I’ve been posting a lot lately about cookies, cakes and cupcakes, so let’s take a break from all the sweets!  The school I teach at has a citrus fruit fundraiser every year, which means that I end up with a box of grapefruit and oranges that I’m not 100% sure what to do with.  At first I devour them excitedly, but by week two I need to switch things up.

Here’s my salad solution.  All you’ll need is fresh lettuce, oranges and or grapefruit, sliced almonds, dried cranberries, and sunflower seeds.  I’ve made it as a side salad (perfect for potluck!!), then added in chicken and avocado to make it more of a meal.

The vinaigrette is simple: citrus syrup (or some of the juice of a grapefruit or orange), balsamic vinegar, and oil.  Chop up your lettuce, peel and slice your citrus, throw it all together, and you’re done.  I like making this vegetarian version for potluck.  It’s simple, quick, and uses up a few more of those delicious oranges and grapefruits.

Grill some chicken breast and slice up avocado.  Add it to your original side salad to make it a meal that will fill you up until supper.  Pre-grilled chicken breast slices are a big help if you find yourself short on time.

This has been my go-to salad at lunch time and I’m loving it!  Now if only I could get my son to eat this. . .

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It can be easy to get into a lunch time rut.  What is your favourite lunch time salad?  I’d love to hear from you in the comments.

Kristen Raney

Kristen is a former farm kid turned urban gardener who owns the popular gardening website, Shifting Roots.  She is obsessed with growing flowers and pushing the limits of what can be grown in her zone 3b garden.  She also loves to grow tomatoes, but oddly enough, dislikes eating them raw.