The BEST Summer Salad for Weight Loss

Is there anything as refreshing and delicious as a summer salad? With so much great produce in season right now, it's no wonder that you're more likely to crave fruits and veggies. But the same ingredients that make a great salad also have something else in common: They can help promote weight loss—especially when combined with lean protein and other high-fiber ingredients.

This salad in particularly is perfect if you're trying to drop a few pounds; it's loaded with high-protein chickpeas and fiber-packed vegetables to keep you feeling full all the way until your next meal. (The total stats on the salad come to a whopping 16 grams of protein and 15.1 grams of fiber!) It's dressed with just a dash of olive oil and balsamic vinegar—so you'll feel satisfied without feeling weighed down. Plus, it couldn’t be easier to make. This is definitely going to become one of your lunchtime go-to's.

The Best Summer Salad for Weight Loss
Serves 1

1 cup mixed greens or arugula
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup corn
1 cup chickpeas
1/4 cup red onion, diced
1/2 cup cucumber, diced
1/2 cup bell pepper (any color you like), diced
1 tsp olive oil
1 tsp balsamic vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste

Toss all ingredients in bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Nutritional Info Per Serving: 382 calories, 9.8 g fat (1.3 g saturated), 348 mg sodium, 64 g carbs, 15.1 g fiber, 20.2 g sugar, 16 g protein

Anjali Shah is a food writer, board-certified health coach, and writer of The Picky Eater, a healthy food and lifestyle blog. She grew up a "whole wheat" girl, but married a "white bread" kind of guy. Hoping to prove that nutritious food can actually be delicious, she taught herself how to cook and successfully transformed his eating habits from frozen pizzas to healthy, flavorful recipes. Through her blog, she shares her passion for tasty, healthy cooking with simple, wholesome ingredients. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Google+.

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