Spring is salad season!

It's spring, which means it's Salad Season! Salads need not be boring. Adding fruit, nuts and cheese not only improves the taste and texture of salad, but can also raise the nutrient content of your favorite greens. You can also add beans or other high protein foods to make your salad more filling. Mix and match the following ingredients in your next salad. * indicates high glycemic index, limit use.Greens:Vegetables:Bibb lettuceBell peppersMushroomsBoston lettuceCeleryZucchiniIceberg lettuceSugar snap peasRadicchioOnions (green, red, white, yellow)RomaineRadishesSpinachSugar snap peasSpring mixTomatoesFruit: * higher calorie, use in moderation Protein:Apples (Fuji, Gala Granny smith, Jonathan) Beans (black, garbanzo, kidney)*Cherries- driedBeef strips*Craisins, dried cranberriesChicken strips, cottage cheese*Grapes (green, black, red)Edamame (green soybeans)Oranges (mandarin, fresh/Clementines) Eggs, hard boiledPears Fish (salmon, tuna, other)RaisinsTurkey stripsRaspberries, strawberries, blueberriesTextured vegetable protein (bacon bits)Nuts/Seeds (1 tsp. chopped) Cheese (1 tsp. or less)Almonds (chopped, slivered)Blue cheese/gorgonzolaPecansCheddar (2% milk, shredded)Pine nutsFeta cheese (low fat)PistachiosFontina cheesePumpkin seeds Goat cheeseSunflower seeds Mozzarella cheese (2% milk, shredded)Walnuts Shredded Asiago, Parmesan or RomanoClassic balsamic vinaigrette:Ingredients:2 Tbsp. cup olive oil2 Tbsp. Balsamic vinegar1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard¼ tsp. saltWhisk all ingredients together in a bowl. Makes ~1/4 cup dressing (serves 4-6)