Ounce for ounce, spinach gives red meat a run for its money when it comes to iron and muscle building potential.

Being a green leafy vegetable, it is packed full of vitamins and minerals like calcium, folic acid, vitamins K and C and, of course, iron. Add the antioxidant power of strawberries and the Omega-3 of walnuts and this salad becomes a healthy, hearty meal.

Besides being a nutritional powerhouse full of fiber, carotenoids, lutein and bioflavanoids, spinach is good for osteoporosis, heart disease, colon cancer, arthritis, and other diseases. It also fills you up without the calories.

One of the most popular and easiest ways to prepare spinach is in a salad.

Chicken Spinach Salad

• 1 bag baby spinach
• ¼ cup walnut halves
• ¼ cup fresh strawberries, sliced
• ¼ cup diced red pepper
• ¼ cup crumbled light goat cheese
• 2 grilled skinless chicken breasts, diced or julienne

Dressing

• ¼ cup red wine vinegar
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp honey
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 garlic clove
• ¼ teaspoon chili pepper (optional)
• 1 tsp fresh ground black pepper
• ½ cup olive oil

Preparation

Mix together the dressing ingredients. Add spinach to a large salad bowl and layer with walnuts, strawberries, red pepper and grilled chicken. Crumble the goat cheese over top and drizzle with dressing. Toss together and serve. Here’s a tip – instead of using baby spinach, buy the regular spinach and tear it up into smaller bite-size pieces — way cheaper.

Serves 5

Nutritional Facts Per Serving

Calories: 348
Protein: 18 g (72 cal)
Fat: 24 g (216 cal)
Carbohydrate: 15 g (60 cal)

Tags: spinach

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