Here are some great calorie conscieous, healthy salads courtesy of The Draelos Metabolic Center.

• Strawberry Spinach Salad
• Cool Cucumber Salad
• Carrot Salad
• Crunchy Spinach Salad with Mandarin Oranges
• Salmon Salad Medley
  

Strawberry Spinach Salad

(220 calories, 15 g carbs)

• 1 bunch spinach, rinsed
• 10 large strawberries, sliced

Dressing:

• 1 packet sugar substitute
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 cup white wine vinegar
• 1/8 cup olive oil
• 1 tablespoon poppy seed

In a large bowl, mix spinach and strawberries together. For the dressing, add everything except poppy seeds in a food processor. Add the poppy seeds when everything is mixed. Drizzle dressing on top of salad.

(Makes 2 dinner servings)

Cool Cucumber Salad

(148 calories, 6 g carbs)

• 1 large cucumber, peeled and sliced
• ½ red onion, thinly sliced
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
• 3 tablespoons seasoned salt
• Pepper (to taste)

In a medium bowl, toss together cucumber and onions. For the dressing, add the rest of the ingredients in a bowl. Add cucumbers to bowl, cover and refrigerate before serving.

(Makes 3 side servings)

Carrot Salad

(89 calories, 13 g carbs)

• 4 carrots, peeled and shredded
• 1 tart apple, peeled, cored and shredded
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons honey
• ¼ cup almond slivers
• Salt and pepper (to taste)

In a bowl, mix together lemon juice and honey. Then, add carrots, apples and carrot. Toss ingredients together. Chill, then serve.

(Makes 5 side servings)

Crunchy Spinach Salad with Mandarin Oranges

(226 calories, 21 g carbs)

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 ½ tablespoons orange juice
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• ½ tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 bag fresh baby spinach
• 1/2 cup mandarin oranges
• ¼ cup red onion, chopped
• ¼ cup dry roasted peanuts

Combine olive oil, orange juice, lemon juice, honey and brown sugar in a bowl and set aside. In a large bowl, combine spinach, mandarin oranges, onions and nuts. Pour dressing over mixture and taste. Add salt and pepper to taste.

(Makes 3 dinner servings)

Salmon Salad Medley

(380 calories, 24 g carbs)

• 5 cups assorted salad greens
• 12 oz salmon filet
• 1 cup strawberries
• ¼ cup crumbed feta cheese
• ½ cup reduced fat raspberry vinaigrette

Grill or bake salmon, then cut inside bite-size pieces. Place greens in a bowl and chopped fruit into bite sized pieces. Add fruit, salmon and feta cheese to greens. Add raspberry vinaigrette and toss lightly. Optional, for crunchiness, add some nuts on top.

(Makes 4 dinner servings)