Salads have gotten a certain reputation for being unsatisfying “rabbit food” that you’d only bother eating if you were trying to lose weight. However, your salad is as powerful as you make it, and with so much variety at your fingertips, the sky’s the limit.

The best thing about salads is that you can add whatever you like to them, depending on your nutrient needs and tastes. To fuel your workouts, pack as much protein into your salads as possible. This means adding lean beef, chicken, tofu, beans, lentils, broccoli, nuts, and seeds to those leafy greens.

Salads are also a great way to sneakily get your daily dose of fruits and vegetables without having to eat each piece of produce on its own. Cut up and toss in carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, and any other vegetable or fruit you like.

And if you’re still concerned about your salad having enough protein, you can also add a powerful punch with your dressing. Skip the fatty, creamy ranch dressing and make your own with Challenger Nutrition’s liquid amino acids. Amino acids liquid plays a key role in building muscle and strength and repairing muscle tissue, and they’re a great addition to any meal.

After our protein-packed salad ingredients listed below, we’ve also included an ideal protein salad dressing to add even more protein to your lunch and a delicious fruity flavor too.

Salad Ingredients:

  • 1 tbsp. olive oil
  • 10 chopped baby carrots
  • ½ cup chopped red cabbage
  • 1 cup arugula
  • 8 oz. chicken, cubed
  • ¼ cup garbanzo beans
  • 2 tsp. walnuts

Dressing Ingredients:

  • 3 tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 tbsp. Challenger Nutrition liquid amino acid, peach-mango flavor
  • 1 tbsp. balsamic vinegar

Directions:

  • Pour olive oil in a non-stick pan and cook chicken on the stove
  • Chop carrots and cabbage
  • Toss arugula, carrots, and cabbage in a large bowl
  • Add chicken, beans, and sunflower seeds
  • Combine dressing ingredients and shake or stir
  • Drizzle with amino acid dressing
  • Enjoy!