be done earlier in the day such as cooking and refrigerating the beets, toasting the walnuts and preparing the salad dressing.

If you don't care for goat cheese, this salad also tastes great without it or substitute another type of cheese.

Nutrition Information:

  • Calories: 280
  • Total Fat: 25g
  • Saturated Fat: 5g
  • Cholesterol: 10mg
  • Sodium: 150mg
  • Total Carbohydrates: 9g
  • Fiber: 3g
  • Protein: 7g
  • Calcium: 6%
  • Potassium: 6%
Nutrition Software Used: ESHA Food Processor
Cheeseburger Lettuce Wraps
Photo by Marusa Jonas

Cheeseburger Lettuce Wraps

Download Handout Spanish Handout
Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients:
  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1/2 cup onion, scrubbed with clean vegetable brush under running water, diced
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 3 Tablespoons low-fat Thousand Island salad dressing (optional)*
  • 8 Bibb or Romaine lettuce leaves, gently rubbed under cold running water
  • 1/2 cup tomatoes, gently rubbed under cold running water, diced
  • 1/2 cup low-fat Cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1/4 cup dill pickles, chopped

Directions:

  1. Wash hands with soap and water.
  2. In a large skillet, cook the beef and onion over medium-high heat until meat is browned and reaches an internal temperature of 160 °F on a food thermometer. Drain fat.
  3. Add garlic, salt, and pepper (if using) and cook for 1 minute. Remove from heat. Stir in salad dressing.
  4. Place lettuce leaves on a plate or serving dish. Spoon meat mixture into lettuce leaves. Top with tomatoes, cheese, and pickles.
  5. Store leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to four days.
Notes:

* Your favorite condiment can be used in place of Thousand Island dressing.

Nutrition Information:

  • Serving Size (1/8 of recipe):
  • Calories: 150
  • Total Fat: 8g
  • Saturated Fat: 3.5g
  • Cholesterol: 55mg
  • Sodium: 310mg
  • Total Carbohydrates: 2g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Protein: 16g
  • Calcium: 6%
  • Potassium: 6%
Nutrition Software Used: ESHA Food Processor