Spring Chicken Salad

Well yes, even though it's still technically spring, it's hit over the 100 degree mark in many of our states by now, so that means most of you are hitting the beaches, lakes, parks, and trails with your kids, grandkids, dogs, and best friends on summer vacation activities.  And even those of us with more than a few decades behind us still want (and need) to keep up with those little ones.  Basically, we all want to feel like... let's say it together... a Spring Chicken!

We have the DESIRE to eat healthy, but it must fit certain criteria, dangit!  We want our meal to taste great, to fill us up, to be visually appealing, to be balanced with textures and flavors - creamy, crunchy, salty, sweet, savory, smooth... you name it - we WANT it!  And oh yes, can it please be healthy?  And for some of us, can it please be gluten free?  Can I make up the components ahead of time and throw it together in the morning?  For the guys - Will it have enough protein to keep my blood sugar level and not feel like something "a girl" would eat?  Can I have my dressing on the side?  Can the dressing multitask and be used for something my kidlets like?   YES!  YES!  YES!  Let's do healthy together.  You're going to love it!

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Salad Ingredients:

Your choice of salad mix

shown is a mix of Romaine and organic spring salad mix

Seasoned and grilled chicken breast, cut into bite-sized chunks

can be made and portioned ahead of time

Dried cranberries

Apples cut into matchsticks

Candied black pepper walnuts

see link to make walnuts or substitute purchased glazed nuts

Herbed goat cheese, crumbled over salad

*Optional grating of Romano cheese over the top

Honey Dijon vinaigrette (recipe below)

Honey Dijon Vinaigrette (yield 7 cups)