I’m serving up Detox Salad with Ginger Miso Dressing today. Because, sometimes, you need more vegetables and less whiskey in your life. Sometimes . . . .

Can you believe it is March already?! Whew! I know. Also, am I the only person who extends their less than desirable holiday eating and drinking habits wellllllllll into the New Year?! I’m all pshhh it’s the holidays, let’s chillax and eat and drink all the things . . . and then, like all of a sudden, IT’S MARCH.

I’m really not one for dieting or restricting. I wholeheartedly believe in listening to yourself and focusing on what things you should eat versus what you shouldn’t and not obsessing over the things you do consume that perhaps aren’t the healthiest (helloooo Jake’s Grizzly Fries. Every. Friday. Night this winter). Choose the good, but don’t freak out over the bad. Recognize, accept, move on, and maybe make yourself this detox salad with ginger miso dressing.

Most of the year, it’s easy for me to choose vegetables because, well, they’re growing in our backyard. And they’re awesome and delicious and inspire the crap out of me. However, in winter, it’s like I get a big ol’ case of the f*ck-its since I can’t grow a a dang thing.

Although I’m generally a healthy eater by nature, I have been slightly ignoring my intuition as of late. Now that I’m paying a little more attention to myself, I can hear her loud and clear. She’s currently saying “Guurrrlll, you done ate and drank allllll the things. So let’s make a salad with all the healthy things to detox all the other things, mmmkaaay?” What can I say, she’s more sassy and less sophisticated than moi, ahem.

When I start to feel this way, I like to prep a big old salad on Sunday to eat for lunch the entire week. Cue Detox Salad with Ginger Miso Dressing. Let’s hop into some of the ingredients and why we should feel super awesome sauce for eating them.

Detox Salad with Ginger Miso Dressing

Name: Detox Salad with Ginger Miso Dressing
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 1 cup almonds; 1 tablespoon maple syrup; 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon; pinch of cayenne; 1/3 cup olive oil; 2 –3 tablespoons miso paste; 1 –2 teaspoons vinegar; 1 tablespoon ginger (minced); 1 teaspoon dijon mustard; 1 teaspoon turmeric; S&P; Dark leafy greens; Carrots (sliced thin with a mandolin); Onions (sliced thin with a mandolin); Avocado (sliced); Hemp hearts

Greens

When I’m not growing greens, I buy mixed greens from my local co op which include mizuna, kale, spinach, arugula, chard, frisee, tatsoi, mache, beet greens, oak, and romains. Helloooo dark leafy green goodness. Ya’all these bad boys contain vitamins, minerals, and carotenoids that act as powerhouse antioxidants going battle royale on free radicals in the body. They help lower bad cholesterol, reduce risk for heart disease and some cancers, and promote healthy eyesight, just to name a few.

Carrots

Speaking of eyesight, let’s move onto carrots. Now science says that while eating carrots will not actually improve your eyesight, they do promote eye, liver, and cardiovascular health, as well as provide cancer protection. That said, I just want to state for the record that I might still believe eating them gives you super vision. I hated cooked carrots as a kid. Hated. I know, so much shame. But my middle sister, that rascal loved cooked carrots. Fast forward 25 years, and I’m the only person in my family that has to wear glasses and/or contacts. My sister has better than perfect vision and wears glasses *for fun*. Coincidence? I’ll let you be the judge.

Avocados

OK, so consuming dark leafy greens and carrots are some of the best ways to obtain carotenoids. However, their absence of fat works against absorption in the body. Don’t worry, though, I got your back. By including healthy fats like those found in avocados, we’re getting two to six times the absorption of carotenoids. But wait, that’s not all! Avocados also promote blood sugar control, insulin regulation, weight management, and decreased overall risk of unwanted inflammation. Avocado for the win!

Onion

The humble onion is rich in both common nutrients and unique phytonutrients, has cardiovascular, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory benefits, potential cancer protection, and potential health benefits for skeletal muscle, mitochondrial metabolism, and insulin sensitivity. Who knew?! Wana know some of the best varieties of onions you can grow? Check this out. And that onion in the pic? Yep, I grew that. No big deal.

Almonds

World’s Healthiest Foods tells us that if you’re crazy about your heart, go nuts! Wana know why? Because consuming nuts lowers your risk of cardiovascular and coronary heart disease. That’s why, cow pie! They also help lower bad cholesterol, protect against diabetes, improve blood fats, promote weight loss, increase energy production, and prevent gallstones.

If you want to know more about the health benefits of these ingredients and more, check out whfoods.org. I totally dig them.

Alright, enough chatty Cathy, let’s dig in.

I feel healthier already.

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