Triple Berry Summer Salad is the perfect salad recipe for the summer! Packed with three types of berries, avocado, red onion, optional crunchy walnuts, all coated in a creamy balsamic dressing. This salad is the perfect way to take advantage of the fresh berry season! AIP, paleo, low-carb & plant-based.
Triple berry salad and I go way back to the days when I would travel to Florida with my dad and step-mom, and we’d enjoy lunch and drinks at our go-to poolside restaurant. Not a lunch passed where I didn’t make sweet love to a delicious triple berry salad with salmon or chicken.
Since my favourite salad is a plane ride away, I decided to not only re-create it, but also modify it slightly to make it AIP, paleo & plant-based friendly. So now you and I can enjoy this healthy salad at home, any time!
This simple and fresh summer salad makes for a delicious meal with the addition of meat or fish (my favourites are chicken and salmon). You can also serve this salad as a lighter lunch option or at the beginning or end of a meal.
What makes this Triple Berry Summer Salad so great …
It’s packed with antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables.
You can use whichever berries you desire or whatever you have on hand. Also, no need to use three varieties, one or two will work too.
It’s dairy free, but still creamy and delicious thanks to avocado, which is loaded with healthy fats and fiber.
If you’re following an AIP diet, this recipe can be easily modified by omitting nuts and black pepper. If you want added crunch, try crushed toasted coconut chips, tiger nuts or bee pollen.
You can dress this salad however you like. My creamy balsamic dressing is delicious, but feel free to keep it simple with just olive oil & balsamic vinegar. A homemade raspberry vinaigrette or poppy seed dressing would work great as well.
Simply add chicken, salmon or another protein to make it an easy and complete meal.
Triple Berry Summer Salad is the perfect salad recipe for the summer! Packed with three types of berries, avocado, red onion, optional crunchy walnuts, all coated in a creamy balsamic dressing. This salad is the perfect way to take advantage of the fresh berry season! AIP, paleo, low-carb & plant-based friendly.
10ozmixed salad greens, I use organic spring mix in a container
1cup strawberries, sliced
1cupblueberries
1cupblackberries, or raspberries
1avocado, cut into chunks
1/4red onion, thinly sliced
1/3cupchopped walnuts or other nut, (omit for AIP version)
Creamy Balsamic Dressing
1chunkavocado, roughly 2" x 2"
1smallgarlic clove
1/3cupextra virgin olive oil
1/3cupbalsamic vinegar
1tbsphoney
1/4tspdried oregano or basil
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/4tspblack pepper, (omit for AIP version)
Instructions
Place mixed salad greens in a large bowl.
Add berries, avocado, onion and walnuts on top.
Using a food processor or blender, combine salad dressing ingredients until smooth and creamy.
Add creamy balsamic dressing to the salad and toss until evenly coated.
Serve at the beginning or end of a meal OR add meat or fish to this salad for a complete meal.
Notes
You can use whichever berries you desire or whatever you have on hand. Also, no need to use three varieties, one or two will work too.
If you're following an AIP diet, this recipe can be easily modified by omitting nuts and black pepper. If you want added crunch, try crushed toasted coconut chips, tiger nuts or bee pollen.
You can dress this salad however you like. My creamy balsamic dressing is delicious, but feel free to keep it simple with just olive oil & balsamic vinegar. A homemade raspberry vinaigrette or poppy seed dressing would work great as well.
Simply add chicken, salmon or another protein to make it an easy and complete meal.
Caprese Salad with creamy avocado is delicious and so easy to make! This salad is the ultimate way to enjoy fresh, ripe summer tomatoes & basil!
A classic caprese salad is made with very few ingredients–mozzarella, tomatoes, basil and olive oil. I decided to put a spin on this classic dish by removing the dairy (a common food allergen) and replacing it with creamy & nutrient-rich avocado.
Now this fresh Italian salad can be enjoyed by those following a dairy free, paleo or plant-based diet!
How to make a caprese salad
It’s real simple… start by slicing the tomatoes. Feel free to use tomatoes that are different shapes, sizes and colours.
Then slice the avocados, keeping them similar in thickness to the tomatoes. Arrange one slice of tomato then overlap with one slice of avocado around the outside of a plate (or however you choose).
You can incorporate whole fresh basil leaves into the layers or scatter freshly torn basil on top.
Lastly, finish this dish with a good drizzle of high-quality olive oil and sea salt or add even more flavour with a homemade dairy free pesto.
Important tips for making a caprese salad
Find the freshest, ripe locally grown tomatoes
Use a high-quality extra virgin olive oil
Use fresh basil
Find ripe avocados for more creaminess
What you need for Avocado Caprese Salad:
Tomatoes
Avocado
Fresh basil
Extra virgin olive oil
Pair this salad with one of my dairy & gluten free Italian main dishes …
Caprese Salad with creamy avocado is delicious and so easy to make. This salad is the ultimate way to enjoy fresh, ripe summer tomatoes & basil! I decided to put a spin on this classic dish by removing the dairy (a common food allergen) and replacing it with creamy & nutrient-rich avocado. Now this fresh Italian salad can be enjoyed by those following a dairy free, paleo or plant-based diet!
Mediterranean Tuna Salad is the perfect quick and healthy lunch recipe! It’s super easy to prepare with just 6 simple ingredients needed and zero cooking time. This delicious salad recipe is paleo, low-carb, keto and can be made AIP by substituting tomatoes for cucumbers, olives or avocado.
DID YOU KNOW? Tuna fish is right up there with other healthy types of fish, such as salmon, when it comes to nutrition — it packs a good amount of protein and heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.
Tuna’s high protein content makes it an excellent addition to a weight loss diet since it can help reduce your appetite, prevent cravings and keep you feeling fuller for longer.
In addition, protein makes up the foundation of your hair, skin, nails and muscles; is crucial for the synthesis of certain enzymes and hormones; and is used for the growth and repair of tissues.
So, including more tuna fish in your diet can help provide your body with the protein that you need.
Lastly, tuna is rich in omega-3 fatty acids (a.k.a. fish oil), which may be able to alleviate inflammation and reduce the risk of disease. Fish oil has potent anti-inflammatory properties, and multiple studies have shown that it could be therapeutic for autoimmune conditions like Crohn’s disease, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis.
NOTE: Stick to wild types of tuna that are caught using the Pacific troll or pole and line methods. Also, avoid Atlantic bluefin tuna, which may have a negative impact on both the environment and your health because it is over-fished and often farm-raised.
Mediterranean Tuna Salad is the perfect quick and healthy lunch recipe! It's super easy to prepare with just 6 simple ingredients needed and zero cooking time. This delicious salad recipe is paleo, low-carb, keto and can be made AIP by substituting tomatoes for cucumbers, olives or avocado.
6cherry tomatoes, halved, (replace with olives, cucumbers or avocado for AIP version)
2tbspextra virgin olive oil
1tbspbalsamic vinegar
1/2tspdried oregano
Sea salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
In a bowl or container, add greens, tuna, tomatoes, oregano, salt and pepper.
If you're eating right away, drizzle with olive oil and vinegar and toss. If you're taking it to go in a container, drizzle with olive oil and vinegar then shake container right before you eat to coat ingredients.
Notes
Replace tomatoes with olives, cucumbers or avocado for AIP version.
Orange & Avocado Salad is fresh, high in fibre and delicious! This salad recipe uses simple ingredients like leafy greens, avocado, orange, lime juice, basil and extra virgin olive oil. It’s the perfect salad to have alongside fish or meat. AIP, paleo, plant-based, low-carb & keto friendly.
Oranges are not only a great source of vitamin C – providing 163% of your daily needs in just one orange – but they’re also a great source of fiber. One large orange provides you with 17% of your daily fiber needs.
Fiber from whole foods is important for both weight loss and gut health, here’s why …
Fiber can help stop cravings and hunger since it moves through the GI tract slowly, creating a sense of fullness. Feeling full and satisfied from whole foods will help keep you on track with good eating habits, making weight loss easier.
Fiber adds bulk to stool which helps to increase stool frequency. Healthy and frequent bowel movements are an important part of gut health.
In addition, whole food fiber also acts as a prebiotic which fuels good gut bacteria. Healthy gut bacteria are not only important for good gut health, but also weight loss and many other areas of health.
DID YOU KNOW? The FDA approves the de-greening (forced ripening) of oranges, making it difficult to select the ripest and most flavourful fruit. If you buy organic oranges, you will know for certain that they have not been de-greened.
Orange & Avocado Salad is fresh, high in fibre and delicious! This salad recipe uses simple ingredients like leafy greens, avocado, orange, lime juice, basil and extra virgin olive oil. It's the perfect salad to have alongside fish or meat. AIP, paleo, plant-based, low-carb & keto friendly.
Raspberry Tuna Salad is the perfect healthy lunch recipe! It’s super quick to prepare and packed with antioxidant-rich ingredients and fresh flavour. This easy and nutritious recipe is AIP, paleo, low-carb & keto friendly.
Are you looking for healthy meal ideas that you can easily pack up and take with you to work?
I happen to be a pro at easy and portable lunches and dinners since I spend a couple of long days at my studio each week. On these days, I pack a breakfast/lunch (which is usually a big @$$ smoothie) and dinner.
My dinners usually consist of either canned wild salmon, sardines or tuna mixed in a salad or I add some good stuff to my canned fish and wrap it in my favourite gluten free coconut wraps or green wraps.
Here’s one of my quick and easy salad recipes that I put together in the morning before work and store in the fridge until it’s time to eat. I just shake everything up and voila – healthy and delicious food is served! If you don’t have a fridge at work, use a small cooler bag with an ice pack.
Raspberry Tuna Salad is the perfect healthy lunch recipe! It’s super quick to prepare and packed with antioxidant-rich ingredients and fresh flavour. This easy and nutritious recipe is AIP, paleo, low-carb & keto friendly.
Creamy Dill Coleslaw is the perfect healthy go-to side dish when you’re short on time or preparing food for multiple people. This plant-based, keto & paleo friendly side is packed with nutrients that are detoxifying and waistline loving.
DID YOU KNOW? Cabbage is packed with many beneficial vitamins, minerals, plus water and fiber, making it a great vegetable for weight loss & gut health.
Cabbage is full of gut-friendly insoluble fiber, a type of carbohydrate that can’t be broken down in the intestines. Insoluble fiber helps support digestive health by adding bulk to stools and promoting regular bowel movements.
In addition, cabbage is rich in soluble fiber, which has been shown to increase the number of beneficial bacteria in the gut, like Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli.
Now, the trick to making a quick coleslaw with cabbage is using a food processor. Simply throw all ingredients in and process until everything is roughly chopped and well combined.
There’s a lot of room for creativity with coleslaw which makes it a fun side dish to prepare. Feel free to use different veggies, herbs and spices. Also, if you don’t have a healthy version of mayo (without vegetable or seed oils), I recommend replacing mayo with 1/2 an avocado or full fat coconut yogurt/kefir.
OR make it into a quick and healthy lunch by mixing in a can of wild tuna, salmon or sardines.
Creamy Dill Coleslaw
Creamy Dill Coleslaw is the perfect healthy go-to side dish when you're short on time or preparing food for multiple people. This plant-based, keto & paleo friendly side is packed with nutrients that are detoxifying and waistline loving.
Chop cabbage, carrots and green onion into large chunks.
Place all ingredients into a food processor and process until vegetables are roughly chopped and ingredients are well combined. Do not over process.
Eat right away or store in an airtight container in the fridge and use within a day.
Notes
If you don't have a healthy version of mayo (without vegetable or seed oils), I recommend replacing mayo with 1/2 an avocado or 2 tbsp. full fat coconut yogurt/kefir.
My mission is to help women heal their gut, lose weight and feel great through simple and delicious smoothies, whole food nutrition & healthy lifestyle habits.
