How to create the perfect summer salad

I discovered what a tasty, crowd-pleaser this combination was back when I offered healthy-eating food demos at Whole Foods. It seemed that no matter what combination of ingredients I put together, customers always loved it. So much so that I often sold out of the ingredients. As soon as it starts getting warmer, I crave salads. And this combination wins out very often. So what is the winning combo, you ask? It’s simple. You pair:

1. Seasonal fruit

2. Cheese (or avocado if you prefer to keep it non-dairy)

3. Nut or seed

4. Baby greens

5. Viniagrette

Some of my favorite combinations are:

• Strawberries, feta, candied pecans, spinach, balsamic vinaigrette (seen in the pic above)

• Blueberries, goat cheese, toasted walnuts, arugula, lemon vinaigrette

• Peaches, mozzarella, sliced almonds, arugula, balsamic vinaigrette *add tomatoes and basil to bump it up

• Apples, small chunks of cheddar, pumpkin seeds, mixed greens, apple cider vinaigrette

Add your favorite grilled meat and you have a meal! What about you? Do you like this savory/sweet combination?